DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68024#0387
379
10. These proceedings were reported to the Secretary of
State in the despatches marginally noted, and His Lordship
on 13th November 1873 replied as follows :—
But the point of difficulty is also recognised by all to whom the subject is familiar. It lies in the problem
of framing for Muhammadans a course of secular education, which is the only kind that can be given in Govern-
ment institutions, upon the study of a literature which on so many sides of it is intimately connected with their
religion and doctrinal tenets.
His Excellency in Council, nevertheless, believes that the problem thus presented is capable of solution ; that
a course of study can be laid down which shall maintain and encourage the cultivation of Arabic and Persian, of
the history, literature, and philosophy which those languages convey, of their logical system, and of such parts of
Muhammadan law as deal with purely temporal interests, without compromising the Government to the support
of any peculiar school of religious teaching.
His Excellency in Council is willing to sanction the preliminaries of any plan for reconstituting the two
madrissas, which may fall within the limits of these principles.
After referring with approval to the details of the proposals regarding the reorganisation
of the madrissas, the Government of India continued with reference to the Hooghly insti-
tution :—
The Lieutenant-Governor’s proposition is to withdraw the greater; part of the Mohsin Funds from the
Hooghly College, which has no particular local claim, and to use the money for encouraging Muhammadan educa.
fion elsewhere, apportioning it according to need. So much of the present cost of the Hooghly College as would
be left unprovided for by this subtraction of the endowment funds might, His Honour suggests, be then defray-
ed by the State.
His Excellency in Council approves the outlines of this proposal, and considers that some such arrangement
would be consistent with the purposes of the Mohsin endowment, and generally advantageous to Muhammadan
education. But, with regard to the employment of Mohsin funds thus to be set free, His Excellency remarks
hat there are such valid objections to any separate system of denominational schools or colleges that the Gov-
ernment of India prefers not to move further in that direction, although there is no intention of disturbing what
may already exist. His Excellency in Council thinks that the memorandum of Mr. Bernard, and the Lieutenant-
Governor’s observations upon it, suggest the alternative of strengthening certain selected Government institu-
tions on their Muhammadan side, instead of setting up new ones. For instance, the high schools or colleges at
Chittagong and Dacca, in the midst of a great Muhammadan population, might be thus reinforced both in the
way of teaching Arabic and Persian more thoroughly, and of generally cheapening education to Muhammadans
by scholarships and the like. Or a portion of the Mohsin funds might go toward increasing the public grants-
in-aid of Muhammadan schools and colleges.
The details of any scheme which might be worked out upon this design were left in the
hands of the Bengal Government. As to the request for Imperial aid, the Government of
India consented, chiefly in view of Sir George Campbell's scheme for encouraging Muham-
madan education, to increase the regular provincial assignment by an annual additional grant
of R50,000.
9. On the 29th July 1873, the Government of Bengal forwarded, for the information of the
Government of India, a copy of a Resolution recorded by the Lieutenant-Governor explaining
the measures which Sir George Campbell had adopted consequent on the instructions of the
Government of India set forth above and the additional assignment of R50,000. The
measures proposed included a liberal scheme of scholarships for Muhammadan youths attending
colleges and zillah schools, especially for those lads who should elect to pursue the ordinary
English course of study and to read physical science.
Despatch from Home Department,
No. 5, dated the 30th June 1873.
Despatch from Financial Depart-
ment, No. 295, dated the 21st July
1873.
Despatch from Home Department,
No. -6, dated the 1st September 1873.
I fully concur in the views stated in the elaborate Resolution recorded by Your Excellency in Council, under
date of June the 30th, and observe with much gratification that throughout India efforts are being made with
great judgment and earnestness to induce the Muhammadans to partake of the many benefits of our educational
system.
I approve of the proceedings of Your Excellency in Council in relation to Muhammadan education in
Bengal.
Your Lordship in Council is fully aware of the many and peculiar difficulties which surround the subject,
and has issued some very judicious and discriminating instructions to the Government of Bengal. I approve of
the additional assignment of R50,000 which you have granted to that Government.
With your despatch of the 1st of September you have transmitted to me a letter from the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Bengal explanatory of the measures which he has adopted consequent on your instructions and the addi-
tional assignment. The arrangements of the Lieutenant-Governor indicate a very careful disposition of the
means placed at his disposal, and an intelligent appreciation of the great importance of the whole subject.
I cannot conclude without an expression of my cordial satisfaction with the careful and complete manner
in which Your Excellency has dealt with a question, surrounded with so many difficulties, and so intimately con-
nected with the best interests of a very large and influential portion of Her Majesty’s subjects in India.
