Beginning of Oriental Learning in British India (According to the Report, 17th January 1824)

After the capture by Lord Lake (1803) of the metropolis of Mughal India, Delhi, the authoritative personages of the East India Company thought of taking certain measures to complete their expansionist designs. This also included reviewing the prevalent traditional system of education. Soon they constituted a General Committee of Public Instruction (Calcutta). J. H. Taylor, Secretary of Local Agency (Delhi) was deputed to submit a comprehensive report about the latest position of the Muslims’ educational institutions and proposals for their survival, if possible. This report (dated 17 Jan. 1824) is still not available in printed form and it comprises most significant suggestions, on which the future educational policy of India was to be based, like the introduction of European science, technology and literature through translations into Oriental languages (Urdu etc.). There is an emphasis on the dissemination of 'useful knowledge' and recommendation to establish an institute 'The Delhi Government College' generally known as the Delhi College which played a vital role in the Muslim Renaissance in North India etc. etc