James Fergusson

“ What does the study of science mean? Well, it means that in the operations of life in which we seek to turn to account the gifts of Divine Providence, we should be guided by the skill which rises out of knowledge, rather than by haphazard work or groping in the dark. It is not that we should work upon theory rather than common-sense and practice, but it means that we should ground our theory and practice upon ascertained laws. ”

“ In the countries where learning has been most widely diffused—take, for instance, the Kingdom of Prussia, it is thought by no means derogatory for those who obtain successes in the Universities to pursue humble callings. Not only should knowledge respect labour, but it should seek to produce increased discoveries for the benefit of its profession and of mankind. Gentlemen, the year has not been an eventful one in the sense of any extraordinary occurrence in the history of this University. ”

“ Therefore, I say in this country it is peculiarly advantageous that female education should be encouraged to the utmost extent; and that no advantages which this society can offer, should be denied to women, I have sometimes thought that we may be rash in judging what may be best for races and people and religions so different from our own as are those in this country: but I cannot be wrong in thinking that as we in old time derived all our knowledge and civilization from the East, so we should bring to the East and offer as a debt of gratitude the fruits of that which we derived from them ”

“ I am glad to see so many young men obtaining the degrees which have just been conferred, because it shows that so many of our youth prize that hall-mark—if I may so term it—of the quality of their education which this University bestows. I have heard how earnestly our youths are availing themselves of the educational advantages extended to them, and I earnestly hope that the young men whom we see to-day obtaining the honoured prizes of a degree in this University, may find in it the beginning of a long and useful career. ”

“ Therefore I cannot see myself why the whole benefit of an University should not be extended to women; but in this country, until society greatly changes, we cannot hope—we cannot expect if we do hope—that women expect in their young years, can be present at mixed places of education. The education which they must receive after years of childhood, and many of them who have not had any educational advantages in childhood at all, must be derived, if at all, from female instructors. ”

“ The wonderful development of steam, which has rendered the sea not a barrier but a bridge to connect one land with another, has borne in upon us the manufactures of other countries to which all the inventions of science have been applied, so that they are produced with marvellous cheapness, and compete, nay, almost exclude, the simple manufactures of our people. ”

“ But relying upon the Providence which has so greatly blessed British influence here, which has given such a wonderful impulse to the country, and promoted the best interests of the people in this last half century at least, we may look forward hopefully to the results of this and kindred institutions in raising the character and aims of the people, and in equipping many for the work of life, of whose knowledge, of whose aspiration we need not be jealous, but in whose love of country we should find our best ally. ”

“ The Natives of this country are surely not less capable of learning, their intellects are not less subtle, their ability to acquire knowledge not less keen than those of their brethren in the West. Sure I am that if they embraced the advantages of modern inventions they would compete successfully with the manufactures of any part of the world. It is in the right application—the prudent application of invention which are sufficiently numerous, that scientific education will be most profitably directed. ”

“ I do not for a moment forget the great knowledge of the science of beauty possessed by many of the inhabitants of the country, and marvellous perfection to which certain arts were carried; but I mean in the prosecution of the industries which form the main staples of this country the arts were rude and simple, and are not calculated to compete in the present day with the science and inventions of the world. ”

“ I think it is much to be deplored that members of a community which has undoubtedly in previous ages produced many learned men should not be so prominent as their fellow-subjects here in taking advantage of the modern education provided so freely for them. I know that the leading members of that community are sensitive and sensible of this defect, and I am glad to say that an effort has been made to establish a school, which, I trust, will send many pupils in future to our Colleges and graduates to this University. ”

“ You can profit by many branches of education, because in our colleges we have been aided and equipped by funds liberally given by beneficent persons, scholarships and fellowships are endowed, and professors are paid, partially indeed by the State, but in the largest proportion by private benefactions. I find in the Elphinstone College, which, I suppose, occupies the most prominent place amongst our colleges, there are eight well-paid professors of art and other branches, but for physical science there is but one, and he is not paid so highly as the others. ”

“ Too many suppose that the knowledge which they have gained entitles them to criticise and dogmatise; true knowledge should always be modest, because, as the searcher proceeds, he sees how much there remains behind to attain. It should stimulate the modest and thoughtful mind rather to diffidence than to self-confidence. I hope that the idea, which some years ago was deprecated, of the right of those who attain to degrees in the University to public State employment is fast disappearing. ”

“ Not, surely, that we should tax the people of the country to maintain their industries in their own rude, extensive, and therefore expensive, form, but that we should bring and apply to the industries of the country the science which has cheapened production and produced prosperity elsewhere. ”

“ There are many steps that will have to be taken before they will have the full benefit of the University. They cannot yet, for example, without proceedings being taken by Government, be admitted to the enjoyment of our colleges, and no doubt many matters will have to be considered before such a step can be taken; but I do not think that the warmest advocate of female education can object to one step being taken at a time ”

