and one particular school numbered ten Brahman youths. In one instance, a body of more than twenty boys came to Serampore from a distance of many miles, accompanied by the principal inhabitants of the village, to solicit the establishment of a school.”
Previous to 1817, David Hare, a name dear to the Natives, a watchmaker by trade, instead of retiring to Europe, had devoted his remaining years and savings to Native Education. He, in conjunction with the late Raja Radhakant Deva, a Sanscrit scholar of European celebrity, employed much time in improving the existing Vernacular Schools. One of his pupils, who studied at one of the Vernacular Schools established by him in Calcutta, thus describes his efforts—
“Mr. Hare’s educational efforts were directed in the first place toward the encouragement of the Vernacular. He supplemented the deficiencies of numerous Guru patshalas by the employment of inspecting pundits and the grant of printed books. Periodical examinations were also held at Raja Radhakant Deva’s Garden House, and prizes given. He then established a sort of Central Vernacular School directly under the School Society. This was a large institution and numbered about 200 boys. It was the best Vernacular School of the day. For the encouragement of regular attendance, each child got eight annas a month if he was not absent a single day during that month. If absent only one day he got six annas, if two days four annas, and if he were absent more than two days then he got nothing. Distinguished lads from the Vernacular Schools were sent to the Hindoo College, in which the Society always maintained 30 boys. An English School was afterwards established adjoining the Central Vernacular—a number of select boys of the Vernacular School would attend the English classes also. It was thus—From sunrise until 9 a. m., Vernacular; from 10½ a. m. to 2½ p. m., English; from 3½ p. m. to sunset, Vernacular again.”
In 1817, the Calcutta School Book Society was founded to prepare and publish cheap books for Native schools; however, this Society has not yet given cheap books adapted to the masses, as no books previous to 1817, were used in the indigenous schools. In May 1821 this Society received from Government a donation of Rupees 7,000, and a monthly grant of Rupees 500.
In 1818, the Calcutta School Society was founded (under the presidency of the Marquess of Hastings) with the following object:—
“That its design be to assist and improve existing schools, and to establish and support any further schools and seminaries which may be requisite; with a view to the more general diffusion of useful knowledge amongst the inhabitants of India of every description, especially within the provinces subject to the Presidency of Fort William.
