DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0245
PART III.
CORRESPONDENCE OF 1882—1885 ON THE SUBJECT OF THE POSITION AND CLAIMS OF
THE MUHAMMADAN COMMUNITY IN BRITISH INDIA.
(a) Grievances alleged by certain Muhammadans in a memorial from the National
Muhammadan Association at Calcutta.
From C. S. Bayley, Esq., Officiating Under Secretary to the Government of Bengal, General Department, to
the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,—No. 104, dated Calcutta, the
17th February 1882.
In forwarding1 a copy of a letter, dated the 6th instant, from the Secretary to the
National Muhammadan Association, with a memorial, in original, addressed by the Associa-
tion to His Excellency the Governor General in Council, I am directed to say that, as the
Secretary to the Association states that the question of Muhammadan education is at present
under the consideration of the Government of India, the Lieutenant-Governor has thought
it best to transmit the memorial at once to the Government of India.
2. There are, however, several matters in respect to which Sir Ashley Eden is not pre-
pared to accept the facts and arguments put forward by the memorialists, and a further
communication will be made on the subject to the Government of India on an early date.
From Mr. Ameer Ali, Secretary to the National Muhammadan Association, to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of Bengal,—dated 14, Royd Street, Calcutta, the 6th February 1882.
I am desired by the Committee of Management of the National Muhammadan Associa-
tion to forward, through the Bengal Government, the enclosed memorial to the Government
of India.
As one of the principal points dealt with in this memorial concerns Muhammadan educa-
tion, and as this subject is at present under the immediate consideration of the Government
of India, the Association begs that the papers may be forwarded with the least practicable
delay.
To His Excellency the Most Honourable the Marquis of Ripon, k.o., p.c., g.m.s.i., Viceroy and Governor
General of India.
The humble memorial of the National Muhammadan
Association.
Respectfully sheweth,—1. That since the time Your Excellency has assumed the reins
of Government in this country, Your Excellency has evinced the greatest interest in the
well-being of the people of India, and has always been animated with an earnest desire to
deal equitably with all classes of the Indian community.
2. That with this knowledge of Your Lordship's solicitude for the well-being of the
people confided to your care, your memorialists think it improbable that the present impover-
ished condition of the Muhammadans of India, as compared with their past prosperity, can
have escaped Your Excellency's observation.
3. The causes which have led to the decadence and ruin of so many Muhammadan
families in India are, your memorialists regret to say, still at work among their co-religionists,
and it is for this reason, and in the hope that Government, when it is fully in possession of
the facts connected with the impoverishment of the Muhammadans, may be induced to adopt
some effectual measures for their amelioration and the improvement of their present condition,
that your memorialists submit this memorial for Your Excellency's kind consideration.
4. Your memorialists are convinced that no measure of reform a dopted within the
community would have any appreciable effect in arresting the progress of decay to which
they have referred, and it is therefore that your memorialists look to Government for those
steps which the necessities of the case require.
5. The depressed and desperate condition of the Muhammadans at the present moment
deserves every commiseration. Whilst every community has thrived and flourished under
British rule, the Muhammadans alone have declined and decayed. Every day their position
is becoming worse, and the call for urgent measures on their behalf more pressing.
CORRESPONDENCE OF 1882—1885 ON THE SUBJECT OF THE POSITION AND CLAIMS OF
THE MUHAMMADAN COMMUNITY IN BRITISH INDIA.
(a) Grievances alleged by certain Muhammadans in a memorial from the National
Muhammadan Association at Calcutta.
From C. S. Bayley, Esq., Officiating Under Secretary to the Government of Bengal, General Department, to
the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,—No. 104, dated Calcutta, the
17th February 1882.
In forwarding1 a copy of a letter, dated the 6th instant, from the Secretary to the
National Muhammadan Association, with a memorial, in original, addressed by the Associa-
tion to His Excellency the Governor General in Council, I am directed to say that, as the
Secretary to the Association states that the question of Muhammadan education is at present
under the consideration of the Government of India, the Lieutenant-Governor has thought
it best to transmit the memorial at once to the Government of India.
2. There are, however, several matters in respect to which Sir Ashley Eden is not pre-
pared to accept the facts and arguments put forward by the memorialists, and a further
communication will be made on the subject to the Government of India on an early date.
From Mr. Ameer Ali, Secretary to the National Muhammadan Association, to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of Bengal,—dated 14, Royd Street, Calcutta, the 6th February 1882.
I am desired by the Committee of Management of the National Muhammadan Associa-
tion to forward, through the Bengal Government, the enclosed memorial to the Government
of India.
As one of the principal points dealt with in this memorial concerns Muhammadan educa-
tion, and as this subject is at present under the immediate consideration of the Government
of India, the Association begs that the papers may be forwarded with the least practicable
delay.
To His Excellency the Most Honourable the Marquis of Ripon, k.o., p.c., g.m.s.i., Viceroy and Governor
General of India.
The humble memorial of the National Muhammadan
Association.
Respectfully sheweth,—1. That since the time Your Excellency has assumed the reins
of Government in this country, Your Excellency has evinced the greatest interest in the
well-being of the people of India, and has always been animated with an earnest desire to
deal equitably with all classes of the Indian community.
2. That with this knowledge of Your Lordship's solicitude for the well-being of the
people confided to your care, your memorialists think it improbable that the present impover-
ished condition of the Muhammadans of India, as compared with their past prosperity, can
have escaped Your Excellency's observation.
3. The causes which have led to the decadence and ruin of so many Muhammadan
families in India are, your memorialists regret to say, still at work among their co-religionists,
and it is for this reason, and in the hope that Government, when it is fully in possession of
the facts connected with the impoverishment of the Muhammadans, may be induced to adopt
some effectual measures for their amelioration and the improvement of their present condition,
that your memorialists submit this memorial for Your Excellency's kind consideration.
4. Your memorialists are convinced that no measure of reform a dopted within the
community would have any appreciable effect in arresting the progress of decay to which
they have referred, and it is therefore that your memorialists look to Government for those
steps which the necessities of the case require.
5. The depressed and desperate condition of the Muhammadans at the present moment
deserves every commiseration. Whilst every community has thrived and flourished under
British rule, the Muhammadans alone have declined and decayed. Every day their position
is becoming worse, and the call for urgent measures on their behalf more pressing.