Adam's Reports on Vernacular Education in Bengal and Behar/Report 1/Section 14

SECTION XIV.

The District and City of Moorshedabad.

Population.—This district comprises a portion of territory in the immediate vicinity of the city. In 1801, the total population of the district, including the city, was estimated at 1,020,572 persons, in the proportion of two Hindoos to one Mahomedan.

Indigenous Elementary Schools.—Nothing is said of such schools by any of my authorities, but I deem it quite unquestionable that, although possibly not very numerous, they exist to some extent both in the district and city.

Elementary Schools not Indigenous.—I find mention made only of one such school. It is in the city and is connected with the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society. At the close of 1834 it contained upwards of 60 regular scholars, but since the scriptures have been introduced as a class-book all the Brahmans and some other boys have left. Upwards of 40 remain. The higher classes are taught arithmetic, letter-writing, geography, &c.

Indigenous Schools of Learning.—In 1801, there was said to be only one school in the district for instruction in the Mahomedan law, while there were twenty for instruction in the Hindoo laws and customs. It seems very probable that the number both of Hindoo and Mahomedan schools of learning was then and still is much greater.

In December 1818, the collector of Moorshedabad forwarded to the Board of Revenue the petition of one Kali Kanta Sarma, praying for the continuance to him of a pension of five rupees per month, which had been frranted to his father, Jaya Ram Nyaya Panchanan, by the late Maha Rani Bhawani, former zemindar of Chucklah Rajshahy, for the support of a Hindoo college at that place. The Collector accompanied the petition by a statement that the pension had, as represented, been enjoyed by the father of the petitioner and confirmed to him by the Government on the report of the Collector in 1796, and that the petitioner was of good character and qualified for the superintendence of the college. The Revenue Board on forwarding this petition and the Collector’s letter to the Government observed that the pension had in fact lapsed to the Government in 1811, the petitioner not being then qualified to discharge the duties of the office, but that it was intended fully to ascertain his fitness for the office and in the event of his competency to give it to him. “On general principles,” the Board added, “we entertain the opinion that pensions granted for the maintenance of public institutions for education and instruction should not be resumed so long as they shall be appropriated bonâ fide for the purpose for which they were assigned; and we observe on reference to our proceedings that Government has generally been pleased to continue pensions for similar purposes, the Board having previously ascertained the qualifications of the persons in whose favor they have been granted, and we are accordingly induced to recommend the present claim to the favourable consideration of his Lordship in Council” On this recommendation the Government confirmed Kali Kanth Sarma in the receipt of this pension; and upon his decease in 1821 it was by the same authority conferred on his brother Chandrasiva Nyayalankara whose claim was undisputed and who then maintained seven students, five of them resident in his house.

In July 1822, the Collector of Moorshedabad forwarded to the Revenue Board a petition from Kishanath Nyaja Panchanand, the son of Ramkisore Sarma, reporting the death of his father, and praying the transfer and continuance to himself of a monthly pension of five Rupees which had been granted in 1793 for the support of a Hindoo seminary at Vyspur near Colapur. The Collector reported the petitioner to be the heir and rightful claimant of the pension and well qualified for the performance of the duties of the school. Under these circumstances the transfer of the pension from the name of Ramkisore Sarma to his son Kishanath Nyaya Panchanand was authorized.

Schools of Learning not Indigenous.—In 1826, Mr. W. L. Melville, who then held the situation of Agent to the Governor General at Moorshedahad, reported the establishment of a college and school in that city in pursuance of the orders of Government, in the accomplishment of which he stated that he had had to encounter some difficulties and delays. The head-maulavi and other principal officers were selected from the Calcutta college, with the expection of Maulavi Musurat Ali, who out of deference to the religious tenents of the Nizam’s family was chosen from the Sheah sect. This Native, having been strongly recommended to the Resident by the Nawab Mungle, was appointed maulavi and took charge of the school, and although a man inferior in learning to the teacher from the Calcutta college, he was equal to the duties of his appointment. It is added that it was not easy to find persons of the Sheah sect in that part of India who were eminent scholars. In the selection of pupils a preference was given to the immediate family of the Nizam, the members of which were encouraged to avail themselves of its advantages; but after some considerable delay, as they did not embrace the opportunity of entering the institution, the resident filled up the number of fifty students, of whom six were to attend the college and forty-four the school. The Government approved the conduct of Mr. Melville in the establishment of this college and school, and instructed him to report the progress of the institution and to submit his suggestions for its future management whenever he might be prepared to do so. He was also authorized to draw from the hands of the Collector of the district the sum of Rupees 4,918-5-15, together with the monthly allowance of Rupees 1,500 on the same account, being an annual charge of Rupees 18,000. This institution does not appear to be under the direction of the General Committee, there being no mention of it in the Committee’s report of 1832.

Native Female Schools.—There is a Native girls’ school at Moorshedahad in connection with the Missionary Society just mentioned. It is attended regularly by about 30 children, some of the elder girls read the Gospel fluently, and the rest in lower classes are instructed in the usual native way. After their daily lessons are completed they all repeat a catechism and the Lord’s Prayer, and conclude with singing one or more Bengalee hymns.