Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?

1. Charter Act of 1813
2. General Committee of Public Instruction
3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The introduction of English Education in India was a gradual process influenced by several factors:

Statement 1: Charter Act of 1813:

• The Charter Act of 1813 is considered a foundational step in the introduction of English Education.
• It marked the first official recognition of education in India by the British government, allocating a dedicated grant for this purpose.
• The act also permitted Christian missionaries to propagate English and their religion, thus contributing to the spread of English.
• It also ignited the Anglicist-Orientalist controversy regarding the medium of instruction. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2: General Committee of Public Instruction:

• Established in 1823, the General Committee of Public Instruction was tasked with managing the allocated funds for education.
• The committee's debates and decisions significantly shaped the direction of education policy.
• Initially, the committee focused on promoting oriental literature but later shifted towards supporting English education. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Statement 3: Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy:

• The Orientalist-Anglicist controversy revolved around the preferred medium of instruction: Oriental languages (Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic) versus English.
• The Anglicists, led by figures like Lord Macaulay, advocated for English, believing it to be superior and more useful.
• This debate ultimately led to the dominance of English as the medium of instruction. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is d) 1, 2 and 3.

Sources:

• KKHSOU
• Shodhganga
• IITK
• Wikipedia - Charter Act of 1813