Macaulay’s main duty was to frame laws for the Indian people.
Unfortunately, he was ill-equipped for proper performance of the duty.
He did not know any of Indian language and He was equally ignorant of Indian history, their way of life, customary codes of moral, social and religious conducts.
In addition, He disliked India and her social institutions.
He was christian fanatic, wanted to spread Christianity by hook or crook. He was of opinion that, if Indians are imparted education by his system, entire Nation will become Christian in 30 years.
What he could not understand that roots of our culture are so strong and eternal that no external education system can completely abolish way of Sanatana dharma living. Yes, there is certainly damage in last 150 years but not as he envisioned.
Macaulay left two curses on our Nation. First, everyone knows (Education system). Second is Indian Penal Code. The draft of the Indian Penal Code was prepared by the First Law Commission, chaired by Thomas Babington Macaulay. Thank him for pathetic state of judiciary system we are forced to follow.
In the penal code of no other civilized country were such drastic and severe penalties and punishments laid down as found a place in the Indian Penal Code. This is quite understandable, because Macaulay considered the Indians ruled by the English as nothing but “dumb-driven cattle” owned by the English!
Edmund Burke described it as:
“Well digested and well-disposed in all its parts; a machine of wise and elaborate contrivance, and as well fitted for the oppression, impoverishment and degradation of a people, and the debasement in them of human nature itself, as ever proceeded from perverted ingenuity of man.”
Unfortunately, we as a nation, still rely on such anti-people systems. We must demand and bring Transparent complaint procedures and jury system along with people-friendly laws.
PS:
Macaulay was 34 when he was appointed as Law member. He could barely earn £200 yearly before he was commissioned for India. He was well-informed but not as intelligent as someone who would design systems of the Nation. As per his letters written to family members, he could earn £10000+5000 per year during his India stay and his sole purpose of accepting this assignment was to earn as much possible from India and live happy life in UK. Besides, he wanted to spread Christianity.
So, I suspect (again, it may sound like a conspiracy theory until I find evidences) that Macaulay was mere puppet. Real law designers were someone else.
Britishers did lot of harm to Indian. They looted plunderd raped indian but it was all through those English speaking Coconut men whose skin was brown but inside white. They did but what about our own men the did much more than that what Britishers did. Still now Some Indian are following same route. Time came Due to Subhas bose Britishers ran away from India on shame telling we gave freedom . They dint give, they fearfully ran away from India due to Netaji Subhas Bose. Now every things are getting out and brown skin of coconut out. Time will come these coconut has to be crushed to takeout their oil. Wait and see coconut how long they are safe.