MUSLIM EDUCATION IN BENGAL 1837-1937

188 SYED MURTAZA ALI
The nlral schools rarely taught Arabic and Persian a knowledge of which
was necessary for a Muslim to hold a respectable position in life and for
the performance of his religious duties. They made no provision for
religious education.
21. Dr. Mullick observes "Wherever the vernacular of the country
was Urdu, or where the Muslims used the common dialect of the locality,
they occupied their proper position in the primary and secondary schools
run or aided by the State, but where they spoke a language different from
the majority of the population, no arrangement had been made to meet
the situation. These obstacles grew greater as the higher standards of
education were reached; consequently it was in the high schools, colleges
and universities that the backwardness of the Muslims was most conspicu-
cous." In East Bengal the dialect of the Muslims was much removed from
the language of Bengali books. It was particularly so in the district of
Chittagong and Sylhet.
According to Dr. Mulllck "In 1885-86 it was only in private schools
that the percentage of Muslims pupils (21'7) exceeded the proportion of
Muslim population. In the higher grades the percentage declined being
13'5, 5'1 and 4'1 respectively in Secondary Schools, professional and
Arts Colleges." The analysis of statistics about Muslim education
during the five years 1897-1902 shows that the progress was not satisfactory.
The increase in number of pupils under public instruction was only 1400
against 86,000 during the previous five years. The percentage of pupils
to children of school going age virtually remained stationary during the
decade 1892 to 1902 . It was 8.5 % in 1892 and 8,5 % in 1902.
22. But the Muslims themselves were also to blame for negligence in
taking advantage of opportunities of English education provided by the
Calcutta Madrassah. In 1855 Colingah branch school of Calcutta
Madrassah situated in a predominantly Muslim locality was found to
contain 125 Hindu pupils and only 14 Muslims. The poverty of the
Muslims had no doubt something to do with this. But the real cause
must be the apathy of the Muslims towards English education. In 1867,
on the representation of the Muslims the Anglo-Persian Department of
Calcutta Madrassah was raised to the status of a second grade college but
only 6 students joined the college when classes were opened. The number
fell to 4 next year. In the following year, it fell to 3 all of whom left dur-
ing the session. Government therefore cannot be blamed if they closed