Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c7.47

c7.47

Still more fatal to national culture and art has been the influence of European universities in India. Founded originally only to supply the demand of Government offices for English-speaking clerks, they have confined their scope to glorification of clerical accomplishments and utilitarian aims, at the expense of all the higher artistic faculties. Academic distinctions, as well as the honours and emoluments of Government service, are restricted to the scholastic, legal, engineering, and medical professions. The "failed" matriculate of the Calcutta University, with his new-found text-book wisdom, and perhaps some scraps of modern studio jargon picked up at second hand, looks down with scorn upon the hereditary artist who voices Indian national traditions—traditions which, even dimmed and tarnished as they are, still outshine in truth, sincerity, and spirituality, all that India knows of Western art.