What work did the orientalists do …

tradition of Orientalism

• For this, it was necessary to study Indian history, philosophy, and law. William Jones, an expert in law and a linguist, took this task. He began to study ancient Indian texts on law, philosophy, religion, morality, arithmetic, medicine and the other sciences.
• Englishmen like Henry Thomas Colebrooke and Nathaniel Halhed were also busy discovering the ancient Indian heritage, mastering Indian languages and translating Sanskrit and Persian works into English.
• Together with them, Jones set up the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and started a journal called  Asiatick Researches.
• Jones and Colebrooke shared a deep respect for the ancient culture. Both Indian and the West Indian civilisation, they felt, had attained glory in the ancient past but had subsequently declined.
• In order to understand India, it was necessary to discover the sacred and legal texts written in the ancient times.
• Jones and Colebrooke went about discovering ancient texts, understanding their meaning, translating them and making their findings known to others.
• Several company officials felt that Hindus and Muslims ought to be taught what they were already familiar with, and what they valued and treasured, instead of subjects that were alien to them.
• It was thought that this was the only way the British could win the hearts of the natives and could earn their respect.
• A  madrasa was set up in Calcutta in 1781 to promote the study of Arabic, Persian and Islamic law; and the Hindu College was established in Benaras in 1791 to encourage the study of ancient Sanskrit texts that would be useful for the administration of the country.
• Not all officials shared these views. Many were very strong in their criticism of the Orientalists.