Controversy between the Anglicists and the Prientalists

The first step by the government was taken in 1813 when it was decided to set apart a sum of' not less than one lakh of rupees' for education.

This immediately led to the controversy between two groups called the Anglicists and the Orientalists. The Anglicists led by Macaulay advocated the teaching of western learning with English as the medium of education. Some Orientalists advocated the encouragement of Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic learning, and others wanted the teaching of modern knowledge through local languages.

The government ultimately decided in favour of the Anglicists and clearly stated that 'all of the funds be henceforth employed in imparting to the native population a knowledge of English literature and science through the medium of the English language'. Soon after, the use of Persian in the courts of law was discontinued and the government started giving preference to English-knowing candidates for government jobs.