DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0355
347
From A. Mackenzie, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, to the President of the Education Commis-
sion,—No. 565, dated Fort William, the 21st December 1882.
I am directed to forward herewith copy of a letter* from the Government of Bengal,
• No. 104, dated the 17th February glvln^ cover to a memorial from the National Muhammadan
1882. Association at Calcutta, together with copy of the correspond-
t Vide accompanying list. encef which has taken place with Local Governments and
Administrations in connection therewith. In forwarding these
papers, I am to say that it appears to the Governor General in Council very desirable that the
information bearing upon the question of the education of Muhammadans in British India
which is contained in these papers should be laid before the Education Commission, in order
that the matter may receive the careful consideration which it deserves, and that the views and
recommendations of the Commission on this important subject may be placed upon record in
their report.
From the Honourable W. W. C.I B., President of the Education Commission, to the Seoretarv
to the Government of India,-No. 4607, dated Calcutta, the 17th March 1883. 1
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 565, dated the
December 1882, forwarding, for the opinion of the Education Commission, certain papers
connected with a proposal to establish college classes in the Calcutta Madrassa The snlnect
has received the careful consideration of the Commission, and I now submit the results of
its deliberations. 01
. ■ hl?' arC by ,n0 7Ca?S inc,ined to admit> a general principle, the
desirability of establishing separate schools or colleges for the benefit of special classes. In
ordinary cases, they are of opinion that Hindu and Muhammadan students alike benefit bv
the intercourse and emulation involved in attendance at the same school. They believe that
denominational institutions tend to confirm and intensify social or national prejudices B t
they are also aware that the circumstances of the Muhammadan community in Be 1 ”
in important.respects exceptional They have learned that the attitude of Muhammadan
towards English education has undergone, and is still undergoing, significant changes They
understand that the reason why so few Muhammadans are found in the Colleges and High
Schools of Bengal, is now rather their poverty than their hostility; that the latter caufe
wh. e it still exists >s losing rte force; and that the former is chiefly due to the reluctance
of their ancestors to qualify by an English education for the public service and the profes
sions, and generally for positions of importance and emoluments. Special eases need special
treatment, and m that view the Commission have come to the conclusion that it is desirable
to open college classes in the Madrassa teaching to the First Arts examination, although not
to a higher standard They have been confirmed in their opinion by learning that the
Government of Benga, after carrying out for some years a policy based on the principles
enunciated m the earlier part of this paragraph, have come to the conclusion that that
policy does not satisfy the present conditions of the case. When a similar request was made
a few years ago for the establishment of college classes in the Madrassa, the Government of
Bengal was not convinced of the utility of the proposal. The demand was met by the
liberal concession that two-thirds of the fees of Muhammadan students reading ' *
of the colleges of Calcutta should be paid from the Mohsin Endowment Fund*11 Th^
enlightened policy has greatly stimulated the higher education of Muhammadans in C 1 H
and its neighbourhood; but it appears to be felt that, in order to give fuller and wider effect
to the movement now taking place, measures of a more special kind are needed. The C
sion concur in this view. ’ ommis-
3. They believe that the establishment in Calcutta of a Muhammadan college would
appeal to what has been called “a sentiment of unquestioned force,” and would o-reatlv
stimulate the demand for high education among Muhammadans. Its effects would be felt
throughout the country: in Behar and Eastern Bengal, as well as in the advanced districts
around Calcutta, Muhammadans in remote parts would come to know that a Muhammad
college had been established in Calcutta in connection with the Madrassa, and theref
a basis consonant with their habits, traditions, and cherished beliefs. Their children H
be sent to English schools in greater numbers, or kept at such schools for a lono-er E°U
and it might reasonably be anticipated that the number of Muhammadan pupils pas^nJ
the Entrance examination would after no long interval show a considerable increase. Th"'
Commission regard this as a consideration of the first importance: for whether a
college for Muhammadans be established or not, it is only on the condition that a huger
number of Muhammadan students matriculate, that collegiate education can be extended
among Muhammadans. It is believed the establishment of a separate colleo-e would ’
existing circumstances, greatly contribute to this result. & 1 111
44 a
From A. Mackenzie, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, to the President of the Education Commis-
sion,—No. 565, dated Fort William, the 21st December 1882.
