DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22900#0354
chap, vi.] MO VEMENT IN CALCUTTA.
3°7
cient talking, and that the time had arrived for
action. Accordingly the work was inaugurated that
very evening. But the first and essential question
to be answered was, Could anything be done without
pecuniary aid \ This difficulty was also overcome.
Several members of the society not only volunteered
to act as teachers but offered apartments in their
own houses as temporary schoolrooms. The hours of
instruction were fixed from seven till ten a.m., so
that the other avocations of the volunteer teachers
mioht not be interfered with.
O
Under this arrangement four Parsi girls' schools
were opened on the 22d of October 1849, and on the
first day forty-four pupils attended.
It must be mentioned that about this time, when
the question of female education was attracting the
greatest attention in Bombay, a new stimulus came
from an unexpected quarter. It happened that the
cause of female education was being advocated in Cal-
cutta, at the same time, with a spirit and eloquence
almost unprecedented by the late Mr. Drinkwater
Bethune, at that time law member of the Legislative
Council of India. His large-hearted munificence and
broad views seemed to promise for Eastern India the
commencement of an era of increased happiness and
knowledge. In Bombay his example and exertions
roused to action the spirit of youthful patriots. In
that city they had no high official to back them
3°7
cient talking, and that the time had arrived for
action. Accordingly the work was inaugurated that
very evening. But the first and essential question
to be answered was, Could anything be done without
pecuniary aid \ This difficulty was also overcome.
Several members of the society not only volunteered
to act as teachers but offered apartments in their
own houses as temporary schoolrooms. The hours of
instruction were fixed from seven till ten a.m., so
that the other avocations of the volunteer teachers
mioht not be interfered with.
O
Under this arrangement four Parsi girls' schools
were opened on the 22d of October 1849, and on the
first day forty-four pupils attended.
It must be mentioned that about this time, when
the question of female education was attracting the
greatest attention in Bombay, a new stimulus came
from an unexpected quarter. It happened that the
cause of female education was being advocated in Cal-
cutta, at the same time, with a spirit and eloquence
almost unprecedented by the late Mr. Drinkwater
Bethune, at that time law member of the Legislative
Council of India. His large-hearted munificence and
broad views seemed to promise for Eastern India the
commencement of an era of increased happiness and
knowledge. In Bombay his example and exertions
roused to action the spirit of youthful patriots. In
that city they had no high official to back them