Bombay presidency (Part - 2) - Report on Tradational Indian Education system in British Period by British agency before the starting of British Modern Education.

In Bombay presidency Governor Mount Stuart Alfinston ordered the survey. That time Traditional schools were in Temples, Mosques or at the house of the teacher or distinguished persons of that time. It is found that on an average there was 1 school for 15 students.  


Teaching was not a profession it was for respect. Mostly teachers were from Brahmin and Kayasthas there were teachers from other casts too. In Ahmednagar there were 16 and in Pune 164 schools.

In Bombay in 1829 a new survey was conducted through the Collectors. It is found that at the population of 46, 81,735 there were 1,705 schools in it there were 35,153 students.

The reports of Madras and Bombay presidency was not complete it was lacking something big with which Britishers were not accustomed. There was an unconventional method of education in India which was “Home Education System”.

In his 2nd report Adem in detailed described one Thane police station named “Battor” of   ‘Rajshahi’ district. He writes that there were 485 villages and the population was 1, 95,296.

Adem got 27 Primary school and there were 262 students. Apart from this in 238 villages 2,342 boys were studying in “Home Education System”. The number of the students was 9 times greater from the primary school.

There were 38 Sanskrit MahaVidalaya and 397 students were studying there aged between 11 to 27 years. There was no girl’s education for which Raja Rammohan Roy and others fought.

The data shows that the female education was very much neglected though it was not altogether absent. Certain regions like Malabar and Joypoor in Vizagapatam made a better showing then other areas.