Negative effect of western education on the Indians:
The British government made provision for starting English education with a purpose of completely destroying the Indian civilization, culture and the feeling of national awakening. In 1835, on the suggestion of Lord Macaulay, the British government made arrangements to provide western education to the Indians through the medium of English language. The British wanted to create such a group in Indian society which was Indian in blood and complexion, but British by conduct, language, thought, interest and wisdom.
The British government considerably succeeded in its purpose to same extent. With the spread of western education through English medium, a group of such Indians began to be created. They began to look down upon their own ancient Indian culture and civilization and started molding themselves into the western civilization and culture. In this way, western education had a negative effect on Indians.
Positive Effect of Western Education on the Indians:
The western education, with all its negative effects, proved beneficial for Indians in several ways. With the knowledge of English language, the Indian scholars began to study the literature of the western countries. The English literature is filled with the aspiration of freedom.
The Indians studied English literature and came to know about the thoughts of Voltaire, Burke, Herbert Spencer, Rouseau, J.S Mill and Benthem, etc. When Indians studied about the French revolution, freedom struggle of the United States of America, struggle of italy aganst foreign power and Irish struggle for freedom, they developed a feeling of national awakening and independence.
Many Indians went to England for higher, education. The English language as a medium of education in India, worked as a link language and bound the Indians living in different parts of the country into one national unit. The result was that the Indians developed a deep discontentment against the British in India and there was an increasing demand for reforms in the administration.
