Rise of Western Education in India

British rulers were keen to spread their ideology and culture in India. This could strengthen their roots in this country. Besides, it would also create a class of Indians who might act as reliable agents of the British Empire.

English education was the most important medium of achieving these objectives. Several attempts were made throughout 19-20^th centuries to popularize English education and make structural changes accordingly.

Initially, the Orientalist administrators and scholars like Warren Hastings, Cornwallis, William Jones, Jonathan Duncan and others attached more importance to Indian classical education but gradually their ideas lost ground. It was thought that British Empire had to fulfill a civilizing mission in India and therefore western sciences and culture needed to be popularized.