http://www.deccanherald.com/content/362975/purveyors-learning.html
Mysore for long has been hailed as a modern welfare state, a claim endorsed by Gandhiji himself. The Wodeyars and their Dewans kept pace with time and ensured that all sections of society became literate and learned, says Dr N N Prahallada.
The rulers of Mysore were great patrons of learning. Most of them were highly educated and have authored many books. The Wodeyars and Dewans had always in view the prosperity of education since they knew that education acted as a powerful instrument for the alround development of the State. With their persistent efforts several schools and colleges were started in the then Mysore State.
Earlier, education was meant exclusively for the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the upper class people. Private tutors were appointed to teach the boys and girls belonging to the royal family. The Jains, the Veerashaivas and the merchants used to send their children to schools. The lower classes were rather hesitant to send their children to distant schools since they were not aware of the value of education. Higher education was available only to a few. In Agraharas most of the teachers were Brahmin Pandits who used to receive an annuity from the government. The Pandits taught the vedas, the puranas, nyaya, meemamsa, dramatics, astrology, grammar, mathematics, languages and morals.
Mysore for long has been hailed as a modern welfare state, a claim endorsed by Gandhiji himself. The Wodeyars and their Dewans kept pace with time and ensured that all sections of society became literate and learned, says Dr N N Prahallada.
The rulers of Mysore were great patrons of learning. Most of them were highly educated and have authored many books. The Wodeyars and Dewans had always in view the prosperity of education since they knew that education acted as a powerful instrument for the alround development of the State. With their persistent efforts several schools and colleges were started in the then Mysore State.
Earlier, education was meant exclusively for the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the upper class people. Private tutors were appointed to teach the boys and girls belonging to the royal family. The Jains, the Veerashaivas and the merchants used to send their children to schools. The lower classes were rather hesitant to send their children to distant schools since they were not aware of the value of education. Higher education was available only to a few. In Agraharas most of the teachers were Brahmin Pandits who used to receive an annuity from the government. The Pandits taught the vedas, the puranas, nyaya, meemamsa, dramatics, astrology, grammar, mathematics, languages and morals.
During the rule of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III, English education was patronised. Dewan K Seshadri Iyer (1883-1901) made great achievements in every sphere of activity during his eighteen years in the office. He was responsible for starting of Oriental Research Institute and the Department of Archaeology. He made special arrangements for the study of Sanskrit along with Kannada. General education was recognised. Technical education was encouraged. The Maharaja's College, affiliated to the Madras University, was upgraded into a first grade college and became the centre for study of humanities.
The Central College became the centre for science subjects. Several schools for girls like the Aryabalika Pathasala at Bangalore and the Empress Girls' High School at Tumkur were opened on the model of Maharani's school. The Maharani's High School was upgraded into Maharani's College in 1901. During this period Harsha's Ratnavali, Bhavabhuti's Ramacharita, Mrichhakatika and Shakespeare's Othello were translated into Kannada.
In 1833 Maharaja High School, the first English school was opened in Mysore .
In 1854 Western system of education was adopted on the basis of the famous Wood's dispatch which suggested establishing Director of Public Instruction (DPI) was suggested and even today there are DPIs in the Karnataka educational structure at primary and secondary education level. Transport facilities improved, attractingmany students towards learning. During the time of British Commissioners the European Christian Missionaries started English and Kannada schools in important centres.
Basel Mission, London Mission and Wesleyan Mission were notable ones, and they started schools in Mysore, Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad, Bellary and Gulbarga. By 1860 many schools encouraged a number of children and those who received English education could easily get government jobs.
During 1881 to 1947 the princely Mysore state, comprising nine districts, had its own educational policy. But education was not made compulsory. Chamaraja Wodeyar X took several steps to start more schools in important places. He encouraged starting of private schools. The Maharani's Primary School was the first to be started. Later it became today's Maharani's College. The Wodeyars arranged for scholarships to young promising students to go abroad for higher education. Maharaja's High School of Mysore became an ideal school. Several institutions for women were started.
Dewan P N Krishna Murthy (1901-1906) took progressive steps in the field of education. Job oriented courses for women were started. Scholarships and hostel facilities were provided to men and women. Several donors volunteered to contribute their mite to the cause of education.
During Dewan V P Madhava Rao's (1906-1909) time J N Tata, the well-known industrialist and donor with cooperation of the government volunteered to contribute an annual sum of Rs 50,000/- to start The Indian Institute of Science. Technical schools were started to give training to craftsmen and architects. During this period primary school fee was abolished in rural areas.
