XX
COLLECTOR, RAJAMUNDRY TO BOARD OF REVENUE:
19.9.1823
(TNSA: BRP: Vol.963, Pro.2.10.1823, pp.8520-25 Nos.29-30)- I have the honor to submit the information called for in
your Deputy Secretary’s letter dated 25th July 1822, together
with a statement in the prescribed form of the number of native
schools in this Collectorate and of the number of scholars. - I also take the liberty to forward another statement
which being in more detail and containing some additional
heads of information may probably be found of some use. - If these statements are at all to be depended upon, and
(they are founded on very minute returns of my public servants)
the actual state of education in this district must be pronounced
anything but satisfactory inasmuch as it would appear that out
of 1,200 villages composing the zillah of Rajamundry and total
population of 7,38,308 souls there are 207 villages only in which
reading and writing are taught, the number of schools in the
villages in question being 291 and the number of scholars, Hin-
doos and Mussulman 2,658. The time that scholars usually
continue at school varies from 5 to 7 years. The fifth day of the
fifth month of the fifth year of the boy’s age is the ‘lucky day’ for
his first entrance into school. The monthly charge to the
scholars is as high as one rupee each in some places and as low
as two annas in others, but the average rate may be stated at 7
annas. I have not found that any of the schools are endowed by
the public. - The number of colleges, or rather teachers* of Theology,
Law, Astronomy, etc., is 279, the number of scholars 1,454. The
particulars are as follows (see next page).
The teachers of the Vedum here alluded to are not
generally men of much science. The scholar is barely taught so
much of the Vedum as will enable him to perform the usual