The Beautiful Tree: Indigenous Indian Education in the Eighteenth Century c5.s13: XV

The Beautiful Tree: Indigenous Indian Education in the Eighteenth Century c5.s13

Language: English

XV

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COLLECTOR, NELLORE TO BOARD OF REVENUE: 23.6.1823 *(TNSA: BRP: Vol.952, Pro.30.6.1823 pp.5188-91 No.26)*

1. I would have replied to your letter of the 25th July last before now, had I not met with unavoidable difficulties in obtaining the required information about the native schools they referred to, in the Zemindary talooks.

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2. I herewith forward the statement A prepared according to the Form conveyed in your letter above mentioned, showing the number of schools, scholars, etc., in the district under my charge.

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3. The statement B which accompanied this letter shows the number of persons, who teach Vedums, Arabic, Persian, etc., on receiving allowances in money or land granted for the same by the Carnatic Government and continued by the Company, and it also shows the number of scholars as well as the amount of the said allowances.

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4. It is to be observed that the schools mentioned in the statement A are not endowed by the public with any emoluments. They are partly established occasionally by individuals for the education of their own children and partly by the teachers themselves, for their own maintenance.

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5. It is stated that the scholars in these schools continue therein from 3 to 6 years. The school master is paid from 2 annas to 4 rupees monthly for each scholar, and the expenses for the subsistence of a scholar is about 3 rupees monthly, and one rupee for his writing things, etc., and 2 rupees if it is the English language.

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6. The natives, I understand, send their children to school when they are about 5 years of age and besides the allowance mentioned in the preceding paragraph each scholar gives him about one seer rice once every fortnight, at the new and full moons. They also pay him some presents when they are first put in the school, and after they finish the reading of any of their introductory books, such as Baularamayanum, Amarum, etc., and also pay a present to him when they complete their education, and leave the school.

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7. The native schools in the district are not permanently held by the teachers; some people who are anxious to have their children educated soon employ learned men to undertake their children’s education separately in their own houses, settling with them their wages from 2 annas to 4 rupees monthly, and also give them victuals in their houses. Some who cannot sufficiently pay the teachers out of their own money procure some other children in addition to their own for being educated and get adequate allowance to them by way of subscription from these children, from one quarter, to one rupee each month. When they see their children improved they give leave to the teachers and consequently break up the schools.

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I beg leave to subjoin a list of the description of the native schools mentioned in the statement A adverted to:

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| Genttoo Schools | 642 |
| Vedum Schools | 83 |
| Astronomy Schools | 5 |
| Laws Schools | 15 |
| Astrology Schools | 3 |
| English Schools | 1 |
| Persian and Arabic Schools | 50 |
| Tamil Schools | 4 |
| Hindoostany Music Schools | 1 |
| | |
| Total native schools | 804 |

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Nellore, June 1823.

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*T. Fraser,* *23rd* *Collector.*

Linked texts (2)

Tibetan translation ('Chi med mdzod) — Classical Tibetan
Bālarāmāyaṇa — Rājaśekhara, Sanskrit