History of Patna University Separate University for the Province
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Parisheelan Vol.-XV, No.- 2, 2019, ISSN 0974 7222 236 History Of Patna University separate University for the province. Charles Bayley proposed to constitute a representative committee with a view to the formulation of a definite Rakesh Kumar* scheme. The Committee’s report would be examined and submitted for the consideration of the Government of India. The educated Biharis became more vocal in their demand for a The Government of India approved of the proposal to appoint a separate University. They pleaded that their dependence on a University Committee to consider the question of establishing a University at Patna. outside the province did not cater to their educational needs. The chief On 19 May 1913 the Government of Bihar announced that the organ of educated men of Bihar, The Beharee which had worked Government of India had, on several occasions, explained the necessity strenuously for the creation of a separate province, carried a campaign of circumscribing the limits of universities in India and the desirability for the establishment of a University in the Bihar.1 of the teaching and residential system of University. A meeting of the citizens was held at Patna in February 1912. The resolution of the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council constituted The intellectuals in general and some political leaders participated in the the Patna University Committee, popularly known as the Nathan Committee, meeting in which Mazharul Haque proposed that the new province of to frame a scheme for the establishment of a University at Patna.4 Bihar and Orissa should have a separate University of its own as soon The committee which met at Bankipur (Patna) from 16 to 23 as practicable. Meanwhile he wanted a proportionately adequate July 1913 to settle the main outlines of the scheme had two models representation of the people of Bihar in the Senate and the Syndicate before it: a federal university of the type established under the Act of of the Calcutta University. PurnenduNarain Sinha seconded this 1857 and the Dacca model under which the whole university might be resolution.2 constructed at our centre. The report of the Dacca University Committee The agitation for the establishment of a University engulfed the served as a basis for discussion. The President and several members of whole of Bihar. The residents of the Saran district assembled in a public the committee visited Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Cuttack, where meeting, under the presidentship of Durga Prasad Vakil on 26 June schemes for local colleges were prepared with the aid of local advice. 1912 and passed a resolution demanding a University for the new The committee held its last meeting on 15 and 16 December and outlined province.4 Another public meeting under the presidentship of the Giddhour its final report. Maharaja was held on 19 July 1912 at Munger. This meeting was attended The committee submitted its report in March 1914. The by the leading Zamindars, traders, merchants and pleaders of the district. Government of Bihar and Orissa resolved on 19 March 1914 that this Deep Narayan Singh of Bhagalpur, an old Congressman moved a report of the committee now published, should be circulated for comments resolution for the establishment of a University at Patna which was and advice. The copies of the report were forwarded to the newspapers, adopted with great enthusiasm.3 the leading associations of the province and interested persons. Sachchidanand Sinha raised the question of establishing a Comments were solicited by 31 May 1914. University at Patna in the Imperial Legislative Council at Calcutta. The committee’s scheme envisaged a central institution at Patna Harcourt Butler replied that the government was aware of the necessity which would undertake the higher branches of instruction, conduct the of providing a university to the new province, but the opinion of the examinations, supervise the general life and training of the students, and local-government in the matter was awaited. regulate the teaching and organization of a number of incorporated Meanwhile the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council of Bihar and colleges. Some of these colleges would be in the University area, and Orissa was convinced that there was a strong and growing demand for a others would be situated in different parts of the province. In the Central University, laboratories, lecture halls, and seminars, a library and a *Associate Professor Department Of History, S.M.D College, museum, and other similar facilities would be provided for the common Punpun (Patna) use, while ample accommodation and opportunities would be afforded History Of Patna University 237 Parisheelan Vol.-XV, No.- 2, 2019, ISSN 0974 7222 238 for all kinds of games, and for the various associations and social elected and the remainder (40 to 60) nominated by the Chancellor. The amenities which a University should encourage.5 Vice-Chancellor was to be the principal executive officer of the The committee recommended that the University of Patna should University.7 contain the departments of Arts, Science, Sanskrit studies and Law, and The various protests made against the Patna University Bill a department for the training of teachers. The Central University and were mainly with regard to the undue power vested in the local the external colleges would share between them the work of the government, to the peculiar and unlimited powers given to the Vice- department of Arts and Science. The more advanced studies were Chancellor and to the constitution of the Syndicate and the Senate. In suggested to be concentrated in the Central University and the department the light of these criticisms, the Bill was modified in certain respects. of Sanskrit studies, Law and teaching would also be attached to the But it is remarkable that for more than twenty years after the passing of Central University. The Patna College, Bisheshwar (Bihar National) the Act, Chotanagpur had to content with only one first grade and one College, King’s College, Mission College, Non-Collegiate Department, second grade college, the Bhagalpur and Tirhut divisions with one college Sanskrit College, and Training College for teachers were included as each and the Patna division with only three—one first grade and two Central instructions under the scheme of the Proposed University. second grade institutions.8 The committee included all the existing colleges under the new The Patna University Bill was referred to a Select Committee University, except the Diamond Jubilee College at Monger. The which modified the draft, increasing the popular control in the Senate. committee was convinced that this was a weak institution which would On 23 September 1917 the Bill as amended by the Select Committee, not flourish. So, this college was left out from the new University scheme. was passed unanimously by the Imperial Legislative Council. Thus Patna The Patna College and the Bihar National College were to be University Act came into force on 1 October 1917. But the University shifted from Bankipur to the western part of the new capital. Therefore was actually inaugurated in November 1917. a site was selected. As the ordinary colleges accommodated the students The regulations of the new University were drafted on the of Law after passing the intermediate level examination, the law college pattern of the Calcutta University and were modified from time to time. was to cease to exist. The training college was to be divided into two Two important changes were made for the abolition of the age limit at branches, a college for the graduates being included in the University the Matriculation stage and the institution of a system of Supplementary area and the existing college being reserved for the undergraduates Examinations. who were henceforth to be eligible only for a departmental diploma or The new Act provided for “imparting education, of promoting certificate.6 original research, of examining students and conferring degrees, of The provincial Government after getting the reactions on the admitting educational institutions to its privileges and of supervising and report of the committee, sent its comments to the Government of India controlling the administration of colleges of the University in all matters on 28 May 1915. The provincial Government suggested a separate of education and discipline and of inspecting and supervising external University as soon as possible. The eagerness of the Biharis to have colleges.”9 their own University could not be ignored. The Governor of Bihar and Orissa was the Chancellor. He was The Patna University Bill was introduced in the Imperial empowered to nominate four persons to the Syndicate of whom not Legislative Council by C. Sankaran Nair, the Member of Education in less than two should be the members of the University staff or of the the Viceroy’s Executive Council, on 27 September 1916, after the due teaching staff of the colleges. The Vice-Chancellor as a whole time examination of the scheme by the education department of the officer would be appointed by the local government for five years. He Government of India and the Secretary of state-in-Council. might be reappointed after the first term. The Vice-Chancellor would In the bill the Chancellor was empowered to nominate 4 out of be charged with due carrying out of the provisions of this Act and of the 16 members of the Syndicate. Of the ordinary Fellows 12 were to be Regulations.10 History Of Patna University 239 Parisheelan Vol.-XV, No.- 2, 2019, ISSN 0974 7222 240 The Act was amended time to time to suit the special needs ability and sincerity and in a conciliatory spirit. This disarmed much and sometimes to meet administrative expediency.