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

XXVI
SECRETARY, BOARD OF REVENUE, FORT ST. GEORGE, TO
COLLECTOR OF CUDDAPAH:
31.1.1825
(TNSA: BRP, Vol.1010 Pro.31.1.1825 No.42, p.841)

1. I am directed by the Board of Revenue to call your
   immediate attention to my predecessor's letter of the 25th July
   1822 requiring a report on the state of education in your district
   and I am desired to request that you will submit the statement
   and information required on this subject with the least possible
   delay.
2. Adverting to the elaborate inquiries made by a former
   Collector in your district regarding all the points necessary to be
   reported on, the Board conceive that there will be no difficulty in
   complying with their orders at an early period.
3. You will be pleased to prepare the statement required
   strictly according to the Form transmitted with the letter above
   referred to.
   Fort St.George, J. Dent,
   31st January, 1825 Secretary.
   223

XXVII
COLLECTOR, CUDDAPAH TO BOARD OF REVENUE:
11.2.1825
(TNSA: BRP: Vol 1011, Pro.17.2.1825 No.33 pp.1272-6-78)

1. I have the honor to reply to your Secretary's letter of the
   31st January calling for the report on the state of education
   throughout this district and to return the statement filled up
   according to the required form.
2. There are no public institutions either schools or
   colleges in this zillah supported by grants of land or any
   allowances from the government and I do not hear of any
   establishment having existed of this description.
3. Instruction of every kind is carried on either privately by
   the pupil residing in the house of his preceptor, or in the schools
   which are supported in every village by the contribution of those
   who have children to be instructed. In the latter case the pupils
   are for the most part in the habit of attending this school at day
   break, after remaining until about 10 o'clock they return home,
   and attend school again from ½ past eleven until sunset—the
   expense varies according to the progress made by the scholar
   and becomes higher at each stage from reading to writing and
   arithmetic—the allowance is of course smallest at first and is
   augmented as the pupil acquires information; the average for the
   lowest class is about ¼ rupee per month for each scholar and
   increases as high as 1 and 1½ but rarely exceeds it. I do not find
   that there are any schools even of this description of the
   instruction of the sciences. Theology, Law, Astronomy are taught
   it appears in a private manner for the most part in small fa-
   milies, and given as an inheritance from father to son. The
   instruction can only be attained by the party applying, either
   from the strongest interest or from relationship to those Bramins
   who are qualified to afford it. Pupils under such circumstances
   appear to reside entirely under the roof of their preceptors and to
   form part of the family.
4. In Cuddapah there are several schools supported by
   voluntary contribution, though it can be hardly called a public
   one as it is confined entirely to the European Gentlemen of the
   place.
   224

5. Instruction generally commences amongst Bramins
   when the child had attained the age of 5 or 6 and amongst the
   Sudras from 6 to 8. This difference is accounted for by a Bramin
   with reference to the superior intellect of his cast over the Sudra
   and therefore his children attain the requisite age for receiving
   instructions much earlier than those of the inferior castes. As in-
   struction amongst the natives here, is encouraged and promoted
   solely in proportion to the personal profit obtainable by it, the
   course of education is considered complete when the scholar be-
   comes a proficient in writing and arithmetic. He is then taken
   from school, all other accomplishments are learned at home, and
   he arrives at experience, and attains improvement in what he
   has already acquired, only by attending his father’s shop and
   writing his accounts, or by being permitted to qualify himself for
   employment by volunteering his services in our public
   Cutcherries. The period during which each scholar receives
   instruction at school (and after the expiration of which he is
   usually considered to have completed his education) is about 2
   years.
6. In nearly all the villages of this district there is an Enam
   set apart, as is doubtless well known to the Board for the sup-
   port of a Punchangum Bramin, and it might be conjectured that
   amongst so many there would be found some who had attained
   considerable perfection in Astronomy and Theology, of this
   however there is hardly an instance. The persons holding such
   Enam are quite content to be ignorant of the higher branches of
   science, their utmost ambition being confined to the distinction
   of foretelling a fortunate hour for reaping or a lucky day for a
   marriage, and of contriving a horoscope for persons of
   distinction in the village.
7. Although there are no schools or colleges supported by
   public contribution, I ought not to omit that amongst Bramins,
   instruction, is in many places gratuitously afforded—and the
   poorer class obtain all their education in this way—at the age of
   from 10 to 16 years. If he has not the means of obtaining
   instruction otherwise a young Bramin leaves his home, and
   proceeds to the residence of a man of his own caste who is
   willing to afford instruction without recompense to all those
   resorting to him for the purpose. They do not however derive
   subsistence from him for as he is generally poor himself, his
   means could not of course give support to others, and even if he
   had the means his giving food and clothing to his pupils would
   attract so many as to defeat the object itself which is professed.
   225