11. The effect of the measures adopted by the various Local Governments in consequence
of the Resolution of Earl Mayo's Government in 1871 is very fully discussed in the Report of
the Education Commission, with reference to the statistics of the year 1881-82. The facts for
each of the principal provinces may be summarised as follows :—
(A) In Madras, on receipt of the orders of the Government of India, the Local Govern-
ment, notwithstanding a certain amount of opposition on the part of the Educational authorities,
48 a
10. These proceedings were reported to the Secretary of
State in the despatches marginally noted, and His Lordship
on 13th November 1873 replied as follows :—
But the point of difficulty is also recognised by all to whom the subject is familiar. It lies in the problem
of framing for Muhammadans a course of secular education, which is the only kind that can be given in Govern-
ment institutions, upon the study of a literature which on so many sides of it is intimately connected with their
religion and doctrinal tenets.
His Excellency in Council, nevertheless, believes that the problem thus presented is capable of solution ; that
a course of study can be laid down which shall maintain and encourage the cultivation of Arabic and Persian, of
the history, literature, and philosophy which those languages convey, of their logical system, and of such parts of
Muhammadan law as deal with purely temporal interests, without compromising the Government to the support
of any peculiar school of religious teaching.
His Excellency in Council is willing to sanction the preliminaries of any plan for reconstituting the two
madrissas, which may fall within the limits of these principles.
After referring with approval to the details of the proposals regarding the reorganisation
of the madrissas, the Government of India continued with reference to the Hooghly insti-
tution :—
The Lieutenant-Governor’s proposition is to withdraw the greater; part of the Mohsin Funds from the
Hooghly College, which has no particular local claim, and to use the money for encouraging Muhammadan educa.
fion elsewhere, apportioning it according to need. So much of the present cost of the Hooghly College as would
be left unprovided for by this subtraction of the endowment funds might, His Honour suggests, be then defray-
ed by the State.
His Excellency in Council approves the outlines of this proposal, and considers that some such arrangement
would be consistent with the purposes of the Mohsin endowment, and generally advantageous to Muhammadan
education. But, with regard to the employment of Mohsin funds thus to be set free, His Excellency remarks
hat there are such valid objections to any separate system of denominational schools or colleges that the Gov-
ernment of India prefers not to move further in that direction, although there is no intention of disturbing what
may already exist. His Excellency in Council thinks that the memorandum of Mr. Bernard, and the Lieutenant-
Governor’s observations upon it, suggest the alternative of strengthening certain selected Government institu-
tions on their Muhammadan side, instead of setting up new ones. For instance, the high schools or colleges at
Chittagong and Dacca, in the midst of a great Muhammadan population, might be thus reinforced both in the
way of teaching Arabic and Persian more thoroughly, and of generally cheapening education to Muhammadans
by scholarships and the like. Or a portion of the Mohsin funds might go toward increasing the public grants-
in-aid of Muhammadan schools and colleges.
The details of any scheme which might be worked out upon this design were left in the
hands of the Bengal Government. As to the request for Imperial aid, the Government of
India consented, chiefly in view of Sir George Campbell's scheme for encouraging Muham-
madan education, to increase the regular provincial assignment by an annual additional grant
of R50,000.
9. On the 29th July 1873, the Government of Bengal forwarded, for the information of the
Government of India, a copy of a Resolution recorded by the Lieutenant-Governor explaining
the measures which Sir George Campbell had adopted consequent on the instructions of the
Government of India set forth above and the additional assignment of R50,000. The
measures proposed included a liberal scheme of scholarships for Muhammadan youths attending
colleges and zillah schools, especially for those lads who should elect to pursue the ordinary
English course of study and to read physical science.
Despatch from Home Department,
No. 5, dated the 30th June 1873.
Despatch from Financial Depart-
ment, No. 295, dated the 21st July
1873.
Despatch from Home Department,
No. -6, dated the 1st September 1873.
I fully concur in the views stated in the elaborate Resolution recorded by Your Excellency in Council, under
date of June the 30th, and observe with much gratification that throughout India efforts are being made with
great judgment and earnestness to induce the Muhammadans to partake of the many benefits of our educational
system.
I approve of the proceedings of Your Excellency in Council in relation to Muhammadan education in
Bengal.
Your Lordship in Council is fully aware of the many and peculiar difficulties which surround the subject,
and has issued some very judicious and discriminating instructions to the Government of Bengal. I approve of
the additional assignment of R50,000 which you have granted to that Government.
With your despatch of the 1st of September you have transmitted to me a letter from the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Bengal explanatory of the measures which he has adopted consequent on your instructions and the addi-
tional assignment. The arrangements of the Lieutenant-Governor indicate a very careful disposition of the
means placed at his disposal, and an intelligent appreciation of the great importance of the whole subject.
I cannot conclude without an expression of my cordial satisfaction with the careful and complete manner
in which Your Excellency has dealt with a question, surrounded with so many difficulties, and so intimately con-
nected with the best interests of a very large and influential portion of Her Majesty’s subjects in India.
11. The effect of the measures adopted by the various Local Governments in consequence
of the Resolution of Earl Mayo's Government in 1871 is very fully discussed in the Report of
the Education Commission, with reference to the statistics of the year 1881-82. The facts for
each of the principal provinces may be summarised as follows :—
(A) In Madras, on receipt of the orders of the Government of India, the Local Govern-
ment, notwithstanding a certain amount of opposition on the part of the Educational authorities,
48 a