Orientalism, Translation, and Recognition: With reference to Sir William Jones, H.T Colebrooke, and H.H Wilson

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the process of knowledge produced by the Orientalists during the initial colonial period and the Eurocentrism it imbibes. By translating the Indian texts into European languages, the Europeans could "entrap" India, its culture, and its intellectual tradition. This paper will argue that reading, translating, and interpreting Indian texts in different languages, especially English, was an essential element in European colonization and the imposition of the European way of life, which is the only superior culture to the Indian people. Through an analysis of the establishment of the Asiatic Society and subsequent acquisition, production, and reproduction of the ancient Indian texts, this paper seeks to address the issue of this flawed process by shedding light on the construction of an idealized Indian society, very different from the actual one. By providing a detailed account of the Europeanization of Indian literature, it will be able to address the question of the writings used as standard texts in present Independent India.