Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/312

252 me on consideration to be unsuited to the circumstances of this country and to the character of the people.

The first step to a sound judgment on the whole of this subject is to consider what features should characterize a plan likely to be attended with success. It will probably be admitted that any scheme for the promotion of public instruction should be simple in its details and thereby easy of execution; cheap and thereby capable of extensive or general application; not alarming to the prejudices of the people but calculated on the contrary to create and elicit good feelings towards their rulers; not tending to supersede or repress self-exertion, but rather to stimulate and encourage it, and at the same time giving Government the lead in the adoption and direction of measures for the future moulding and development of the native character, native society, and native institutions.

The simplest form in which Government influence could be employed for this object is that of mere recommendation, and in conversing with natives on the means of infusing fresh vigour into their institutions of education, they have sometimes expressed the opinion that a mere intimation of the pleasure of Government and of the satisfaction with which it regards such efforts, would be sufficient to cause schools to spring up and revive in all directions. This opinion was most probably meant in a sense very different from that conveyed by the terms in which it was expressed. The object of Government in adopting such a course would be to avoid interfering or dictating in a matter like education which may be deemed to belong to domestic and social regulation; but the adoption of such a course would be, and would be understood to be, the very interference and dictation which it is sought to avoid. The people in general are unable to appreciate such a procedure on the part of Government. They would neither understand the language employed nor the motives that dictate it. They would either suppose that there is some secret intention to entrap them into disobedience, or giving full credence to the assurance that no authority is to be employed to enforce the recommendation, it would be neglected. In either case Government and the people would be placed in a false relative position.

The people of this country in their present condition cannot understand any other language than that of command proceeding from Government. They do not perceive the possibility of their standing in any other relation to their rulers than in that which requires obedience. I had frequent illustrations of this in my own experience during the progress of my inquiries. Before seeing me, the mere announcement of my expected arrival was sufficient to inspire awe into the minds of the inhabitants of a village, and a simple request that they would give me such and such information respecting their village was not regarded as a request with which