8. The Board would naturally enquire, how these children
   who are so destitute as not to be able to procure instruction in
   their own villages, could subsist in those to which they are
   strangers, and to which they travel from 10 to 100 miles, with no
   intention of returning for several years. They are supported
   entirely by charity, daily repeated, not received from the
   instructor for the reasons above mentioned, but from the
   inhabitants of the villages generally. They receive some portion of
   alms daily (for years) at the door of every Bramin in the village,
   and this is conceded to them with a cheerfulness which
   considering the object in view must be esteemed as a most
   honorable trait in the native character, and its unobtrusiveness
   ought to enhance the value of it. We are undoubtedly indebted to
   this benevolent custom for the general spread of education
   amongst a class of persons whose poverty would otherwise be an
   insurmountable obstacle to advancement in knowledge and it
   will be easily inferred that it requires only the liberal and
   fostering care of government to bring it to perfection.
9. As the only schools in the district supported by charity
   are those which owe their maintenance to the gentlemen at
   Cuddapah, I have entered them in the list under the name of
   ‘subscription schools’.
10. I am not aware that there is any further matter relating
    to this subject which is necessary to be submitted to the Board,
    but I beg to assure them that any deficiency which may be re-
    marked shall be supplied with all the diligence in my power.
11. I cannot conclude this letter without expressing to your
    Board the obligation I am under to Mr Wheatly for the informant
    now submitted, his long residence in the district having afforded
    to him the best opportunity of ascertaining correctly the actual
    state of education throughout.
    Cutcherry of the Collector of
    Cuddapah, Roychooty, G.M. Ogilvie,
    11th February, 1825. Sub-Collector in charge.
    (Statement on following pages)
    226

227

228

XXVIII
COLLECTOR, MADRAS TO BOARD OF REVENUE:
12.2.1825
(TNSA: BRP: Vol 1011, Pro.14.2.1825 No.46 pp.1193-94)
With reference to my letter of the 13th November 1822 I
have the honor to forward another statement of schools, which I
consider to be more correct, and to submit that it may be
substituted for the one transmitted with the letter to which I
have before referred.
Madras Cutcherry, L.G.K. Murray,
12th February 1825. Collector.
(Statement on following page)
229

230

XXIX
BOARD OF REVENUE TO CHIEF SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT:
21.2.1825
(TNSA: BRP: Vol.1011, No.46 Pro.21.2.1825 pp.1412-26)

1. With reference to the instruction of government conveyed
   in a letter from the Secretary to government in the Revenue
   Department under date the 2nd July 1822 and to Mr Secretary
   Stoke's letter of the 21st ultimo, I am directed by the Board of
   Revenue to submit for the information of the Honorable the
   Governor-in-Council the correspondence noted in the margin
   regarding the actual state of education in the Provinces under
   this government.
   Circular to all Collectors dated 25th July 1822
   From the Collector of Ganjam dated 27 October in
   consultations: 6th November 1823.
   From the Collector of Vizagapatam 14th April in
   consultations: 1st May 1823
   From the Collector of Rajahmundry 19th September in
   consultations: 2nd October 1823
   From the Collector of Masulipatam 3rd September in
   consultations: 13th January 1823
   From the Collector of Guntoor 9th September in
   consultations: 14th July 1823
   From the Collector of Nellore 23rd June in consultations:
   30th June 1823
   From the Collector of Bellary 17th June in consultations:
   25th August 1823
   From the Collector of Cuddapah 11th June in
   consultations: 17th February 1825
   From the Collector of Chingleput 3rd June in consultations:
   7th April 1823
   231

