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The
district gazetteer of Muzaffarpur, written by LSS'O'Mally, informs (rather
reveals) to us that the college at Muzaffarpur, now named after Langat
Singh, was founded by the Bihar Scientific Society, Muzaffarpur.The
Bhumihar Brahman Sabha (founded by the Raja of Banaras, at Patna, in
1889)had its annual conference at Muzaffarpur in 1899, where it was
decided to open a college for higher education.Therefore, the Sabha
deposited an amount of Rs.50 thousand to the Trust of the Bihar Scientific
Society, Muzaffarpur.(p.134).
This amount was provided by the Jaintpur Zamindar, Mahanth Raghunath
Das, which was deposited at the Syndicate/Senate of the Calcutta University,
to obtain permission/recognition/affiliation for the college. In July
1899, this college was founded and got the status of a "Second
Grade College"(Pre-Graduate). In the subsequent year ie in 1900
A.D; it got the status of "First Grade" college i.e, Degree
college.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIHAR SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY, MUZAFFARPUR?
On 24th May 1868, the Society was set up in Muzaffarpur by the then
Sadar Amin(subordinate Judge) of Muzaffarpur, Syed Imdad Ali, who was
the founding Secretary as well.The President of the Society was Nawab
Syed Mohd. Taqi, the Raja of Jogiara(Darbhanga), who was the founder
of Zilla School, Muzaffarpur in 1845.The Life Honorary Secretary of
the Society was the founder of the college at Aligarh, Syed Ahmad Khan(1817-98).
Most of the details of the activities and achievements of the Society
are provided by a French Professor, named Garcien de Tussey, who had
visited India during the period and has published all these details
in his annual lectures delivered in a French University. He was a great
admirer of the Indian literature and culture.
The Society had its fortnightly newspaper in Urdu called, Akhbar ul
Akhyar, edited by Ajodhya Prasad, who was not only a scholar of Persian
but also an author of a book,"Gulzar-e-Maaroof, Ba Yaaz-e-Tirhut".Garcien
de Tussey was the subscriber of the newspaper.
Another famous Urdu writer and a freedom fighter, Qazi Abdul Wadood,
had read some 31 issues of the newspaper, in 1960, at Patna.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY:
To set up schools and colleges and make available Urdu translations
of the books of the modern European sciences, history and philosophy.
Syed Imdad Ali expressed that, to have an access to the modern sciences
of Europe, it is necessary to make available those books in vernaculars,
ie, in Hindustani(Urdu/Hindi).This is what he explained in a letter
to SW Fallon, the Inspector of Schools, Danapur, Patna. He further explained
that European nations had made progress only because after, 1453 AD,
they could get knowledge stored in Latin and Greek languages from Rome,
translated into their own mother tongues. This movement came to be known
in History as Renaissance.With the efforts of syed Imdad Ali and many
others, on 31 July 1870,the Govt. of India and the Calcutta University
on 12th May 1871 agreed to conduct Middle class examinations in the
Indian vernaculars.By that time, the Society had established about 5
schools in and around the 'city' of Muzaffarpur.The Narhan Zamindar,
Parmeshwari Pd. Narain Singh donated Rs. 5 thousand and the Jaintpur
Zamindar, Mahanth Raja Ram Das donated Rs 2 thousand to the Society
to set up schools in their respective villages. Hardi and other zamindars(Estates)
also established schools in their villages.
In a letter written to the Vice chancellor of the Calcutta University,
Syed Imdad Ali demanded to establish a college for the pass-outs of
the Zilla Schools. According to Garcien de Tussey, On 7th November 1871,
the Society laid the foundation stone of "the Muzaffarpur Central
College, in the centre of the city, amidst mango orchards. on the day
right since the early morning, thousands of people gathered there. The
Lt. Governor, G.Campbell, laid the foundation of the building. Syed
Imdad Ali delivered a stirring speech in Hindustani whereas MrCampbell
and Mr Fallon addressed in English. Campbell, however did emphasise
that in order to pursue higher education, the Indians will have to learn
English....".
The Society of Syed Imdad Ali also established a department of translation
(a Team of translators was paid Rs. 300 a month in total).Trigonometry,
Materia Medica, Optics, Physiology, Algebra, Mechanics, Philosophy,
History, Agricultural Sciences, Masonry etc were the subjects being
translated. Syed Imdad Ali sent Rs 1000 to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, during
his stay in London, requesting him to hire a team of the scholars of
the Oxford, Cambridge to prepare syllabi and recommended books to be
sent to the Library of the Muzaffarpur's Scientific Society. Qazi Abdul
Wadood informs us that the books were sent to Muzaffarpur (for details,
see his essay, "Akhbar ul Akhyar, Muzaffarpur aur Sir Syed"
published in the 'Fikr o Nazar', Aligarh, July 1960). Garcien de Tussey
also authenticates about the library having brought over 200 books from
abroad.The Society published several translations in collaboration with
the Scientific Society of Aligarh. In 1869, the Society also established,"Anjuman-e-Tehzeeb",
to conduct seminars, conferences, researches, debates and social welfare
efforts like setting up an orphanage.
In 1872, Syed Imdad Ali was transferred to Gaya where he established
a branch of the Society and also a school.
