Achi news desk-
Read today… the story of the journey of moral education from schools to universities.
.
Today we are proud to see Indore developing as a hub of education, but it is hard to imagine the struggle, vision and dedication of so many people behind it. The story starts from the time when the meaning of education was limited to reading, writing and arithmetic. This was the period when Indore had a prominent identity in the opium business across the world.
At that time, understanding the importance of education, some part of the tax collected on opium boxes began to be spent on education. Although some charitable institutions even at that time ran private schools in Indore, but only religious and moral education was imparted in them. Hindi and Marathi medium schools existed. Some people used to learn Sanskrit at home with the help of a government grant, but until then there was no system of taking an exam or giving a grade. The first English school was started in Indore in 1841 during the reign of Maharaj Shivaji Rao Holkar. Initially he had 45 students. In this, Persian and Hindi were taught along with English. In 1843, when the number of students increased, it was moved from the Residential campus to Dharamshala at Krishnapura on the banks of the Kanh. The name was also changed to Indore Madrasa.
Here you will be impressed by the foresight of the people of Indore that they have started giving some money to the children to come to school regularly. The amount received as tuition fees from the students’ families was distributed equally among the teachers, which was in addition to their salary. That means, arrangements were made to encourage students and teachers. When Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar (II) got administrative powers as soon as he reached the age of 18, he gave Rs 6000 per month to Indore Madrasa in 1852. Started giving a grant of Rs. In 1867, it was affiliated to Bombay University for the matriculation examination. For the first time in 1868, five students appeared for the matriculation examination, of which two passed. Both were taken out in a procession across the city on elephants. There was also scholarship provision for ongoing further studies. Indore Madrasa was first affiliated to Bombay, then Calcutta and then Allahabad University.
The most beautiful part of this entire journey is that there was a revolt against the British in the Residency on 1 July 1857 during the Revolution of 1857. Despite this, studies did not stop at Indore Madrasa. The first school for girls was established in Indore in 1867 itself. To provide female teachers, a girls’ training school was started. The first engineering school opened in 1879-80. Holkar College was established in 1891. On the initiative of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar (III), a committee was formed in 1912, which made a law making primary education compulsory. Due to the First World War, it could be implemented in 1925.
Patrick Gidges, who made the first master plan of the city, had recommended a university here in 1918 and had even allocated a place for it. A law was passed for this in Holkar Darbar in 1942, but due to some reasons it could not be implemented. Finally, in 1962-63, the then President Dr. Shankardayal Sharma said if the residents of the city bear half of the expenditure, then I promise to establish a university soon. On the same day that the municipality announced to give some money, the remaining amount of about five lakhs was given by Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar.
This shows how serious Indore has been about education and how schemes, grants and incentives have created an educational infrastructure that we are proud of. So many people have watered it with their labor that their gratitude can never be forgotten. He is the pride of Indore, whose work has shaped us today.
Read tomorrow… Indore had such a unique municipality, which also heard cases.
— Amit Mandloi
