The document summarizes the history of English in India from its arrival with the British East India Company in the 17th century through India's independence. It outlines how Lord Macaulay advocated for English education in India through his Minute on Education in 1835. This led to English gradually becoming the language of administration and higher education. After independence, English remained an important language of the elite and was adopted as an associate official language, despite efforts to promote Hindi instead.

1. MUHAMMAD SUHAIL ABBASI
PRESENTER :

2. The historical background of English in India is a
fascinating journey that spans several centuries, marked
by colonization, cultural exchange, and linguistic
evolution. The story begins with the arrival of the British
East India Company in India during the early 17th
century and continues through India's struggle for
independence

3.  English became the language of administration and
governance in India through a gradual historical
process during the British colonial period
 Early Colonial Period (17th Century)
 Battle of Plassey (1757)
 Consolidation of Power
 Role of English Education
 Macaulay's Minute (1835)
 The Spread of English
 Independence and Continuation

4.  Lord Macaulay advocated for the adoption of English as
the primary medium of instruction in Indian schools and
colleges.
 He argued that English was a superior language for
education, governance, and communication, and he
believed it could serve as a bridge between the British
rulers and the Indian population.
 Macaulay was critical of traditional Indian languages,
particularly Sanskrit and Arabic, which were the
mediums of instruction in many Indian institutions at
the time.
 He argued that these languages were not suitable for
modern

5. In his famous Minute on Education in 1835, Macaulay
made several key recommendations:
He advocated for the promotion of English as the
medium of instruction in Indian schools and colleges.
Macaulay argued for the discontinuation of patronage
for indigenous languages and literature, suggesting that
English would be more beneficial for Indians.
He believed that English education would produce a
class of Indians who would be "a class of persons, Indian
in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in
morals, and in intellect

6.  Following Macaulay's recommendations, English
gradually became the language of administration
and higher education in India.
 Indian education began to mirror the British
system, with a focus on English literature, science,
and philosophy.
 This policy led to the establishment of English-
medium schools and colleges, which ultimately
produced a cadre of English-speaking Indian elites.

7.  Indian independence changed the status of English, but it did
not affect the place of English in Indian life or education.
English was no longer the language of rulers. But it continued
to be the language of elite
The constitution of India, adopted in 1950, had envisaged
Hindi as the only official language of the union of India,
English was adopted as the Associate Official language by an
Act of parliament in 1963

8. Thank you