PROGRESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN COLONIAL BENGAL AND AFTER -A CASE STUDY OF RAJSHAHI COLLE.GE. (1873-1973) Thesis Submitted to the University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, India, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History. ( ( l r"<t •· (•(.j 1:'\ !. By Md. Monzur Kadir Assistant Professor of Islamic History Rajshahi College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Under the Supervision of Dr. I. Sarkar Reader in History University of North Bengal,· Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. November, 2004. Ref. '?:J 1B. s-4 C124 oqa4 {(up I 3 DEC 2005 Md. Monzur Kadir, Assistant Professor, Research 5 cholar, Islamic History, Department of History Rajshahi College, Uni~ersity of North Bengal Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Darjeeling, India. DECLARATION . I hereby declare that the Thesis entitled "PROGRESS OF HIGHER EDUc;ATION IN COLONIAL BENGAL AND AFTER- A CASE STUDY OF RAJSHAHI COLLEGE (1873-1973)," submitted by me for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History of the University of North Bengal, is a record of research work done by me and that the Thesis has not formed the basis for the award of any other Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship and similar other titles. II · 8 "' (Jl~Mt ~~;_ 10. -{ (Md. Monzur Kadir) Acknowledgement------------ This dissertation is the outcome of a doctoral research undertaken at the University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, India. It gives me immense pleasure to place on record the great help and co-operation. I received from several persons and institutions during the preparation of this dissertation. I am already obliged to Dr. I. Sarkar, Reader in History. North Bengal University who acted as my supervisor and for his urqualified support in its planning and execution. I record my gratitude to all the teachers of the Department of History, North Bengal University whose kind help and constant encouragement made possible the completion of this research work in time. I fell honoured and complemented being in touch with a teacher like of Dr. Anil Bhuimali, present Head of the Department of Economics, North Bengal University, whose inspiration had always been an invisible spirit to take up my vinture for collecting matirials through the period. I am thankful to .:Mr. Gholam Kibria, Head of the Department of Management, Edward College, Pabna, Bangladesh for the invaluable co -operation I received till date. I am thankful to Mr. Sha Alam, Assistant Professor of Management, and Mr. S.M. Rabiul Karim, Assistant Professor of Islamic History, both Rajshahi College for their kind help and co-operation even shown for the progress of my research. Despite their own academic and other commitments, they have responded with patience to my queries and to my claims on their time and expertise. I am extremely indebted to the staff and authorities of the Varendra Research Museum and Library, (Rajshahi), Rajshahi College Library and Libraries of the Institute of Bangladesh Studies and Rajshahi University, (Bangladesh), for their co-operation and inspiration. In this apportunity I remember with much gratitude the invaluable services I received from the staff of the Granthagar (Central Library) North Bengal University, National Library Kolk;ata, Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Dhaka) and above all the National Archives of Bangladesh, Dacca. I record my sincere thanks to all them. I also extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Sanjay Debnath and his group of the Sanjay's Impression, Shantipur, Darjeeling for undertaking the responsibility of printing and delivery of the thesis in time. Last but not the least, I must acknowledge the important role of my wife Nurunnesa whose constant encouragement was a source of inspiration to me. My two little kids Pratyay and Pratiti kept a watchful eye on my stationary needs, and their occassional disturbances, too, provided reliving diversion. At long last, I must admit that the responsibility for errors of fact or argument, if any, remains mine alone. Altt G-~~-( lJ ~~ 10 ,11·o, Md. Monzur Kadir Department of History University of North Bengal Darjeeling, India. Contents INTRODUCTION 1-08 CHAPTER- I Condition of Education ·in Pre-Colonial and Colonial Bengal - An overview 09-47 A. Condition of Education in Pre-Colonial Bengal a. Education in Ancient Bengal b. Education in Medieval Bengal I. Primary Education II. Secondary and Higher Education t. Education in the Madrasas ii. Female Education iii. Education of the Hindus tu Education in the Tols (Sanskrit learning) B. Condition of Education in Colonial Bengal The Spread of Western Education in Bengal a. Non-Government Efforts b. Contributions of the Missionaries c. Initiatives of the Government i. The Committee of the Public Instruction