Why did William Jones feel the need to study Indian history, philosophy and law?
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Solution
Instructions:
The answer to this question can be separated into three points.
Jones’ respect for Indian culture
Rediscovering sacred and legal texts
How learning the past would help the future.
Answer:
Jones shared a deep respect for ancient cultures, both of India and the West. He felt that Indian civilisation 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 and only a new study of these texts could form the basis of future development in India.