History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

x CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. EDUCATION.

The original language of the Parsis—Exchanged for Gujarati—Limited education—Effect of contact with Europeans—Slight knowledge of English —Change at beginning of century—The first schools—Mountstuart Elphinstone—His view of education—Fund raised on his departureFounding of a college bearing his name—Address to him—The Parsis prominent in the matter—Their keen desire for education—The Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai Parsi Institution—Its origin—The Government of India accept the trusteeship—The school attendance—The school in Hornby Row—General Waddington’s opinion—Progress of the schools —The University—Degrees taken by Parsis—Mr. Dadabhai NaorozjiParsis as teachers—As physicians—Annual dinner of the Grant Medical College— Parsi engineers—Education now general among all classesResults of English example—Female education—Dates from 1849—The first girls’ school—What used to be taught—The students’ literary society —An opportune essay— A similar movement in Caleutta—Mr. Drinkwater Bethune—Strength of the Bombay moyement— Messrs. Patton and Reid—Raising a fund—English sympathy—Parsi Girls’ School Association—Difficulties of female education in the East—Objection to male teachers—Female teachers—Course of instruction—Books used—Various endowments—New schools—The Education Commission —Views of Dr. Hunter and Mr. Lee-Warner—The promoters of the success of female education—Other schools—The study of English The Alexandra Native Girls’ School Institution—A bazaar— Interest taken by the Queen-Empress—Royal contributors—Opened by the Duke of Edinburgh—Signal success—Unusual spectacle—A national customSpread of knowledge of English—Knowledge now general—The Parsis ahead of their neighbours—Their pre-eminence in different pursuits and professions 5 ; , , : . Pages 280-332