From the Principal Collector in the Northern Division of
Arcot 3rd June in consultations: 10th March 1823.
From the Principal Collector in Southern Division of Arcot
29th June in consultations: 7th July 1823
From the Collector of Salem 8th June in consultations:
14th July 1823
From the Principal Collector of Tanjore 28th June in
consultations: 3rd July 1823
From the Collector of Trichinopoly 23rd June in
consultations: 28th August 1823
From the Collector of Madura 5th February in
consultations: 13th February 1823
From the Collector of Tinnevelly 18th October in
consultations: 28th October 1822 & 7th November in
consultations: 18th November 1822
From the Principal Collector of Coimbatore 23rd November
in consultations: 2nd December 1822
From the Principal Collector of Malabar 5th August in
consultations: 14th August 1823
From the Principal Collector of Canara 27th August in
consultations: 5th September 1822
From the Assistant Collector of Seringapatam 29th October
in consultation: 4th November 1822
From the Collector of Madras 13th October in
consultations: 14th November 1822 & 12th October in
consultations: 14th February 1825
2. An abstract statement prepared from the reports of the
several Collectors' is also submitted for the purpose of exhibiting
at one view the information required by the government.
3. This abstract is in the Form transmitted by government,
with an additional column showing the amount of population in
each district according to the Census as some of the Collectors
have stated the numbers differently. Under the head of remarks
the information required by the government regarding the time
232

which scholars usually continue at school, the monthly or yearly
charge to the scholars and other particulars is concisely stated.
4. It will be observed that the schools now existing in the
country are for the most part supported by the payments of the
people who send their children to them for instruction. The rate
of payment for each scholar varies in different districts and
according to the different circumstance of the parents of the
pupils, from 1 anna to 4 rupees per mensem, the ordinary rate
among the poorer classes appears to be generally about 4 annas,
and seldom to exceed ½ rupee.
5. In a few districts only there are endowments for the
support of schools and colleges. In Rajahmundry 69 teachers of
Sciences possess endowments in land, and 13 allowances in
money granted by former Zemindars. In Nellore certain
individuals, Bramins and Mussulmans, are in possession of
allowances in land and money granted by the Carnatic
Government for teaching the Vedas, etc., and Arabic and Persian
respectively to the amount of rupees 1,467 per annum.
In the Northern Division of Arcot, 28 colleges are supported
by mauniums and Marahs granted by former governments
yielding rupees 516 per annum, and 6 Persian schools are
maintained at the public expense at an annual charge of rupees
1,861. In Salem Enam lands estimated to yield rupees 1,109 per
annum are appropriated to the support of 20 teachers of
Theology, etc., and one Mussulman school has land allowed for
its support yielding annually 20 rupees. In Tanjore 44 schools
and 71 colleges are supported by His Highness the Rajah—There
is no school, or college, endowed particularly by the Circar but
there are free schools maintained by the Mission established in
Tanjore which possess a Survamanniam, the annual value
whereof is estimated at 1,100 rupees. In the District of
Trichinopoly there are 7 schools which possess endowments in
land to the extent of 46 cawnies supported by the Zamorin Rajah
which has also some land attached granted by former
governments. In Malabar there is one college to it.
6. It does not appear from the Reports of the Collectors that
any public endowments for the advancement of learning have
been diverted from their original purpose or resumed except in
Salem and Coimbatore. The Collector of Salem says that lands
yielding rupees 384 formerly devoted to this object were
sequestered before the acquisition of the country by the British
233

Government and their produce has since been included in the
revenue of government. The Principal Collector of Coimbatore
reports that Mauniums, etc., granted in former times for the
support of colleges to the value of rupees 2,208 have been
resumed either by the Mussulman or the British Government.
7. The late Collector of Bellary having stated in his report
that none of the institutions for education at present existing in
that district derive support from the state added ‘there is no
doubt that in former times especially under the Hindoo
Government very large grants both in money and in land were
issued for the support of learning’, and further stated his
opinion that many of the Yeomiahs and Shrotriums now held by
Bramins in the district may be traced to this source. No
conditions he observed ‘are stated in the grants issued by the
former governments; they all purport to flow from the free
bounty of the ruling power merely to aid the maintenance of
some holy or learned man. But they were almost universally
granted to learned or religious persons, who maintained schools
for one or more of the Sciences and taught therein gratuitously;
and though not expressed in the deed itself the duty of
continuing such gratuitous instruction was certainly implied in
all such grants.’ It does not appear upon what grounds Mr
Campbell founded his opinion so confidently that the implied
condition of the grants referred to was the continuance of
gratuitous instruction; but it seems not to be the result of
particular investigation. Mr Campbell further suggested with the
view of covering the expense of a general arrangement proposed
by him in this report for the improvement of education that it
might be provided that ‘on the demise—of any persons now
holding Yeomiahs or alienated lands a new enquiry be instituted
and that though the same may have been continued for more
than one generation by the British Government it may be
resumed and carried to a new fund to be termed, “the school
fund”, unless it is clearly stated in the body of the original grant
to be hereditary, or the intention of the ruling power at the time
to make such grant hereditary be clearly proved to the
satisfaction of government.’ The Board have little doubt that the
resumption of lands now alienated, in the manner suggested by
Mr Campbell would produce ample funds for the purpose
contemplated but they conceive that the two objects in view,
namely, the recovery of alienated lands, and the establishment of
a fund for the support of schools should be kept entirely distinct
and separate. The establishment of schools in every part of the
country under any general plan should be regulated
234

