DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0353
345
sumed it become insolvent in a short time. It is otherwise with a Bahor a class of Muham-
madans who come from Guzerat, &c. The Muhammadans seem to have lost all the enter-
prising1 spirits of traders which old Arabs had in past ages.
Paragraph 18 is quite inapplicable to Berar. 1 see many an officer (of whom Major
J. Fitzgerald, the Deputy Commissioner of Akola District, is an honourable instance) making
every effort to get competent Muhammadans, but they are generally unable to get any.
Paragraph 19 is not wholly applicable to Berar. The rules of Muhammadan law are
so much tinged with the colour of local usage and custom, that it would be erroneous to
apply the Muhammadan law, pure and simple, as it is recognized by other nations professing
Islam. Of course the people here have every respect for Muhammadan law, but a Judge
must be well versed in Muhammadan law, and must thoroughly enquire into the local usage
and custom before he can pass an equitable judgment and decree. The present Kazis in these
days are an ignorant lot of people in this province. They are a burden on the nation, and
are nothing but drones.
The prayer in paragraph 21 is based on a misconception of the causes of Muhammadan
decline in these days. Look to Turkey, Persia, Egypt, or any other Muhammadan State
or Government, the true cause of the decline of Muhammadans is apparent on the face
of it, viz., the ignorance of the sciences and arts as improved in the present a<je. The ghosts
of Averroes, Aviceana, and Gozzali, never appear before the Muhammadans in these days*
The commerce, the pride of the old Arabs, is despised. The learning of middle ages which
has restored science to the world is forgotten. Still these memorialists in their fondness for
Muhammadans implore for State patronage, and wish to attain without labour to that posi-
tion which they should only be allowed to attain on high culture. It is the best and only
patronage to which the Musalmans aspire that sufficient facilities be given and proper methods
devised for their education. They being quite helpless, the responsibility of the care of their
education is thrown on Government. It would undoubtedly be a retrograde step if they were
allowed high preferments without due qualification. Ultimately, it will give a bad name, and
they will be nothing better than the spoilt child of a fond mother. In Berar the Muham-
madans are lamentably ignorant of all sciences and arts. In Northern India they are not so
backward in sciences as in arts. The Muhammadans have got sufficient brains. They only
want their proper development. For the Muhammadans to rise in the scale of civilisation.
Government aid is absolutely needed. To this end they must study sciences and arts. Both
paragraphs 21 and 22 are founded on erroneous principle. The prayer in paragraph 23 is
quite reasonable. In the days of Native Government it was considered the duty of these waqf-
holders to educate the people. Now these endowments are not only misused, but they have
now altogether changed their character. In Berar there is not a single waqf which is applied
to its legitimate end. A very comprehensive scheme for the education of Muhammadans can
be devised if these endowments be applied to their legitimate purpose. As stated in paragraph
24, the cause of Muhammadan decline is undoubtedly their want of education, and a thorough
diagnosis of the case is undoubtedly necessary. .Paragraph 25 is irrelevant to the case of
Muhammadans in Berar.
It is a matter of great regret that this province is very backward in its laws. The legal
qualification is required to be of a very superficial kind. The laws are not properly studied.
Most intricate propositions of law cannot be understood, because there is no ground-work for
them. Codes of law are generally despised. Under such circumstances, I do not know how
Muhammadan law can properly be administered. So long as the laws applicable to this pro-
vince are not codified, it is hopeless to expect any scheme like the one prayed for in paragraph
26 of the memorial. Cases involving questions of pure Muhammadan law very seldom occur.
Whenever they occur, I believe they are decided according to “ equity and good conscience.”
From this criticism it will appear that two things are primarily required for this pro-
vince, viz.:—
I—A better system of education suitable to the wants of Muhammadan community in Berar,
II—Better use of endowments throughout this province to facilitate the cause of Muham-
madan education.
If the Government arrange these matters so as to suit the circumstances of Muham-
madan community, it will have done its duty towards one of the most backward of its sub-
jects in tiie province of Berar.
(b) Correspondence on the subject of raising the Calcutta Madrassah to the status
OF A SECOND GRADE COLLEGE.
Extract paragraphs 13 and 14 of a letter from the Govern ment of Bengal, General Department, to the
Government of India Home Department,—No. 481 T.— G., dated the 14th October 1882.
