The Orientalists were attacked by both James Mill and Thomas Macaulay. Here is a detailed explanation:
James Mill:
- James Mill was a British historian, economist, and philosopher who held strong anti-Orientalist views.
- He believed that Orientalists were biased and had a distorted understanding of Eastern cultures.
- Mill criticized the Orientalists for their emphasis on the study of languages and literature, arguing that it did not contribute to practical knowledge or the progress of society.
- He accused the Orientalists of promoting a romanticized and Orientalist view of the East, which he considered to be backward and inferior to Western civilization.
Thomas Macaulay:
- Thomas Macaulay was a British politician, historian, and writer who also criticized the Orientalists.
- He believed that the Orientalists were perpetuating a false and exaggerated image of Eastern cultures.
- Macaulay argued that the Orientalist approach to education in India, which focused on teaching Indian languages and literature, hindered progress and modernization.
- He advocated for the introduction of Western education and English language in India to promote a more practical and utilitarian form of knowledge.
Both (a) to (b):
- The answer to the question is option C, as both James Mill and Thomas Macaulay attacked the Orientalists for their approach and views.
- Both of them criticized the Orientalists for their romanticized and biased understanding of Eastern cultures, and for their emphasis on the study of languages and literature.
None of the above:
- Option D is incorrect because both James Mill and Thomas Macaulay were known for their strong criticisms of the Orientalists.

Attack on Orientalists

The attack on Orientalists was carried out by both James Mill and Thomas Macaulay.

James Mill
- James Mill was a British historian and philosopher who criticized the Orientalists for their focus on Eastern languages, literature, and culture.
- He believed that the Orientalists were wasting their time studying these subjects and should instead focus on more practical and useful knowledge.

Thomas Macaulay
- Thomas Macaulay, another British historian and politician, also attacked the Orientalists for their emphasis on Eastern studies.
- He argued that the Orientalists were not contributing to the progress of society and that their focus on Eastern languages was a waste of time and resources.

Joint Attack
- Both James Mill and Thomas Macaulay shared a similar view that the Orientalists' studies were not beneficial and were hindering the progress of society.
- Their criticisms played a significant role in shaping British policy towards education in India during the colonial period.

Therefore, the attack on the Orientalists was a joint effort by James Mill and Thomas Macaulay, who believed that the focus on Eastern studies was not productive and needed to be replaced with more practical knowledge.