What exactly did Macaulay mean when he wrote that "a single shelf of a good European Class 8

What exactly did Macaulay mean when he wrote that "a single shelf of a good European Class 8

What exactly did Macaulay mean when he wrote that "a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia"? And why should he want to make Indians "English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect"? How does this relate to the 'civilising mission' mentioned at the start of the chapter? Ask your teacher to guide a class debate on these questions. (Page 102 - 103) Class 8

Answer:

Macaulay meant that he believed European books and knowledge were far more valuable than all the traditional literature of India and Arabia. He saw Indian and Arabic texts as inferior and not useful for modern education. He wanted to make Indians think and behave like the British-to adopt British values, culture and ways of thinking.

This was part of the so-called 'civilising mission' where the British claimed they were bringing progress and civilisation to India. It was a way to control Indians by making them feel their own culture was backward and to create a class of Indians who would support British rule.