Why did William Jones feel the need to study Indian history, philosophy and law?

William Jones felt that the study of Indian history, philosophy and law would not only help the British learn from Indian culture but it would also help Indians to rediscover their own heritage and understand the lost glories of their past.

Following are reasons:

(i) Respect: He had a deep respect for ancient cultures both of India and the West.

(ii) Need to rediscover the past: He felt that India had attained its glory in the ancient past but had subsequently declined.

(iii) To understand the Indians: He thought that in order to understand Indians, it was necessary to discover the sacred and legal texts that were produced in the ancient period.

(iv) To make others aware: William Jones went about discovering ancient texts, understanding them and making their finding known to other.