Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I | List II A. William Jones | 1. Critic of Orientalists B. James Mill | 2. Established Santiniketan C. Thomas Macaulay | 3. Minute on Indian Education D. Rabindranath Tagore | 4. Linguist and Orientalist

The correct option is A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 Explanation The development of education in British India, specifically focusing on the ideological debate between Orientalists (who favored traditional Indian learning) and Anglicists (who favored Western education in English), as well as indigenous educational initiatives. Detailed Analysis: - A. William Jones (Matches with 4. Linguist and Orientalist): Sir William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 as a junior judge at the Supreme Court. He was a renowned linguist proficient in Greek, Latin, French, English, Arabic, and Persian. He took a deep interest in Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts. He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 to encourage Oriental studies, representing the Orientalist school of thought which respected Indian tradition. - B. James Mill (Matches with 1. Critic of Orientalists): James Mill was a Scottish historian and economist who strongly criticized the Orientalist approach. He argued that the aim of education should not be to please the natives or preserve their heritage, but to teach what was "useful and practical." He believed Indian culture was unscientific and advocated for Western scientific and technical education, making him a fierce critic of Orientalists. - C. Thomas Macaulay (Matches with 3. Minute on Indian Education): Thomas Babington Macaulay, a Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council, played a pivotal role in the Anglicist victory. In his famous Minute on Indian Education (1835), he argued that "a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia." This led to the English Education Act of 1835, making English the medium of instruction for higher education. - D. Rabindranath Tagore (Matches with 2. Established Santiniketan): Rabindranath Tagore established an experimental school at Santiniketan (Abode of Peace) in 1901. Unlike the rigid British school system, which he described as a "prison," Tagore envisioned an educational environment set in nature where creativity and imagination could flourish, blending the best of Indian and Western traditions. Key Takeaway: The educational history of British India is defined by the conflict between Orientalists (like William Jones) who valued classical Indian languages, and Anglicists (like Macaulay and Mill) who imposed English education, alongside indigenous responses like Tagore's Santiniketan.

NCERT Class 8 History — Chapter 5: Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation

mcqeasy

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below:

List I	List II
A. William Jones	1. Critic of Orientalists
B. James Mill	2. Established Santiniketan
C. Thomas Macaulay	3. Minute on Indian Education
D. Rabindranath Tagore	4. Linguist and Orientalist

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AA-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
BA-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
CA-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
DA-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is

A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Explanation

The development of education in British India, specifically focusing on the ideological debate between Orientalists (who favored traditional Indian learning) and Anglicists (who favored Western education in English), as well as indigenous educational initiatives.

Detailed Analysis:

A. William Jones (Matches with 4. Linguist and Orientalist):
Sir William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 as a junior judge at the Supreme Court. He was a renowned linguist proficient in Greek, Latin, French, English, Arabic, and Persian. He took a deep interest in Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts. He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 to encourage Oriental studies, representing the Orientalist school of thought which respected Indian tradition.
B. James Mill (Matches with 1. Critic of Orientalists):
James Mill was a Scottish historian and economist who strongly criticized the Orientalist approach. He argued that the aim of education should not be to please the natives or preserve their heritage, but to teach what was "useful and practical." He believed Indian culture was unscientific and advocated for Western scientific and technical education, making him a fierce critic of Orientalists.
C. Thomas Macaulay (Matches with 3. Minute on Indian Education):
Thomas Babington Macaulay, a Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council, played a pivotal role in the Anglicist victory. In his famous Minute on Indian Education (1835), he argued that "a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia." This led to the English Education Act of 1835, making English the medium of instruction for higher education.
D. Rabindranath Tagore (Matches with 2. Established Santiniketan):
Rabindranath Tagore established an experimental school at Santiniketan (Abode of Peace) in 1901. Unlike the rigid British school system, which he described as a "prison," Tagore envisioned an educational environment set in nature where creativity and imagination could flourish, blending the best of Indian and Western traditions.

Key Takeaway:
The educational history of British India is defined by the conflict between Orientalists (like William Jones) who valued classical Indian languages, and Anglicists (like Macaulay and Mill) who imposed English education, alongside indigenous responses like Tagore's Santiniketan.

Your note

More from Chapter 5: Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation

With reference to the tradition of Orientalism in late 18th-century India, consider the following statements: 1. William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 primarily to set up the Department of Education for the East India Company. 2. Henry Thomas Colebrooke and Nathaniel Halhed were involved in translating Sanskrit and Persian works into English. 3. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was established by William Jones in collaboration with other British officials interested in Indian heritage. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Which one of the following institutions was established in 1781 to promote the study of Arabic, Persian, and Islamic law?

easy

With reference to the early educational institutions established by the British, consider the following pairs: 1. Calcutta Madrasa : 1781 2. Hindu College, Benaras : 1791 3. Asiatic Society of Bengal : 1783 4. Serampore College : 1818 How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

medium

With reference to the English Education Act of 1835, consider the following statements: 1. It was introduced following the recommendations of James Mill. 2. It made English the medium of instruction for higher education. 3. It proposed the establishment of new Oriental institutions like the Calcutta Madrasa. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Thomas Macaulay emphasised the need to teach the English language in India for which of the following reasons? 1. To allow Indians to read the finest literature the world had produced. 2. To make Indians aware of developments in Western science and philosophy. 3. To change the tastes, values, and culture of the people. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

medium

Keep practising Chapter 5: Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

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The correct option is

A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

Explanation

Detailed Analysis:

A. William Jones (Matches with 4. Linguist and Orientalist):
Sir William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 as a junior judge at the Supreme Court. He was a renowned linguist proficient in Greek, Latin, French, English, Arabic, and Persian. He took a deep interest in Sanskrit and ancient Indian texts. He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 to encourage Oriental studies, representing the Orientalist school of thought which respected Indian tradition.
B. James Mill (Matches with 1. Critic of Orientalists):
James Mill was a Scottish historian and economist who strongly criticized the Orientalist approach. He argued that the aim of education should not be to please the natives or preserve their heritage, but to teach what was "useful and practical." He believed Indian culture was unscientific and advocated for Western scientific and technical education, making him a fierce critic of Orientalists.
C. Thomas Macaulay (Matches with 3. Minute on Indian Education):
Thomas Babington Macaulay, a Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council, played a pivotal role in the Anglicist victory. In his famous Minute on Indian Education (1835), he argued that "a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia." This led to the English Education Act of 1835, making English the medium of instruction for higher education.
D. Rabindranath Tagore (Matches with 2. Established Santiniketan):
Rabindranath Tagore established an experimental school at Santiniketan (Abode of Peace) in 1901. Unlike the rigid British school system, which he described as a "prison," Tagore envisioned an educational environment set in nature where creativity and imagination could flourish, blending the best of Indian and Western traditions.