The role of Britishers in evolution of modern education system in India

Although the British had captured Bengal in 1757, yet the responsibilities to impart education remained in the hand of Indians. The study of religious books continued in Pathshalas and Madarsas.. In 1781, Calcutta Madarasas for the study and teaching of Muslim law was set up in Bengal province by then Governor General Warren Hastings. This was the first education institution supported by the government. After that in 1791, Jonathan Duncan started a Sanskrit College at Varanasi. Both these institutions provided, qualified Indians to help the administration of law in the courts of the Company. While the many educated Indians like Raja Ram Mohan Roy , believed that modern education could be the best remedy for the social, economic and political ills of the country, the missionaries believed that modern education would destroy the faith of the people in their own religions and lead them to adopt Christianity. Therefore, they pressurized the government to promote the modern education system in western line. As a result, the Charter Act 1813 directed the Company to spend the sum of one lakh of rupees for spread of modern education in India. This proved to be the beginning of steps taken by the British Government and followed by Macaulay minutes ,Wood Despatch to University act 1904 and so on .The Britishers were the most successful in the growth of modern education in India.