Rao encouraged Vokkaligas, Lingayats and others to come forward in establishing schools, colleges and hostels for their children in particular and others in general. He was mainly responsible for the establishment of Vokkaligara Sangha at Bangalore under the leadership of K H Ramaiah well known local leader. Lingayat Education Fund Association at Bangalore came into existence in 1909. Similarly, Vokkaliga hostels, Maratha hostels, Vysya hostels, Brahmin hostels and Sarvajanika hostels came into existence during his Dewanship.
Dewan Sir M Vishweshwaraiah (1912-18) gave importance to education. He strove for the development of industrial training, social education, business organisation, short hand and type writing. In 1918 a statute was passed to make primary education compulsory and it came into force in 68 centres, mostly in government schools. Sir M Visweshwaraiah introduced educational scholarships to backward classes and untouchables. Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV and Dewan Vishweshwaraiah provided suitable facilities for girls' education. Separate schools and hostels were started for girls.
The Agricultural Training Centre was started at Hebbal near Bangalore in 1913 to improve scientific method of agriculture to the farmers. Vishweshwaraiah also started the Bangalore Press. Kannada Sahitya Parishat was founded to develop Kannada language and culture. In 1916, Mysore University was established. All the colleges which were under Madras University were affiliated to Mysore University. Maharaja's and Maharani's Colleges were established for the study of arts.
Sir M Vishweshwaraiah also donated Rs 2 lakhs (his award money from Maharaja of Mysore) to establish Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic at Bangalore. The Indian Government deservingly conferred on him the title of Bharata Ratna in 1953. Even today his name is a source of inspiration for many.
The tenure of Dewan Kantharaja Urs (1918-1922) may be described as the golden age as far as the backward classes are concerned. He introduced reservation for SCs and STs as per Justice Lesley Miller report. Harijans and others were appointed to higher posts on reservation basis. Government schools were ordered to admit backward class, SC/ST students. Free education was given to all up to high school. The scholarship amount was raised for backward class students by the Dewan. Books and slates were freely distributed.
During Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail's (1926-1941) time, the Medical College at Mysore was started. In 1946-47 a special section was started to train teachers to teach Shishu Vihars. Special Sanskrit schools at Melkote and Sadvidhya Patashala in Mysore were started in 1890. By 1944 there were 94 institutions, including the Mysore Sanskrit College, The Jayachamarajendra Veda School in Bangalore and The Siddaganga Sanskrit School at Tumkur, where Sanskrit was taught as a major subject.
In 1935 a branch of Dakshina Bharatha Hindi Prachar Sabha was started at Dharwad. The Hindu Prachara Samiti was started in Bangalore in 1939. In 1943 The Mysore Hindi Prachara Parishat was started.
The Wodeyars encouraged Commerce studies. A commerce institute was started in Mysore in 1897. The Hardwicke School of Commerce was started in 1906. BCom classes were started in Central College, Bangalore and in 1941 the BCom degree course was introduced and Boards of Commerce were set-up. In 1937, physical training was made compulsory for high school students. The high school teachers were sent to YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) for physical training.
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar had great love towards religion, literature, art and philosophy. Author of many books, he evinced keen interest in the cause of education. He gave up many of his private buildings for the use of educational institutions like the Central Food technology and Research Institute (CFTRI), the Mysore University building, etc.
Thus, the collective efforts of the Mysore rulers have really benefitted our State to achieve laurels in many areas.
The Central College became the centre for science subjects. Several schools for girls like the Aryabalika Pathasala at Bangalore and the Empress Girls' High School at Tumkur were opened on the model of Maharani's school. The Maharani's High School was upgraded into Maharani's College in 1901. During this period Harsha's Ratnavali, Bhavabhuti's Ramacharita, Mrichhakatika and Shakespeare's Othello were translated into Kannada.
In 1833 Maharaja High School, the first English school was opened in Mysore .
In 1854 Western system of education was adopted on the basis of the famous Wood's dispatch which suggested establishing Director of Public Instruction (DPI) was suggested and even today there are DPIs in the Karnataka educational structure at primary and secondary education level. Transport facilities improved, attractingmany students towards learning. During the time of British Commissioners the European Christian Missionaries started English and Kannada schools in important centres.
Basel Mission, London Mission and Wesleyan Mission were notable ones, and they started schools in Mysore, Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad, Bellary and Gulbarga. By 1860 many schools encouraged a number of children and those who received English education could easily get government jobs.
