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

XI COLLECTOR, MADRAS TO BOARD OF REVENUE: 13.11.1822 (TNSA: BRP: Vol.931, Pro.14.11.1822 pp.10, 512-13 No.57-8)

1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter under date the 25th July last, with one from government and to forward the statement therein called for.
2. Adverting to the Orders of Government above referred to I beg leave to submit the information I have been able to obtain on the several questions connected with the system of education adopted in this Collectorate.
3. The schools enumerated in the statement comprise only those in which the various descriptions of the Hindoo and Mussulman children are educated.
4. These children are sent to school when they are above five years old and their continuance in it depends in a great measure on their mental faculties, but it is generally admitted that before they attain their thirteenth year of age, their acquire- ment in the various branches of learning are uncommonly great, a circumstance very justly ascribed to an emulation and perse- verance peculiar only to the Hindoo castes.
5. Astronomy, Astrology, etc., are in some instances taught to the children of the poorer class of Bramins gratis, and in certain few cases an allowance is given proportionate to the circumstances of the parents or guardians.
6. In this Collectorate there are no schools endowed by the public. Those denominated ‘Charity schools’ include a few insti- tutions of that description under the immediate control of the missionary society. The scholars in them are therefore of various sects and persuasions.
7. These Charity schools are abolished at the pleasure of their supporters.
8. The allowances paid to each of the teachers in a school seldom exceed 12 pagodas per annum for every scholar. Madras Cutcherry, L.G.K. Murray, 13th November 1822. Collector. (Statement on next page) 129