Lord Auckland succeeded Lord Bentick as India’s Governor- General. Supporters of eastern education presented him with a representation opposing Macaulay’s declaration.
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Lord Auckland agreed that the financial restraints upon oriental education were excessive. Consequently, he increased the educational grant for the Orientalists, gave primacy to oriental studies, increased the number or scholarships for these studies, and made arrangements for printing and publication of oriental works.
However, he also permitted the spending of more than one lakhs rupees for the spread of English education.
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During Lord Auckland’s reign, Adam, who had been appointed by Lord Bentick to prepare a report on Indian education, had published his report. It was a comprehensive document, containing some valuable suggestions for bringing about a Renaissance in India. Unfortunately, nothing was done to implement his ideas.
Lord Hardinge‘s Declaration
In 1884, then Governor-General, Lord Hardinge declared given in the Company’s organisation would be to those who had received English education. As a result, the English education increased, and education came to be linked with livelihood.
At the same time, employment became more important than domestic crafts, which came to be neglected between 1833 and 1853, Bengal, Bombay, Madras, the Frontier areas, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab witnessed the kind of growth in education which had not taken place in many previous years.
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Professional or vocational institutions providing education in medicine, engineering, law and other professions were established. However, at the same time, dissatisfaction with the Company’s working was also being expressed.
These improvements in the educational sphere were no more than a drop in the ocean. Hence, in 1954, Wood’s Dispatch was enunciated.
In 1853, when the Company’s Charter again came up for consideration and renewal, the need for a permanent and comprehensive educational policy was felt. The British Parliament asked the Select Committee to consider this question.
After deliberation, the Committee declared that the spread of education in India was not detrimental to the Company’s interests. At that time, the President of the Company’s Board of Control was Charles Wood, who published his declaration regarding education on 19th July, 1854. It is referred to as Wood’s Dispatch.