10, May 2026

Impact of Macaulay’s Minute (1835) on Indigenous Education Systems.

VOLUME-12; ISSUE-5; MAY-2026

Author(s): Enakshi Mandal

Authors Affiliations:

SACT, UCTC, Berhampore, Murshidabad, West-Bengal

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202605002     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202605002


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Macaulay’s Minute on Indian Education (1835) marked a decisive turning point in the history of education in colonial India. By advocating English education and dismissing indigenous systems of learning as inferior, the Minute reshaped educational priorities and policies under British rule. This paper examines the impact of Macaulay’s Minute on indigenous education systems in India, including traditional institutions such as pathshalas, madrasas, gurukuls, and tols. It analyses how colonial educational policies led to the marginalization, decline, and transformation of indigenous knowledge traditions. The study also highlights the long-term cultural, social, and intellectual consequences of this shift and reflects on its legacy in post-colonial India.

Macaulay’s Minute, Indigenous Education, Colonial Education Policy, English Education, Knowledge Systems

Enakshi Mandal (2026); Impact of Macaulay’s Minute (1835) on Indigenous Education Systems. , International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-12, Issue-5, Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

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