ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ БРИТАНСКИХ КОЛОНИАЛЬНЫХ ВЛАСТЕЙ В ИНДИИ В ОБЛАСТИ ПРОСВЕЩЕНИЯ И КУЛЬТУРЫ (КОНЕЦ ХVIII - ПЕРВАЯ ПОЛОВИНА ХIХ В.)

ACTIVITIES OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL AUTHORITIES IN INDIA IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE (LATE XVIII - FIRST HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY)

The article is about the British colonial authorities activity in India in the field of education and culture at the end of the 18th - first half of the 19th century. The author aims to show the creation of the European-type educational institutions in India, the appearance of the first newspapers and magazines, the formation of cultural, educational and scientific societies, Indian collections in British museums. There was necessity to develop free communication between Europeans and Indians that motivated to the colonial authorities to take the first steps to spread knowledge of local languages and culture among the employees of the East India Company. The colonial authorities were also interested in the formation of the European educated stratum of Indian society. The cultural activity of Great Britain in India was appeared in creation of a number of educational institutions - colleges, and in 1857 - three universities in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Discovery of the West heritage due to wide spreading educational ideas in India and cooperation with Europeans in this sphere increasingly captured thoughts of the Indian intellectuals. In connection with the growing interest to classical Indian culture not only in England, but also in Europe, the study of Sanskrit and the translation of the Indian writing monuments into English have been began. Indian manuscripts, paintings, utensils, musical instruments, weapons and many other objects of art have been supplemented the collections of British universities and church libraries. There is significant role of the Asian Bengal Society in the study of Indian history and culture, familiarization of the European society with the achievements of Indian spiritual culture, and the Indian society with the European one. Conclusion.. In the considered period of British dominion India turned into an agrarian and raw material appendage of the metropolis. At the same time, the colonial authorities were interested in spreading the Western education system and culture in their colony, the English language became an integrating factor of Indian society, the English intelligentsia began to study the richest culture of India, and the Indian people joined to the achievements of European civilization.