Colonisation through Foreign Universities in India

Dr Biju Dharmapalan

India’s decision to allow foreign universities to set up campuses within its borders marks a significant shift in the country’s higher education landscape. On the surface, the move promises numerous benefits: access to world-class education without the need to go abroad, reduced brain drain, and exposure to global academic standards for Indian students.
Yet, beneath this promising façade lies a deeper question-are we inadvertently paving the way for a new kind of dominance? One that doesn’t claim land, but minds. As international institutions begin to shape curricula and influence thought, it’s worth asking whether this is a step toward intellectual enrichment or a subtle form of academic colonisation.
History Repeats in New Forms
When the British first came to India, they came as traders. Their declared intention was trade, not domination. Trade evolved into dominance, and dominance transformed into imperial governance. Education also emerged as a tool of control. In 1835, Thomas Macaulay’s notorious “Minute on Education” established a framework that favoured English knowledge at the expense of India’s rich traditions, resulting in the creation of clerks intended to serve the empire instead of fostering thinkers dedicated to the nation.
Today, international institutions come not with military might but with polished pamphlets and worldwide standings. The threat is more nuanced, yet equally significant: by defining what constitutes “quality” education, they risk sidelining our universities and traditional knowledge systems.
The Fascination with the International Label
The case for foreign campuses is compelling. Annually, students from India invest billions overseas in pursuit of prestigious institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, or Melbourne. If those universities arrive in India, why not rejoice? Students conserve funds, families alleviate pressure, and India preserves foreign currency.
However, there’s a twist: once these universities establish their presence here, they will not merely coexist. They are set to compete, and their brand value is poised to provide them with a significant edge. Parents are likely to steer their children towards obtaining a “foreign degree” within India, while both public and private Indian universities may find themselves in a position of diminished prestige. As time progresses, there is a risk that our top students and educators may depart, leading to a weakening of the national education framework.
Dependency often starts subtly-not through force, but rather through the allure of status.
Colonisation of Knowledge
In the 21st century, colonisation no longer arrives with armies-it advances through the control of knowledge, technology, and cultural values. If foreign universities begin to dictate what Indian students learn, we risk an intellectual subjugation masked as globalisation.
Will these institutions truly engage with India’s urgent challenges-affordable healthcare, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and climate resilience? Or will they steer research toward priorities shaped by Western interests and global markets?
Even more concerning is the potential erasure of India’s rich intellectual heritage. India’s knowledge systems are vast and profound, from Ayurveda and yoga to philosophy, mathematics, literature, and ecological wisdom. Will foreign universities honour and integrate these traditions, or will they continue the colonial legacy of dismissing them as outdated or irrelevant?
Guardrails Over Open Gates
This is not a call for isolation. India must remain open to collaboration, exchange, and global exposure. But this openness must be on India’s terms-not an unguarded invitation to dominance. To ensure a balanced and respectful partnership, strong safeguards are essential:
Curriculum Integration: Foreign campuses must embed Indian knowledge systems and local realities, rather than simply transplant Western syllabi.
Mutual Exchange: Faculty and student mobility should be reciprocal-not a one-way flow from India to the West.
Research with Purpose: A significant portion of research must address India’s developmental needs, not just serve multinational interests.
Reciprocity in Presence: If foreign universities operate in India, Indian institutions should be equally encouraged to establish campuses abroad. Globalisation must be a two-way street.
A Matter of Sovereignty
India’s higher education system faces significant challenges-ranging from bureaucratic hurdles and inadequate funding to limited research output. While the idea of inviting foreign universities may seem appealing, it is not a cure-all. It risks becoming an intellectual shortcut, where we outsource our academic future instead of investing in meaningful reform and strengthening our own institutions.
The core question remains: will foreign campuses enhance our education system, or will they eventually replace it? Without careful oversight, the allure of “global standards” could gradually lead to dependence, eroding India’s control over its intellectual and educational trajectory.
The Path Ahead
Welcoming foreign universities to India is not inherently problematic. However, without proper safeguards, they could become a Trojan horse-ushering in a subtle form of academic colonization that influences our classrooms, curricula, and ways of thinking.
India must avoid repeating the mistake of the 18th century, when traders were allowed in and eventually took control. Today, the struggle is not for political sovereignty but for academic and intellectual independence. In our pursuit of global recognition, we must be careful not to lose sight of our own identity.
True globalization is not about one dominant system overshadowing others. It is built on dialogue, mutual respect, and the coexistence of diverse knowledge traditions. If India navigates this wisely, the benefits could be profound. But if we falter, we may find that while the empire has long departed, its classroom has quietly returned.
(The author is the Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bangalore)

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}