In August 1886, Syed Imdad Ali died of a paralytic stroke.(For details,
see BK Sinha's essay on Syed Imdad Ali, published in the journal of
Historical Research, Ranchi, vol. 13, 1970)
THE BIGGEST IRONY:
The extremely sad irony is that while we do remember the Bhumihar Brahman
Sabha and its members like Langat Singh, Ganesh Dutt Singh etc who did
a lot for the educational uplift of their caste fellows, we forget the
more significantly progressive, socially all inclusive contributions
of the Bihar Scientific Society and its moving spirits like Syed Imdad
Ali, Syed Mohd. Taqi etc.
The LS College got several names at different times. In 1899, it was
called Bhumihar Brahman College, in 1915, Greer BB College and in 1951,
LS college. In 1920, it constructed two hostels, one named after Duke
and another after Langat Singh but the Bihar Scientific Society and
its founding Secretary, Syed Imdad Ali and the founding President, Mohd
Taqi remains inexplicably un-acknowledged in the entire politics of
the nomenclature of the college.
Does it not amount to historical injustice ? Will this injustice be
undone ? If yes, how and when?
COMMENTS:
Although
I was a student of L.S. College during the years 1997-2001, I never
knew that L.S. College had come up as a consequence of such a commendable
social reform that took place in the 19th century. And I fully condemn
the political system that has been so partial in hiding the contributions
of Bihar Scientific Society (in particular the contributions of Sir
Syed Imad Ali and others who were the pioneers of the movement). Atleast,
for the knowledge of the students (and even general people), the history
of the college should be made available at the college premises as is
done at some museums and historical monuments.
I would personally like thank Dr. Md Sajjad for bringing live these
(almost dead) facts to our knowledge.
Ved
Prakash Gupta
acharyan@gmail.com
This is in response to Sajjad's essay on LS College.It is indeed quite
ironical that the contribution of the Bihar Scientific Society remains
not only un-acknowledged but the irony is even greater because this
does not exist in the popular memory of the people of Muzaffarpur and
Bihar.here I would like to quote what Sajjad himself told me. He says
:
"As a student of history it does intrigue me as to if the college
was founded by 2 societies,viz. Bihar Scientific Society and Bhumihar
Brahman Sabha, why and how did the contribution of the one(only one)of
them got erased from the public memory?
The question assumes all the greater importance because the Scientific
Society had initiated and sustained a kind of significant movement for
modern education in the district/province.Socially it did not remain
parochial, despite the fact that the 19th century was witness to communitarian
and caste particularism in terms of the movements for social reform
and educational pursuits.Even the much celebrated movement of Ram Mohan
Roy was no exception to this kind of particularism.
I think we must probe into these. One must also explore as to what happened
to the College established on 7th November 1871, the one which has been
called by Garcien de Tussey as the Muzaffarpur Central College? (few
people of the town/city told me that the college is present day's BB
Collegiate School, I could not check it).This was four years before
Sir Syed could establish his MAO College in Aligarh in 1875.(Here too
the Lt. Governor of UP had come to lay the foundation stone). Not only
this, Sir Syed's Scientific Society did not have its schools in rural
areas.Moreover,compared to the Society of Muzaffarpur, the Society of
Aligarh had far less participation of Hindus.
The schools established under the auspices of the Bihar Scientific Society
had earned admirations for their good standards from many quarters.I
have gone through those documents.I could not fin such things about
the Aligarh's College.
(In fact Garcien de Tussey was extremely surprised that Hindu and Muslim
students studied together in great harmony unlike Ireland and France,
where Catholics and Protestants could not do so).
Such details about the, now forgotten, Society are bound to provoke
the students of History.One must find out the reasons for the non- acknowledgement
of its unprecedented contribution.
I hope , concerned/interested people will suggest some probable reasons
for this collective amnesia of the people of Muzaffarpur in particular,
and of Bihar in general.Can't I make a conjecture that ever since the
foundation of the College in 1899,many ceremonies/functions/events would
have been hosted/venued by the College,in which the Bihar Scientific
Society was not mentioned(for whatever reasons)and gradually its contributions
could not be engraved in the people's(who matterd)memory?"
Yours
Zafar Khan
getzafarkhan@yahoo.com
It
was really a great news to know about Syed Imdad Ali's movement for
modern education, an extension of the Aligarh Movement and socially
far more inclusive than the Aligarh Movement.
Imdad's movement had spread even to the rural areas and Hindu Muslim
co operation was commendably high in the days when communalism was emerging
(due to Cow and Hindi-Urdu controversies) or 'being constructed' to
use Gyan Pandey's expression.The greatest tribute to Imdad Ali would
be to name the Library (of the LS College/ or of the BRA Bihar Univ.)
after him(i.e Imdad Ali).
Hope, the popular platform of this website(bihartimes.com) will raise
this absolutely justified demand and will clique success.
Tabir Kalam
It
was quite encouraging to know that Muzaffarpur, Bihar had witnessed
such a powerful movement for modern education in the 19th century.Simultaneously,
It was rather disappointing to learn that we have forgotten the proud
legacy.
May I propose before the people and the government of Bihar including
the authorities of the College/University that the library of the LS
College or of the BRA Bihar University should be named after Syed Imdad
Ali(d.August 1886).A stone should also be erected containing text on
the contributions and life sketch of the founder of the BIhar Scientific
Society.I hope Dr. Sajjad will provide the necessary informations about
the life of Syed Imdad Ali.
Sagheer
Quraishi
sagheerquraishi@hotmail.com
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