by the wants of the people in the respect to education and
should not in any degree depend upon the accidental
circumstance of the amount of a particular fund being great or
less in different situations.
8. The Board think it proper to offer this remark in regard
to the suggestion of Mr Campbell which has just been noticed,
but it appears to them to be unnecessary at this time to discuss
the plan proposed by him for the improvement of education and
his general speculations on the subject conceiving it to be the
desire of government at present only to receive information
regarding the actual state of education in order that it may be
seen what are the deficiencies to be supplied.
9. That these deficiencies are lamentably great is shown in
every one of the reports now submitted, and the general result of
the whole from which it appears that out of a population
estimated by the Census at above 12 million and a half only
about 1,88,000 are receiving instruction or about 13¾ percent is
most unsatisfactory.
10. It will be remarked that no statement is submitted of
the number of schools, etc., in Canara. The late Principal
Collector reported that education is conducted in that district so
much in private that any statement of the number of schools
and of the scholars attending them would be of little or no use,
but on the contrary rather fallacious in forming an estimate of
the proportion of the population receiving instruction. He stated
generally that there are no colleges in Canara for the cultivation
of ‘abstract Science, neither are there any fixed schools and
masters to teach in them. There is no instance known of any
institution of the above descriptions having even received
support in any shape from the former government.’
11. Notwithstanding the observations of Mr Harris the
Board have thought it proper to call again upon the present
Principal Collector to furnish a Statement of Schools, etc.,
prepared in the form transmitted by government which shall be
submitted to the Hon’ble the Governor-in-Council as soon as it
is received.
Fort St. George, J. Dent,
21st February, 1825. Secretary.
(Statement on following pages)
235

236

237

238

239

240

241

REMARKS
Ganjam:
There are no schools or colleges in this district endowed by
the Circar. The teachers in the schools are paid monthly by the
scholars at various rates from 4 annas to 1 rupee each. The
Shastras, etc., are usually taught privately to Bramins. The
statement is not complete in respect to the Hill Zemindaries from
which satisfactory accounts could not be procured.
Vizagapatam:
It does not appear that there are any colleges in this
district. The schools are not endowed by the public; 2 only are
stated to receive a payment from the Zemindar of Chamoodoo at
the rate of 50 rupees annually. The teachers are paid at various
rates from one anna to 1 rupee for each scholar per mensem.
Private teachers in families of respectability are paid a monthly
or yearly stipend according to their acquirement and the rank
and opulence of their employer.
Rajahmundry:
Some of the schools in this district are endowed by the
public. The teachers are paid by the scholars at rates varying
from 1 rupee to 2 annas, 7 annas being the average rate per
mensem. The scholars are entered at school in their fifth year
and continue at their studies from 5 to 7 years. The number of
professors or teachers of the Sciences is 279; of these 69 possess
allowances in land and 13 in money granted by former
Zemindars; 196 teach their scholars without fee or reward and
only one is supported by his scholars. In the villages in which no
schools at present exist the inhabitants are desirous of having
them established. It might be done with a small contribution
from government to the pay of the teachers. The Collector
considered 2 rupees a month to each to be sufficient.
Masulipatam:
None of the institutions for the purpose of education in this
district appear to have been regularly endowed. One Charity
School only is supported at Ellore by the Zemindar by the
payment of a monthly stipend of 3 pagodas to the teacher. The
scholars usually enter in the schools in their 5th year and
continue in them until they are from 12 to 16 years of age. The
greater proportion are then employed on public or private
242