"I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a begger, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever counquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will loose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.""

This is a citation of an alleged speech held by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, Secretary at War between 1839 and 1841 and Paymaster-General between 1846 and 1848. He played a major role in introducing English and western concepts to education in India.