ii. Macaulay's Minute and Bentinck's Educational Resolution, 1835 ttl. Wood's Educational Despatch, 1854 lV. The University Act, 1857 v. The Indian Education (Hunter) Commission, 1882 vt. University Reforms Act, 1904 vii. The Calcutta University (Sadler) Commission, 1917 CHAPTER- II Perspectives 48-78 A. The Idea and Origin of the Rajshahi College B. Establishment of the College i. Introducation of Fundamental and Optional Subjects tl. The Developmental Scheme of the Rajshahi College ttl. Admission of the Girls' Students lV. Department of Law, Rajshahi College v. Academic Results vi. Buildings and Accomodations CHAPTER - III Administrative Setup and Academic Pursuits 79-103 t. The Principals, Academic Staff and Standard of Education tt. The College Governing Body. Itt. Student Pattern and Numerical Strength CHAPTER- IV Growth and Prospects 104-147 a. Personalities Behind the Institution. i. Donors, Patrons and Elite's tt. Scholarships, Prizes, College Medals and Stipends b. Rajshahi College as a Centre of Higher Learning t. College Library tt. Residence of Students Zit. Academic and Non-academic Activities c. Rajshahi College and her Sister Academic Institutions t. Rajshahi Madras a lt. Rani Hemanta Kumari Sanskrit College ttl. Basanta Kumar Agricultural Institute CHAPTER-V Rajshahi College in the Making of its Glory 148-180 a. Contributions in Socio-political Life in Colonial and Post-colonial Period b. Rajshahi College and its First Generation- Selected Studies CONCLUSION 181-183 APPENDICES 184-211 I. Succession List of Principals, Rajshahi College II. Teaching Staff, Rajshahi College III. Hostel Superintendents IV Students Union, Rajshahi College v Magazine Editors of Rajshahi College VI. Meretorius Students of Rajshahi College VII. Examination Results, Rajshahi College VIII. Tution Fees of Rajshahi College IX. Holidays & Vacations, Rajshahi College, 1934 X Rajshahi College at a glance, 2000-2001 BIBLIOGRAPHY 212-221 Introduction--------------- Before the advent of the colonial rule in Bengal there was an indigenous education system in practice. In every village there there was at least one school almost everywhere at that time. Indigenous schools like To!', 'Chathushpathi' 'Guro AJahasqyer Pathsala: 'Moktab: 'Madrasa: Tmambara' etc. were the common institutions for general learning. In this regard Max Muller rightly said, 'Prior to the British occupation there were more than 80,000 native schools in Bengal or one for every 400 of the population'. 1 It is no less interesting that there was a trend when Hindu boys used to go to the Madras as and Maktabs to learn Persian and Arabic languages, some Muslim boys used to go to the the Tal or Guro Mahasayer Pathsala etc. to learn Sanskrit. This indigenous education system continued centuries after prior to the British rule. In the beginning, the East India Company Government did not show much interest in education of Bengal. It was Warren Hastings who being Governor General of Bengal made preliminary reforms in education system of Bengal. For the improvement of Arabic and Persian languages and Muslim law, he established Calcutta Madras a in 1781. Sir William Jones founded Asiatic Society in Calcutta in 1784 so as to extend research in English literature, History, Philosophy and Religion. In 1798 Lord Wellesley took the office of the Governor General of East India Company and established the Fort William College in 1800 just to train up the ciYilians in Indian languages, law, creed, custom and culture. A section of people of the then undivided Bengal became very much eager to learn English language. Their aim was to get Government services and also to get privilege in business and other professions. On the other hand the Company Government thought that to run the administration they needed some English knowing people. So the Government paid due attention to develop English education throughout the country. Some philanthropists like David Hare, Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Edward Hyde East, Baidyanath Mukharjee, Raja Radhakanta Dev realised the importance of English education in Bengal. \"'\lith their tireless efforts Hindu College was established in 1817.2 The establishment of Hindu College Qarer on Presidency College) may be considered as a landmark in the history of the 2 progress ofwestern education in Bengal. Soon it was followed by the establishment oflarge number of schools and colleges in and around Calcutta. The contributions and efforts of the Baptist Missionaries and a few enlightened native elite's in this regard are worthy of mention. The Baptist Missionaries founded an English medium school in 1818. Later on this school was converted into Srirampore College. In 1820 Bishop's College was established in Calcutta in honour of Bishop Middleton. It is worth mentioning that in 1823 the Committee of Public Instruction was set up to take over the whole management