I am directed to forward herewith copy of a letter* from the Government of Bengal,
• No. 104, dated the 17th February glvln^ cover to a memorial from the National Muhammadan
1882. Association at Calcutta, together with copy of the correspond-
t Vide accompanying list. encef which has taken place with Local Governments and
Administrations in connection therewith. In forwarding these
papers, I am to say that it appears to the Governor General in Council very desirable that the
information bearing upon the question of the education of Muhammadans in British India
which is contained in these papers should be laid before the Education Commission, in order
that the matter may receive the careful consideration which it deserves, and that the views and
recommendations of the Commission on this important subject may be placed upon record in
their report.
From the Honourable W. W. C.I B., President of the Education Commission, to the Seoretarv
to the Government of India,-No. 4607, dated Calcutta, the 17th March 1883. 1
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 565, dated the
December 1882, forwarding, for the opinion of the Education Commission, certain papers
connected with a proposal to establish college classes in the Calcutta Madrassa The snlnect
has received the careful consideration of the Commission, and I now submit the results of
its deliberations. 01
. ■ hl?' arC by ,n0 7Ca?S inc,ined to admit> a general principle, the
desirability of establishing separate schools or colleges for the benefit of special classes. In
ordinary cases, they are of opinion that Hindu and Muhammadan students alike benefit bv
the intercourse and emulation involved in attendance at the same school. They believe that
denominational institutions tend to confirm and intensify social or national prejudices B t
they are also aware that the circumstances of the Muhammadan community in Be 1 ”
in important.respects exceptional They have learned that the attitude of Muhammadan
towards English education has undergone, and is still undergoing, significant changes They
understand that the reason why so few Muhammadans are found in the Colleges and High
Schools of Bengal, is now rather their poverty than their hostility; that the latter caufe
wh. e it still exists >s losing rte force; and that the former is chiefly due to the reluctance
of their ancestors to qualify by an English education for the public service and the profes
sions, and generally for positions of importance and emoluments. Special eases need special
treatment, and m that view the Commission have come to the conclusion that it is desirable
to open college classes in the Madrassa teaching to the First Arts examination, although not
to a higher standard They have been confirmed in their opinion by learning that the
Government of Benga, after carrying out for some years a policy based on the principles
enunciated m the earlier part of this paragraph, have come to the conclusion that that
policy does not satisfy the present conditions of the case. When a similar request was made
a few years ago for the establishment of college classes in the Madrassa, the Government of
Bengal was not convinced of the utility of the proposal. The demand was met by the
liberal concession that two-thirds of the fees of Muhammadan students reading ' *
of the colleges of Calcutta should be paid from the Mohsin Endowment Fund*11 Th^
enlightened policy has greatly stimulated the higher education of Muhammadans in C 1 H
and its neighbourhood; but it appears to be felt that, in order to give fuller and wider effect
to the movement now taking place, measures of a more special kind are needed. The C
sion concur in this view. ’ ommis-
3. They believe that the establishment in Calcutta of a Muhammadan college would
appeal to what has been called “a sentiment of unquestioned force,” and would o-reatlv
stimulate the demand for high education among Muhammadans. Its effects would be felt
throughout the country: in Behar and Eastern Bengal, as well as in the advanced districts
around Calcutta, Muhammadans in remote parts would come to know that a Muhammad
college had been established in Calcutta in connection with the Madrassa, and theref
a basis consonant with their habits, traditions, and cherished beliefs. Their children H
be sent to English schools in greater numbers, or kept at such schools for a lono-er E°U
and it might reasonably be anticipated that the number of Muhammadan pupils pas^nJ
the Entrance examination would after no long interval show a considerable increase. Th"'
Commission regard this as a consideration of the first importance: for whether a
college for Muhammadans be established or not, it is only on the condition that a huger
number of Muhammadan students matriculate, that collegiate education can be extended
among Muhammadans. It is believed the establishment of a separate colleo-e would ’
existing circumstances, greatly contribute to this result. & 1 111
44 a