During 1881 to 1947 the princely Mysore state, comprising nine districts, had its own educational policy. But education was not made compulsory. Chamaraja Wodeyar X took several steps to start more schools in important places. He encouraged starting of private schools. The Maharani's Primary School was the first to be started. Later it became today's Maharani's College. The Wodeyars arranged for scholarships to young promising students to go abroad for higher education. Maharaja's High School of Mysore became an ideal school. Several institutions for women were started.
Dewan P N Krishna Murthy (1901-1906) took progressive steps in the field of education. Job oriented courses for women were started. Scholarships and hostel facilities were provided to men and women. Several donors volunteered to contribute their mite to the cause of education.
During Dewan V P Madhava Rao's (1906-1909) time J N Tata, the well-known industrialist and donor with cooperation of the government volunteered to contribute an annual sum of Rs 50,000/- to start The Indian Institute of Science. Technical schools were started to give training to craftsmen and architects. During this period primary school fee was abolished in rural areas.
Rao encouraged Vokkaligas, Lingayats and others to come forward in establishing schools, colleges and hostels for their children in particular and others in general. He was mainly responsible for the establishment of Vokkaligara Sangha at Bangalore under the leadership of K H Ramaiah well known local leader. Lingayat Education Fund Association at Bangalore came into existence in 1909. Similarly, Vokkaliga hostels, Maratha hostels, Vysya hostels, Brahmin hostels and Sarvajanika hostels came into existence during his Dewanship.
Dewan Sir M Vishweshwaraiah (1912-18) gave importance to education. He strove for the development of industrial training, social education, business organisation, short hand and type writing. In 1918 a statute was passed to make primary education compulsory and it came into force in 68 centres, mostly in government schools. Sir M Visweshwaraiah introduced educational scholarships to backward classes and untouchables. Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV and Dewan Vishweshwaraiah provided suitable facilities for girls' education. Separate schools and hostels were started for girls.
The Agricultural Training Centre was started at Hebbal near Bangalore in 1913 to improve scientific method of agriculture to the farmers. Vishweshwaraiah also started the Bangalore Press. Kannada Sahitya Parishat was founded to develop Kannada language and culture. In 1916, Mysore University was established. All the colleges which were under Madras University were affiliated to Mysore University. Maharaja's and Maharani's Colleges were established for the study of arts.
Sir M Vishweshwaraiah also donated Rs 2 lakhs (his award money from Maharaja of Mysore) to establish Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic at Bangalore. The Indian Government deservingly conferred on him the title of Bharata Ratna in 1953. Even today his name is a source of inspiration for many.
The tenure of Dewan Kantharaja Urs (1918-1922) may be described as the golden age as far as the backward classes are concerned. He introduced reservation for SCs and STs as per Justice Lesley Miller report. Harijans and others were appointed to higher posts on reservation basis. Government schools were ordered to admit backward class, SC/ST students. Free education was given to all up to high school. The scholarship amount was raised for backward class students by the Dewan. Books and slates were freely distributed.
During Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail's (1926-1941) time, the Medical College at Mysore was started. In 1946-47 a special section was started to train teachers to teach Shishu Vihars. Special Sanskrit schools at Melkote and Sadvidhya Patashala in Mysore were started in 1890. By 1944 there were 94 institutions, including the Mysore Sanskrit College, The Jayachamarajendra Veda School in Bangalore and The Siddaganga Sanskrit School at Tumkur, where Sanskrit was taught as a major subject.
In 1935 a branch of Dakshina Bharatha Hindi Prachar Sabha was started at Dharwad. The Hindu Prachara Samiti was started in Bangalore in 1939. In 1943 The Mysore Hindi Prachara Parishat was started.
The Wodeyars encouraged Commerce studies. A commerce institute was started in Mysore in 1897. The Hardwicke School of Commerce was started in 1906. BCom classes were started in Central College, Bangalore and in 1941 the BCom degree course was introduced and Boards of Commerce were set-up. In 1937, physical training was made compulsory for high school students. The high school teachers were sent to YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) for physical training.
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar had great love towards religion, literature, art and philosophy. Author of many books, he evinced keen interest in the cause of education. He gave up many of his private buildings for the use of educational institutions like the Central Food technology and Research Institute (CFTRI), the Mysore University building, etc.
Thus, the collective efforts of the Mysore rulers have really benefitted our State to achieve laurels in many areas.
Regards,
Shashi
Shashi
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