Paragraph 13.—For several years past the question of the establishment of a Muham-
madan college in Calcutta has been before the Bengal Government, and last year it was
uro'ed anew on the attention of the late Lieutenant-Governor by the Honourable Syud Ameer
44
sumed it become insolvent in a short time. It is otherwise with a Bahor a class of Muham-
madans who come from Guzerat, &c. The Muhammadans seem to have lost all the enter-
prising1 spirits of traders which old Arabs had in past ages.
Paragraph 18 is quite inapplicable to Berar. 1 see many an officer (of whom Major
J. Fitzgerald, the Deputy Commissioner of Akola District, is an honourable instance) making
every effort to get competent Muhammadans, but they are generally unable to get any.
Paragraph 19 is not wholly applicable to Berar. The rules of Muhammadan law are
so much tinged with the colour of local usage and custom, that it would be erroneous to
apply the Muhammadan law, pure and simple, as it is recognized by other nations professing
Islam. Of course the people here have every respect for Muhammadan law, but a Judge
must be well versed in Muhammadan law, and must thoroughly enquire into the local usage
and custom before he can pass an equitable judgment and decree. The present Kazis in these
days are an ignorant lot of people in this province. They are a burden on the nation, and
are nothing but drones.
The prayer in paragraph 21 is based on a misconception of the causes of Muhammadan
decline in these days. Look to Turkey, Persia, Egypt, or any other Muhammadan State
or Government, the true cause of the decline of Muhammadans is apparent on the face
of it, viz., the ignorance of the sciences and arts as improved in the present a<je. The ghosts
of Averroes, Aviceana, and Gozzali, never appear before the Muhammadans in these days*
The commerce, the pride of the old Arabs, is despised. The learning of middle ages which
has restored science to the world is forgotten. Still these memorialists in their fondness for
Muhammadans implore for State patronage, and wish to attain without labour to that posi-
tion which they should only be allowed to attain on high culture. It is the best and only
patronage to which the Musalmans aspire that sufficient facilities be given and proper methods
devised for their education. They being quite helpless, the responsibility of the care of their
education is thrown on Government. It would undoubtedly be a retrograde step if they were
allowed high preferments without due qualification. Ultimately, it will give a bad name, and
they will be nothing better than the spoilt child of a fond mother. In Berar the Muham-
madans are lamentably ignorant of all sciences and arts. In Northern India they are not so
backward in sciences as in arts. The Muhammadans have got sufficient brains. They only
want their proper development. For the Muhammadans to rise in the scale of civilisation.
Government aid is absolutely needed. To this end they must study sciences and arts. Both
paragraphs 21 and 22 are founded on erroneous principle. The prayer in paragraph 23 is
quite reasonable. In the days of Native Government it was considered the duty of these waqf-
holders to educate the people. Now these endowments are not only misused, but they have
now altogether changed their character. In Berar there is not a single waqf which is applied
to its legitimate end. A very comprehensive scheme for the education of Muhammadans can
be devised if these endowments be applied to their legitimate purpose. As stated in paragraph
24, the cause of Muhammadan decline is undoubtedly their want of education, and a thorough
diagnosis of the case is undoubtedly necessary. .Paragraph 25 is irrelevant to the case of
Muhammadans in Berar.
It is a matter of great regret that this province is very backward in its laws. The legal
qualification is required to be of a very superficial kind. The laws are not properly studied.
Most intricate propositions of law cannot be understood, because there is no ground-work for
them. Codes of law are generally despised. Under such circumstances, I do not know how
Muhammadan law can properly be administered. So long as the laws applicable to this pro-
vince are not codified, it is hopeless to expect any scheme like the one prayed for in paragraph
26 of the memorial. Cases involving questions of pure Muhammadan law very seldom occur.
Whenever they occur, I believe they are decided according to “ equity and good conscience.”
From this criticism it will appear that two things are primarily required for this pro-
vince, viz.:—
I—A better system of education suitable to the wants of Muhammadan community in Berar,
II—Better use of endowments throughout this province to facilitate the cause of Muham-
madan education.
If the Government arrange these matters so as to suit the circumstances of Muham-
madan community, it will have done its duty towards one of the most backward of its sub-
jects in tiie province of Berar.
(b) Correspondence on the subject of raising the Calcutta Madrassah to the status
OF A SECOND GRADE COLLEGE.
Extract paragraphs 13 and 14 of a letter from the Govern ment of Bengal, General Department, to the
Government of India Home Department,—No. 481 T.— G., dated the 14th October 1882.
Paragraph 13.—For several years past the question of the establishment of a Muham-
madan college in Calcutta has been before the Bengal Government, and last year it was
uro'ed anew on the attention of the late Lieutenant-Governor by the Honourable Syud Ameer
44