UPSC Prelims 2020 Q34: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
- (a) he was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so
- (b) he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India
- (c) he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment
- (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India
Answer: (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India
Explanation
Fort William College: Wellesley's Purpose
| Reason | Was it the purpose? |
|---|---|
| Asked by Board of Directors in London | No - Wellesley's independent initiative |
| Revive interest in oriental learning | No - opposite: promote English/Western learning |
| Employment for William Carey | No - secondary benefit |
| Train British civilians for Indian administration | YES - PRIMARY PURPOSE |
Fort William College (1800): Established by Governor-General Wellesley at Calcutta to:
- Train British civilian officers in Indian languages (Hindi, Persian, Bengali, Sanskrit)
- Produce competent administrators who could communicate with Indians
- Ensure efficient colonial governance
William Carey (linguist) was employed as faculty, but training administrators was the primary goal.
Answer: (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Wellesley acted independently; Board in London was often kept in dark about expansionist policies.
- (b) Incorrect. College did NOT revive oriental learning - it subordinated local knowledge to colonial administrative needs.
- (c) Incorrect. Carey's employment was a byproduct, not the reason for founding.
- (d) CORRECT. Fort William College was established to train British civilians in Indian languages + administrative procedures for efficient colonial rule.
Key point
Fort William College (1800): Wellesley's initiative to professionalize British administration in India. Taught Indian languages, customs, law. Produced linguistically competent administrators. Model copied by other colonial powers.
Remember
Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India. The college taught Indian languages and customs to British officers, enabling more effective and efficient colonial governance.
Common mistakes
- Assuming college was about preserving Indian knowledge. Actually, it was about making colonial exploitation more efficient.
- Confusing Orientalism (study of Eastern knowledge) with this practical administrative training. FWC was instrumental, not scholarly.
- Missing Wellesley's aggressive expansionism - he used improved administration to consolidate power.
Exam tip
British colonialism strategy: Early phase (1750-1800) = merchant/military conquest. Middle phase (1800-1857) = bureaucratic consolidation (Fort William College symbolizes this). Late phase (1857-1947) = racial segregation + indirect rule through local elites.
Sources
- Saul David - The Indian Mutiny 1857 (Chapter on Colonial Administration)
- Edward Said - Orientalism (Chapter on Colonial Knowledge Production)