DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0346
338
As regards the third, we have no educational endowments for the benefit of Muhammad-
ans, except the small grant, R800 a year, which we receive from the Muhsin Fund. But
the Chief Commissioner would no doubt welcome the appointment of a Commission to consider
the question of Muhammadan education.
The fourth of the prayers does not concern us. Personally, I think that the substitution
of the Kayathi for the Persian character in the courts of Bihar was a mistake, and I should be
Very sorry to see the example followed in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
The fifth of the requests is, as the High Court point out, unjustified by the third of the
allegations, and is well dealt with in their letter.
C. J. LYALL,
Offg. Secretary to the Chief
The 24th September 1S82. Commissioner of Assam.
From Major H. Wylie, c.s.i., Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Coorg, to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of India, Home Department,—No. 332—19, dated Bangalore, the 20th May 1882.
In reply to your letter No. 4—187, dated the 8th March last, I am directed by the Chief
Commissioner to report, for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor
General in Council, that the Muhammadan population in Coorg number 12,541, or 7'03 per
cent, of the total population; and as they have never been established as a dominant race, the
considerations advanced by the memorialists seem inapplicable to the circumstances of that com-
munity in Coorg.
2. The major portion of the Muhammadans in Coorg are taken up with trade, agriculture,
labour, and menial service, and of the few that are in the Government service, only six draw a
salary of more than R10. The fact, however, that more of them are not in the Government
service is not due to any restriction imposed by the Government as regards admission into
State service : for the possession of an University degree or the circumstance of having passed
any University examination is not considered as any special qualification for Government em-
ployment in Coorg.
3. The Muhammadans in Coorg do not evince any great desire for learning English, as is
evidenced by the fact that, out of 302 students reading in the Central School at Mercara, only
two are Mussulman boys, and these two are allowed to pay half fees. The Coorg Administra-
tion supports two Hindustani schools—one at Mercara and the other at Virajendrapet—for the
benefit of the Muhammadan community, at an annual cost of R240, and the Chief Commis-
sioner would be willing to give further assistance in this direction; but the Inspector of Schools
reports that at present there is no opening for additional Hindustani schools.
4. For the decision of cases involving points of Muhammadan law, which occasionally may
come before the Courts, the Judicial Commissioner is of opinion that the published Muhamma-
dan law treatises afford sufficient guidance to the Courts.
5. The Government has by no means discouraged Muhammadans from seeking Govern-
ment service, and, on the other hand, if they qualify themselves equally with the other races, it
is willing to employ them more largely than at present; but I am to submit that, looking to the
jealousy with which men of Coorg race endeavour to retain offices in Coorg among themselves,
the pride with which they cling to the land of their country, and the claim which they have
established by loyalty and good behaviour on the Government, it is, in the Chief Commis-
sioner's opinion, especially desirable that, in filling Government posts, Coorgs should be pre-
ferred to men of other races.
6. I am further desired to submit, for the information of the Government of India, the
enclosed copies of reports on the memorial of the National Muhammadan Association, as far as
it is applicable to the Muhammadan community in Coorg, received from the Judicial Commis-
sioner of Coorg and the Commissioner of Coorg.
From J. D. Sandeobd, Esq., Judicial Commissioner of Coorg, to the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of
Coorg,—No. 2, dated Bangalore, the 1st April 1882.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2061—43 of the 17th
ultimo, forwarding copy of a memorial from the National Muhammadan Association of Cal-
cutta, and requesting my opinion thereon, so far as it is applicable to the Muhammadan com-
munity in Coorg.
2. In reply, I beg to state that, though I sympathize with the complaints of the peti-
tioners, and think that they may have some substantial ground of complaint as regaids other
parts of India, the considerations advanced by them hardly, if at all, affect the Province of
Coorg.
As regards the third, we have no educational endowments for the benefit of Muhammad-
ans, except the small grant, R800 a year, which we receive from the Muhsin Fund. But
the Chief Commissioner would no doubt welcome the appointment of a Commission to consider
the question of Muhammadan education.
The fourth of the prayers does not concern us. Personally, I think that the substitution
of the Kayathi for the Persian character in the courts of Bihar was a mistake, and I should be
Very sorry to see the example followed in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
The fifth of the requests is, as the High Court point out, unjustified by the third of the
allegations, and is well dealt with in their letter.
C. J. LYALL,
Offg. Secretary to the Chief
The 24th September 1S82. Commissioner of Assam.
From Major H. Wylie, c.s.i., Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Coorg, to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of India, Home Department,—No. 332—19, dated Bangalore, the 20th May 1882.
In reply to your letter No. 4—187, dated the 8th March last, I am directed by the Chief
Commissioner to report, for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor
General in Council, that the Muhammadan population in Coorg number 12,541, or 7'03 per
cent, of the total population; and as they have never been established as a dominant race, the
considerations advanced by the memorialists seem inapplicable to the circumstances of that com-
munity in Coorg.
2. The major portion of the Muhammadans in Coorg are taken up with trade, agriculture,
labour, and menial service, and of the few that are in the Government service, only six draw a
salary of more than R10. The fact, however, that more of them are not in the Government
service is not due to any restriction imposed by the Government as regards admission into
State service : for the possession of an University degree or the circumstance of having passed
any University examination is not considered as any special qualification for Government em-
ployment in Coorg.
3. The Muhammadans in Coorg do not evince any great desire for learning English, as is
evidenced by the fact that, out of 302 students reading in the Central School at Mercara, only
two are Mussulman boys, and these two are allowed to pay half fees. The Coorg Administra-
tion supports two Hindustani schools—one at Mercara and the other at Virajendrapet—for the
benefit of the Muhammadan community, at an annual cost of R240, and the Chief Commis-
sioner would be willing to give further assistance in this direction; but the Inspector of Schools
reports that at present there is no opening for additional Hindustani schools.
4. For the decision of cases involving points of Muhammadan law, which occasionally may
come before the Courts, the Judicial Commissioner is of opinion that the published Muhamma-
dan law treatises afford sufficient guidance to the Courts.
5. The Government has by no means discouraged Muhammadans from seeking Govern-
ment service, and, on the other hand, if they qualify themselves equally with the other races, it
is willing to employ them more largely than at present; but I am to submit that, looking to the
jealousy with which men of Coorg race endeavour to retain offices in Coorg among themselves,
the pride with which they cling to the land of their country, and the claim which they have
established by loyalty and good behaviour on the Government, it is, in the Chief Commis-
sioner's opinion, especially desirable that, in filling Government posts, Coorgs should be pre-
ferred to men of other races.
6. I am further desired to submit, for the information of the Government of India, the
enclosed copies of reports on the memorial of the National Muhammadan Association, as far as
it is applicable to the Muhammadan community in Coorg, received from the Judicial Commis-
sioner of Coorg and the Commissioner of Coorg.
From J. D. Sandeobd, Esq., Judicial Commissioner of Coorg, to the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of
Coorg,—No. 2, dated Bangalore, the 1st April 1882.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2061—43 of the 17th
ultimo, forwarding copy of a memorial from the National Muhammadan Association of Cal-
cutta, and requesting my opinion thereon, so far as it is applicable to the Muhammadan com-
munity in Coorg.
2. In reply, I beg to state that, though I sympathize with the complaints of the peti-
tioners, and think that they may have some substantial ground of complaint as regaids other
parts of India, the considerations advanced by them hardly, if at all, affect the Province of
Coorg.