The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The evolution of the education system in British India progressed from the initial support for traditional Oriental learning to the promotion of Western education through the English medium. This transition is marked by specific institutional establishments and policy declarations.Chronological Analysis:
- Establishment of Calcutta Madrasa (1781): Founded by Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal, this was the first educational institution established by the British. Its purpose was to promote the study of Muslim law and related subjects.
- Establishment of Hindu College (Sanskrit College), Benaras (1791): Established by Jonathan Duncan, the Resident at Benaras, to encourage the study of Hindu law, literature, and philosophy. This phase reflected the "Orientalist" policy of the Company.
- Macaulay’s Minute (1835): Lord Macaulay, a Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council, issued this famous minute advocating for the "downward filtration theory" and the promotion of Western sciences and literature through the medium of English, effectively ending the Orientalist-Anglicist controversy.
- Wood’s Despatch (1854): Issued by Charles Wood, President of the Board of Control, this document is known as the "Magna Carta of English Education in India." It laid the comprehensive framework for the education system, including the establishment of universities and the promotion of female education.
Conclusion:
The correct chronological sequence is 2 (1781) → 1 (1791) → 4 (1835) → 3 (1854).
Key Takeaway:
British educational initiatives began with Oriental learning (Calcutta Madrasa, 1781; Sanskrit College, Benaras, 1791), shifted to English medium under William Bentinck (Macaulay’s Minute, 1835), and were systematized by Wood’s Despatch (1854).