DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0160
PART II.
CORRESPONDENCE OF 1871-1873 REGARDING THE CONDITION OF THE MUHAMMADAN
POPULATION IN INDIA IN THE MATTER OF EDUCATION.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of India in the Home, Department (Education),—No. 300,
under date Simla, the 7th August 1871.
Resolution.—The condition of the Mahomedan population of India as regards education
has of late been frequently pressed upon the attention of the Government of India. From
statistics recently submitted to the Governor General in Council, it is evident that in no part
of the country, except perhaps the North-Western Provinces and the Punjab, do the
Mahomedans adequately, or in proportion to the rest of the community, avail themselves of the
educational advantages that the Government offers. It is much to be regretted that so large
and important a class, possessing a classical literature replete with works of profound learning
and great value, and counting among its members a section specially devoted to the acquisition
and diffusion of knowledge, should stand aloof from active co-operation with our educational
system and should lose the advantages, both material and social, which others enjoy. His
Excellency in Council believes that secondary and higher education conveyed in the vernaculars
and rendered more accessible than now, coupled with a more systematic encouragement and
recognition of Arabic and Persian literature, would be not only acceptable to the Mahomedan
community, but would enlist the sympathies of the more earnest and enlightened of its
members on the side of education.
2. The Governor General in Council is desirous that further encouragement should be
given to the classical and vernacular languages of the Mahomedans in all Government schools
and colleges. This need not involve any alterations in the subjects, but only in the media of
instruction. In avowedly English schools established in Mahomedan districts, the appoint-
ment of qualified Mahomedan English teachers might, with advantage, be encouraged. As in
vernacular schools, so in this class also, assistance might justly be given to Mahomedans by
grants-in-aid to create schools of their own. Greater encouragement should also be given to
the creation of a vernacular literature for the Mahomedans—a measure the importance of
which was specially urged upon the Government of India by Her Majesty’s Secretary of State
on more than one occasion.
3. His Excellency in Council desires to call the attention of Local Governments and
Administrations to this subject, and directs that this Resolution be communicated to them,
and to the three Universities* in India, with a
* To the Madras and Bombay Universities, through . „ .. ... . . . , , .
the Governments of those Presidencies. view of eliciting their opinions whether, Without
infringing the fundamental principles of our edu-
cational system, some general measures in regard to Mahomedan education might not be
adopted, and whether more encouragement might not be given in the University course
to Arabic and Persian literature. The authorities of the Lahore University College, who are
believed to have paid much attention to the subject, should also be invited to offer their views
on the important questions above referred to. This may be done through the Punjab
Government. —
Nos. 301-310.
Order.—Ordered, that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Local Governments
and Administrations for information and guidance.
Also to the Registrar of the Calcutta University for the consideration of the Senate of the
University.
(True Extract.)
E. C. Bayley,
Secretary to the Government of India.
From the Government of India, to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for India,—No. 10, dated Simla, the
17th August 1871.
With reference to the despatches noted on the margin* on the subject of the Madrassah,
or Mahomedan College of Calcutta, we transmit,
c u TE?Unae«nn’t0 SeCTetary °f N°’13’ dated Your Grace’s information, a copy of a com-
eth July 1860. . . »
Ditto from ditto, No. 7, dated 28th February 1861. mumcationfi from the Government of Bengal,
f No. 632, dated 28th February 1871. enclosing the report of a Committee appointed
by the late Lieutenant-Governor to enquire into
the condition and management of the institution.
CORRESPONDENCE OF 1871-1873 REGARDING THE CONDITION OF THE MUHAMMADAN
POPULATION IN INDIA IN THE MATTER OF EDUCATION.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of India in the Home, Department (Education),—No. 300,
under date Simla, the 7th August 1871.
Resolution.—The condition of the Mahomedan population of India as regards education
has of late been frequently pressed upon the attention of the Government of India. From
statistics recently submitted to the Governor General in Council, it is evident that in no part
of the country, except perhaps the North-Western Provinces and the Punjab, do the
Mahomedans adequately, or in proportion to the rest of the community, avail themselves of the
educational advantages that the Government offers. It is much to be regretted that so large
and important a class, possessing a classical literature replete with works of profound learning
and great value, and counting among its members a section specially devoted to the acquisition
and diffusion of knowledge, should stand aloof from active co-operation with our educational
system and should lose the advantages, both material and social, which others enjoy. His
Excellency in Council believes that secondary and higher education conveyed in the vernaculars
and rendered more accessible than now, coupled with a more systematic encouragement and
recognition of Arabic and Persian literature, would be not only acceptable to the Mahomedan
community, but would enlist the sympathies of the more earnest and enlightened of its
members on the side of education.
2. The Governor General in Council is desirous that further encouragement should be
given to the classical and vernacular languages of the Mahomedans in all Government schools
and colleges. This need not involve any alterations in the subjects, but only in the media of
instruction. In avowedly English schools established in Mahomedan districts, the appoint-
ment of qualified Mahomedan English teachers might, with advantage, be encouraged. As in
vernacular schools, so in this class also, assistance might justly be given to Mahomedans by
grants-in-aid to create schools of their own. Greater encouragement should also be given to
the creation of a vernacular literature for the Mahomedans—a measure the importance of
which was specially urged upon the Government of India by Her Majesty’s Secretary of State
on more than one occasion.
3. His Excellency in Council desires to call the attention of Local Governments and
Administrations to this subject, and directs that this Resolution be communicated to them,
and to the three Universities* in India, with a
* To the Madras and Bombay Universities, through . „ .. ... . . . , , .
the Governments of those Presidencies. view of eliciting their opinions whether, Without
infringing the fundamental principles of our edu-
cational system, some general measures in regard to Mahomedan education might not be
adopted, and whether more encouragement might not be given in the University course
to Arabic and Persian literature. The authorities of the Lahore University College, who are
believed to have paid much attention to the subject, should also be invited to offer their views
on the important questions above referred to. This may be done through the Punjab
Government. —
Nos. 301-310.
Order.—Ordered, that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Local Governments
and Administrations for information and guidance.
Also to the Registrar of the Calcutta University for the consideration of the Senate of the
University.
(True Extract.)
E. C. Bayley,
Secretary to the Government of India.
From the Government of India, to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for India,—No. 10, dated Simla, the
17th August 1871.
With reference to the despatches noted on the margin* on the subject of the Madrassah,
or Mahomedan College of Calcutta, we transmit,
c u TE?Unae«nn’t0 SeCTetary °f N°’13’ dated Your Grace’s information, a copy of a com-
eth July 1860. . . »
Ditto from ditto, No. 7, dated 28th February 1861. mumcationfi from the Government of Bengal,
f No. 632, dated 28th February 1871. enclosing the report of a Committee appointed
by the late Lieutenant-Governor to enquire into
the condition and management of the institution.