Macaulay's Minute on Education was written on 2 February, 1835. It is a document that attempts to persuade Westerners of the inferiority of Indian dialects to the English language. Macaulay expresses that Indian dialects “contain nothing about the languages or sciences,” (Macaulay) thus emphasizing the superiority of the English language. He goes on to explain, “I have never found one among them who could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.” His statement of Indian education and language further depicts how imperialism has caused Indians to feel inferior in their own native land.
Macaulay’s perspective on Indian dialects is depicted through Mammachi as the twins are on their way to pick up Sophie Mol. During the car ride, Mammachi played a Christian song revealing that the twin’s “Prer NUN sea ayshun was perfect,” (147). Mammachi tries to instill English morals and language in the twins revealing anglophile like tendencies. Although Macaulay was not explicitly referenced in the novel, Mammachi represents his opinions on Indian dialect.
On the other hand, The God of Small Things, exceeds Macaulay’s own statement. Winner of the Booker Prize, the novel intricately describes the natural lands of India as well as depicts the overwhelming ravaging of imperialism and the impact which European influences have on cultural development. Roy not only illustrates India, but also nullifies Macaulay’s statement. Because her first novel falls under Indian literature and was written in English, Roy not only presents Western civilization an example of a beautiful and successful story which bloomed from Indian culture, but also the fault in juxtaposing the literal achievements of an imperialistic nation as more valuable than a nation who is not as developed.
Macaulay’s perspective on Indian dialects is depicted through Mammachi as the twins are on their way to pick up Sophie Mol. During the car ride, Mammachi played a Christian song revealing that the twin’s “Prer NUN sea ayshun was perfect,” (147). Mammachi tries to instill English morals and language in the twins revealing anglophile like tendencies. Although Macaulay was not explicitly referenced in the novel, Mammachi represents his opinions on Indian dialect.
On the other hand, The God of Small Things, exceeds Macaulay’s own statement. Winner of the Booker Prize, the novel intricately describes the natural lands of India as well as depicts the overwhelming ravaging of imperialism and the impact which European influences have on cultural development. Roy not only illustrates India, but also nullifies Macaulay’s statement. Because her first novel falls under Indian literature and was written in English, Roy not only presents Western civilization an example of a beautiful and successful story which bloomed from Indian culture, but also the fault in juxtaposing the literal achievements of an imperialistic nation as more valuable than a nation who is not as developed.