New Delhi | November 18, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the country to come together and break free from what he described as the “Macaulay mindset” — a lingering sense of inferiority rooted in colonial-era education policies introduced in 1835. Speaking at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, he announced a 10-year national mission to undo this influence before the 200-year mark of Macaulay’s reforms.

The Prime Minister reminded the audience that British politician Thomas Babington Macaulay deliberately designed an education system aimed at creating Indians who would “look Indian but think like the British.” He said this shift weakened India’s confidence, pushed Indian knowledge systems aside, and made foreign ideas appear superior. According to him, this impact did not end with Independence; instead, the feeling of inferiority continued to shape choices in governance, innovation and education.

PM Modi said India once had an education system that promoted cultural pride, practical skills, and deep learning. This foundation was disrupted when local languages and traditional knowledge lost importance. He noted that many countries—such as Japan, China, and South Korea—adopted modern ideas without ever abandoning their native languages. India, he said, should have followed a similar path.

The Prime Minister stressed that the government is not against English, but wants Indian languages and heritage to get the respect they deserve. He explained that losing pride in one’s own culture affects everything, from education to tourism. When a country forgets the value of its own traditions, people stop preserving them, and future generations are left with ruins instead of living heritage.

He added that the swadeshi philosophy championed by Mahatma Gandhi was weakened because of the colonial mindset. Over time, India began to rely on foreign models for growth and development, often ignoring homegrown solutions. This attitude, he said, led people to believe that imported ideas and goods were automatically better.

Calling the next decade crucial, PM Modi urged citizens to join a national effort to rebuild confidence, promote Indian languages, and support indigenous systems in education, innovation and industry. He said this mission is not just about correcting the past but shaping a stronger and more self-assured future. He emphasised that the harmful thinking introduced during the colonial era must be removed completely so that India can move forward with pride and clarity.

According to the Prime Minister, freeing the country from this long-lasting mindset will strengthen India’s identity and help the nation trust its own capabilities again. He said India must reclaim its cultural foundation and move forward with a renewed sense of self-belief.

 Free India From Macaulay’s Colonial Mindset, Says PM Modi With A 10-Year National Call

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the country to break free from what he calls the “Macaulay mindset” — a leftover sense of inferiority created during British rule. He said this mindset began in 1835, when Thomas Babington Macaulay designed an education system that pushed Indian knowledge aside and made English and Western ideas seem superior.

PM Modi said this influence continued even after Independence, shaping how India viewed its own culture, languages and traditions. He explained that India once had a strong education system rooted in pride and local skills, but the colonial reforms weakened this foundation. According to him, this is why many Indians still look to the West for validation, ideas and innovation.

He announced a 10-year national mission to rebuild confidence, support Indian languages and bring back respect for traditional knowledge. He said that countries like Japan and South Korea adopted progress from the world but never abandoned their own languages. India should do the same.

Modi added that reclaiming cultural pride will help India in many ways, from tourism to innovation. He urged citizens to join this effort and help restore India’s self-belief for the future.