Why did William Jones feel the need to study Indian history, philosophy and law?
Social StudiesClass 8CBSEAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
William Jones shared a deep respect for ancient cultures, both India and the West. Indian civilisation, he felt, had attained its glory in the ancient past but had subsequently declined. In order to understand India, it was necessary to discover the sacred and legal texts that were produced in the ancient period. Only those texts could reveal the real ideas and laws of the Hindus and Muslims. William Jones believed that only a new study of these texts could form the basis of future development in India.
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