द ब्यूटीफुल ट्री: १८वीं सदी में भारत की स्वदेशी गुरुकुल शिक्षा (धर्मपाल)

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XVI
FROM COLLECTOR, MASULIPATAM TO BOARD
OF REVENUE:
(TNSA: BRP: Pro. 13.1.1823)
To,
The President and Members of the Board of Revenue,
Fort St. George.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to forward the statement of the number
of native schools and colleges and of the number of scholars in
each of the Collectorate under my charge in the Form which
accompanied your Secretary’s letter of 25th July last.
2. In order to render the information more complete under
the head of ‘schools and colleges’, the several languages and
sciences are distinguished, and one additional column is intro-
duced for Chatreya scholars next to that of the Bramins. The
scholars who are instructed in the Gentoo* language usually
enter the schools in their fifth year, and continue in them till
about the twelfth, or seventeenth of their age. The school hours
are from six to nine in the morning, and again from eleven to six
in the evening.
3. They are first taught to read the letters, spelling, and the
names both common and proper, writing on the sand with their
fingers. When they are perfect in that, they are taught the
reading of books (Balaramayanum, Amram, etc.), on cadjans
(useful for the boys) in Sanscrit and Gentoo as well as letters of
correspondence, books of mathematics, accounts, etc., etc.,
according to the pleasure of the relations of the boys.
4. As soon as the boys have learnt to write well on cadjans
or on paper they are removed from the schools to some of the
public or private offices of curnums, paishcar, or to be improved
in keeping accounts, or to schools of foreign languages such as
Persian, English, etc.
158

5. If the boys are of Vydeea Bramins, they are, so soon as
   they can read properly, removed direct from schools to colleges
   of Vadums and Sastrums.
6. The former is said to be the mother to all the sciences of
   Hindoos, and the latter is the common term for all those scienc-
   es, which are in Sanscrit, viz., Law, Astronomy, Theology, etc.,
   etc. These sciences are taught by Bramins only, and more espe-
   cially Bramins holding Agrahrums, Mauneoms, Rozunahs, or
   other emoluments, whose duty it is to observe their religious
   obligation on all occasions.
7. In most of the towns, villages and hamlets of this
   country, the Bramins are teaching their boys the Vadums and
   Sastrums, either in colleges or elsewhere in their respective
   houses.
8. No school or college appears to have been ever built
   separately for that purpose, or to have been endowed by the
   public. Two years ago Vencatanarsimmah Appahrow, the
   zemindar at Ellore, caused a charity school for Gentoo scholars
   to be opened in that town by a school master on a fixed monthly
   stipend of 3 M. pagodas. The scholars instructed therein are 33
   in number, but they in general subsist upon charity.
9. With the exception of dancing girls it is very seldom that
   women of other castes are publicly educated in this part of the
   country.
10. The charges to a Gentoo scholar average 6 annas per
    month for papers, cadjans, books, etc., etc., besides food and
    raiment as well as the pay of their school master. Both of these
    charges of course depend upon the rank and circumstances of
    the relations of the scholars. The wages to the school master are
    commonly from ¼ to 2 rupees for each boy.
11. The colleges of Sanscrit, law and astronomy alluded to
    in the statement are opened by learned and charitable persons,
    some of whom have mauniums etc., and part are supported by
    charity or by presents from their own scholars but receive no
    fixed wages. Some few of the scholars have in like manner
    mauniums, etc., which they inherit from their forefathers, and a
    few are supported by some respectable teachers, or by charity
    subscriptions. The charges of each scholar are estimated upon
    an average at 60 rupees per year for their subsistence, books,
    etc.
    159

12. By the statement now submitted it appears that 4,847
    scholars are receiving education in 465 Gentoo schools, while
    only 199 are studying the Sastrums in 49 colleges.
13. The number of schools for teaching the Persian
    language are few in this part of the country. The Mussulman
    scholars (with the exception of the 41 who are learning the
    Gentoo language) are 236 in 19 schools, their continuance in the
    schools about 9 years (from 6 to 15 of their age), the monthly
    Pay to the school master is from a quarter to one rupee; and the
    charges for writing things are estimated at 4 annas each per
    month. Some of the learned Mussulmans are teaching a few of
    the scholars without receiving reward on account of friendship
    for their relations, and others for a charity; for instance Hussain
    Alli Fukeer son of Muhudeen Shaw at Ellore.
14. None of the institutions appear to have been regularly
    endowed, although probably encouragement and support was
    given to them by the more opulent and powerful natives of
    former days.
    Masulipatam, J.F. Lane,
    3 January 1823. Collector.
    (Statement on following pages)
    160

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XVII
COLLECTOR OF VIZAGAPATAM TO BOARD OF
REVENUE:
14.4.1823
(TNSA: BRP: Vol.947 Pro.1.5.1823 pp.3847-50 Nos.6-7)

1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
   Secretary's letter of the 25th July last requiring a Statement of
   Schools and Colleges in this District.
2. Having now acquired the desired information I beg leave
   to forward the statement which is drawn out according to the
   prescribed Form.
   Waltair Collector's
   Cutcherry, J. Smith,
   14th April 1823.
   Collector
   .
   (Statement on following pages)
   171

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