“ The result must be in the hands of your own people; and we must look to the leaders of society that what we think reforms shall have their support to be judiciously carried out. No greater bond can exist between the Natives of this country and their foreign rulers than the common desire for their future advantage. Gentlemen, finally, the Supreme Government have empowered this University, with those of Calcutta and Madras, to confer honorary degrees. This power will enable the University to reward merit in many quarters in which at present no recognition is possible. ”

“ And this is but one illustration of the benefits to be derived from a study of science, because there is, as you know well, in the study of the laws of gravitation, in the right estimation of the powers by which we are surrounded, in the knowledge of the component parts of the soil, in the improvement of agriculture, and in the knowledge of chemistry, botany , and so forth, abundant exercise for inventive genius and scientific success, which cannot fail to be profitable if we only rightly turn our attention to these subjects. ”

“ But there never, I am told, has been a question on which the Senate has been divided in which Europeans and Natives have not been found on either side in nearly equal proportions, nor has there been any division attributable to nationality or race. Such a condition of things is not only in itself a reason for just pride, but it augurs well for that system of local self-government which we are about to see among us so largely developed. ”

“ Gentlemen, for myself I can see no ground why women should be excluded from the educational advantages which are extended to men. I will not insult the female good sense by wishing that they should be placed in all respects on an equality with men. ”

“ With regard to fellowships, I may say that it is a matter as much of regret as it is a bounden duty to Government to confer that honor only in the case of academical and literary distinction, while a degree may be not inaptly given in recognition of service which would not qualify for a fellowship. ”

“ We have done much, but we have still more to do, and problems are arising every day which require the earnest attention of the wisest to solve, if the future is to be turned to good account, and if we do our bounden duty by the people of India. ”

“ The percentage of success in three years successively has been only 34, 28 and 36 for Matriculation, and for Previous Examinations 42, 25 and 38. This point, perhaps, is one more for the consideration of the schools which send candidates up, than for the University, but it cannot be a matter of indifference to those that wish well to the system that so large a proportion of candidates should be insufficiently prepared. We have to examine whether there be anything in the system that is at fault, and whether a too high standard be exacted. ”

“ They have their career—and a very high career of duty it is—which must always be entirely distinct from ours, but their intellects are as acute, their power of assimilating knowledge as great, and means of usefulness open to them by the acquisition of knowledge not inferior to those of men. In all countries the education and development of the female character must rest with female teachers. ”

“ It means that instead of going on blindly in the path that our fathers trod, or adopting one invention or another at haphazard, we should from our practical knowledge comprehend them and judge of their right application. ”

“ But while so large a proportion of failures would lead some to think the standard is too high, we know the Principals of the Elphinstone and Deccan Colleges have represented that the candidates are not sufficiently advanced in English to enable them to take the full benefit of the instruction given them; and when we observe that in some institutions the proportion passed is very large, it is evident that either the system of teaching in those institutions is better than in the generality, or they exercise a more wholesome discretion in the selection of candidates for presentation. ”

“ It may be that instruction in arts and sciences can best be conferred by men, but the formation of character must always rest with female teachers. How can female teachers be qualified to a due extent if they have not educational advantages open to them? ”

“ Again, the science of astronomy will do much to wipe away the superstition which the best of the Natives of this country deplore as much as we do, to teach the people that the heavenly bodies move in a wonderful way indeed, but do not exercise malign influences on man^s existence. ”

“ I have to remark that the professional examinations have maintained their usual standard, and it is a matter for congratulation that the percentage of success in law is this year as high in numbers as that in medicine and civil engineering, although it has hitherto been lower, presumably owing to less perfect arrangements for teaching. ”

“ And, gentlemen, I am most happy to announce that the Muhammedan National Association has promised and has paid the sum of Rs.13,630 for the foundation of three scholarships, to be called the Sir Frank Souter Scholarships, and to be held severally for Matriculation, Previous, and B.A. Examinations. Further, in the last few days it has been announced that an Ashburner Scholarship is to be founded in memory of our friend who has just left us. That is as satisfactory to us as it is honourble to the donors. ”

“ I would remind you that great good has been done in the public schools in England by the annual conferences of head-masters, and thus, besides a friendly rivalry which takes place between those ancient institutions, an useful co-operation has also been the result. ”

“ That I certainly think would be a matter in which Government would be bound to interfere; but it would be going as far wrong in the other direction were anti-religious teaching to be given, and I believe that nothing would be more distasteful to the Natives of the country. I have observed suggestions of the utmost liberality made by the heads of the Roman Catholic Church in regard to a possible common system of inculcating morality and virtue. ”