Who first laid emphasis on common school system in India?

The first significant emphasis on a common school system in India is generally attributed to Lord Macaulay. While not solely responsible for its implementation, his recommendations in the 1835 Minute on Indian Education heavily influenced the direction of the educational system towards a common, English-medium education, albeit one that primarily served the elite. His proposals, although controversial and ultimately not fully realized in their intended form, laid the groundwork for future discussions and efforts towards a more unified system.