DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0356
31S
4. The Education Commission, however, are not disposed to recommend the establish-
ment of classes reading for the B. A. degree. First Arts classes could be opened at a
comparatively small cost; and it appears undesirable to incur any great outlay until the
success of what is, after all, but an experiment has been ascertained by experience. The
chief requirement is to provide Muhammadan students with an incentive to enter, and with
the means of entering, on a course of collegiate instruction. After they have once passed
the First Arts examination, there is little danger that they will discontinue their studies
even though they no longer pursue them in a separate institution.
5. But the second and more important reason which has guided the Commission to
this conclusion is that it would hardly be possible for the Government to establish a college
for Muhammadans teaching to the B. A. standard on such a basis of efficiency that it could
hold its own against the other colleges of Calcutta. Financial grounds would probably
necessitate the appointment of a very moderate staff of Professors; and hence a lower
standard of study and instruction would alone be open to the students of the Madrassa
College. Those who have the interests of Muhammadan education at heart could not view
this result with satisfaction. Nor again do the Commission lose sight of the advantage
of securing to Muhammadan students the opportunity of intercourse with Hindus, such as
the arrangement proposed would afford them during the later portion of their collegiate course.
6. In making the foregoing recommendations for the establishment of First Arts classes,
the Commission desire to express their opinion that Muhammadan students should be in no
way compelled to join those classes. If a student preferred to read in a mofussil college, or
in any of the colleges of Calcutta, he should, the Commission think, be allowed to do so on
the same terms and with the same privileges as to fees which he now enjoys.
7. It also appears to the Commission to be doubtful whether it is desirable to close any
of the Mohsin Madrassas, established in various parts of Bengal, with the view of providing
funds for the establishment of college classes in Calcutta. As has been pointed out by Nawab
Abdul Lateef, there is a real and legitimate demand among the Muhammadan community for
the kind of learning which is imparted in these Madrassas. Such learning is in fact essential
to any one who aspires to become a Kazi or a Maulavi; and the importance of the duties
which these officers discharge is too well known to require comment.
8. The enclosures received with your letter under reply will be returned on the arrival
at Simla of the records of the Education Commission.
From A. P. MacDonnell, Esq., Officiating Secretary to the Government of Bengal, to the Secretary to the
Government of India,—No. 423T.—G., dated Darjeeling, the 30th June 1883.
With reference to Mr. Forbes’ demi-official letter dated the 4th instant, on the subject of
raising the Calcutta Madrissa to the rank of a second grade college, I am desired by the
Lieutenant-Governor to submit the following observations for the consideration of the Govern-
ment of India.
2. In my letter No. 481T.—G., of the 14th October 1882, reasons were stated why, in
the Lieutenant-Governor’s opinion, it was desirable to raise the Calcutta Madrissa to the
status of a college, and it was suggested that the funds necessary for the purpose could be
appropriately procured by the abolition of mofussil Madrissas. Since then further enquiries
have been made as to the amount of funds necessary for the object in view, and as to the
extent to which it might be necessary to proceed in the reduction of mofussil Madrissas.
The result of these enquiries tend to show that for the purpose of raising the Calcutta
Madrissa to the status of a college, it is unnecessary to abolish more than one mofussil
Madrissa; and there is a consensus of opinion on the part of the Education Department and
the representatives of the Muhammadan community, that the Madrissa which ought to be
abolished is that at Rajshahye. Its success has been very limited; it is not needed by any
large local demand for oriental learning, and the advantages to be expected from using its
funds in support of the Calcutta Madrissa College will far outweigh any possible temporary
evil which may result from its abolition. The Lieutenant-Governor therefore proposes, with
the consent of the Government of India, to abolish the Rajshahye Madrissa, and appropriate
its funds in support of the Madrissa at Calcutta.
3. In the letter of the Director of Public Instruction, No. 1789 of 13th March, for-
warded for the consideration of the Government of India, with my demi-official of 15th May,
to Mr. Forbes’ address, a scheme of establishment for the Madrissa College was sketched
out. That scheme has the Lieutenant-Governor’s general approval. In respect, however, to
the matter of Dr. Hoernle’s pay, he would slightly modify it. Dr. Hoernle at present is in
the fourth grade of the Educational Service, drawing in that capacity a salary of R550 per
month. He also receives an allowance of R300 per month as Principal of the Madrissa.
This allowance he will lose on the Madrissa being raised to the status of a college; and it
4. The Education Commission, however, are not disposed to recommend the establish-
ment of classes reading for the B. A. degree. First Arts classes could be opened at a
comparatively small cost; and it appears undesirable to incur any great outlay until the
success of what is, after all, but an experiment has been ascertained by experience. The
chief requirement is to provide Muhammadan students with an incentive to enter, and with
the means of entering, on a course of collegiate instruction. After they have once passed
the First Arts examination, there is little danger that they will discontinue their studies
even though they no longer pursue them in a separate institution.
5. But the second and more important reason which has guided the Commission to
this conclusion is that it would hardly be possible for the Government to establish a college
for Muhammadans teaching to the B. A. standard on such a basis of efficiency that it could
hold its own against the other colleges of Calcutta. Financial grounds would probably
necessitate the appointment of a very moderate staff of Professors; and hence a lower
standard of study and instruction would alone be open to the students of the Madrassa
College. Those who have the interests of Muhammadan education at heart could not view
this result with satisfaction. Nor again do the Commission lose sight of the advantage
of securing to Muhammadan students the opportunity of intercourse with Hindus, such as
the arrangement proposed would afford them during the later portion of their collegiate course.
6. In making the foregoing recommendations for the establishment of First Arts classes,
the Commission desire to express their opinion that Muhammadan students should be in no
way compelled to join those classes. If a student preferred to read in a mofussil college, or
in any of the colleges of Calcutta, he should, the Commission think, be allowed to do so on
the same terms and with the same privileges as to fees which he now enjoys.
7. It also appears to the Commission to be doubtful whether it is desirable to close any
of the Mohsin Madrassas, established in various parts of Bengal, with the view of providing
funds for the establishment of college classes in Calcutta. As has been pointed out by Nawab
Abdul Lateef, there is a real and legitimate demand among the Muhammadan community for
the kind of learning which is imparted in these Madrassas. Such learning is in fact essential
to any one who aspires to become a Kazi or a Maulavi; and the importance of the duties
which these officers discharge is too well known to require comment.
8. The enclosures received with your letter under reply will be returned on the arrival
at Simla of the records of the Education Commission.
From A. P. MacDonnell, Esq., Officiating Secretary to the Government of Bengal, to the Secretary to the
Government of India,—No. 423T.—G., dated Darjeeling, the 30th June 1883.
With reference to Mr. Forbes’ demi-official letter dated the 4th instant, on the subject of
raising the Calcutta Madrissa to the rank of a second grade college, I am desired by the
Lieutenant-Governor to submit the following observations for the consideration of the Govern-
ment of India.
2. In my letter No. 481T.—G., of the 14th October 1882, reasons were stated why, in
the Lieutenant-Governor’s opinion, it was desirable to raise the Calcutta Madrissa to the
status of a college, and it was suggested that the funds necessary for the purpose could be
appropriately procured by the abolition of mofussil Madrissas. Since then further enquiries
have been made as to the amount of funds necessary for the object in view, and as to the
extent to which it might be necessary to proceed in the reduction of mofussil Madrissas.
The result of these enquiries tend to show that for the purpose of raising the Calcutta
Madrissa to the status of a college, it is unnecessary to abolish more than one mofussil
Madrissa; and there is a consensus of opinion on the part of the Education Department and
the representatives of the Muhammadan community, that the Madrissa which ought to be
abolished is that at Rajshahye. Its success has been very limited; it is not needed by any
large local demand for oriental learning, and the advantages to be expected from using its
funds in support of the Calcutta Madrissa College will far outweigh any possible temporary
evil which may result from its abolition. The Lieutenant-Governor therefore proposes, with
the consent of the Government of India, to abolish the Rajshahye Madrissa, and appropriate
its funds in support of the Madrissa at Calcutta.
3. In the letter of the Director of Public Instruction, No. 1789 of 13th March, for-
warded for the consideration of the Government of India, with my demi-official of 15th May,
to Mr. Forbes’ address, a scheme of establishment for the Madrissa College was sketched
out. That scheme has the Lieutenant-Governor’s general approval. In respect, however, to
the matter of Dr. Hoernle’s pay, he would slightly modify it. Dr. Hoernle at present is in
the fourth grade of the Educational Service, drawing in that capacity a salary of R550 per
month. He also receives an allowance of R300 per month as Principal of the Madrissa.
This allowance he will lose on the Madrissa being raised to the status of a college; and it