B. Statement concerning the State of education of the Depressed Classes in the Bombay Presidency on behalf of Bahishkrita Hitakarini Sabha to the Indian Statutory Commission (29th May 1928). - Page 435

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416 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES

the attainment of which we are ready to sanction a considerable increase of expenditure.” This despatch is very rightly regarded as having laid the foundation of mass education in this country. The results of this policy were first examined by the Hunter Commission on Indian Education in 1882. The following figures show what was achieved during the period of 28 years :

Primary Education

1881-82

No. of scholars Per cent on at school total Christians .. .. .. 1,521 .49 Brahmins .. .. .. 63,071 20.17 Other Hindus .. .. .. 2,02,345 64.69 Mohamedans .. .. .. 39,231 12.54 Parsis .. .. .. 3,517 1.12 Aboriginal and Hill Tribes .. .. .. 2,713 .87 Low caste Hindus .. .. .. 2,862 .87 Jews and others .. .. .. 373 .12

Secondary Education

1881-82

Middle Schools High Schools

No of P.c. on total No. of P.c. on total scholars No. of scholars at No. of at schools scholars schools scholars Christians .. .. 1,429 12.06 111 2.26 Brahmins .. .. 3,639 30.70 1,978 40.29 Cultivators 624 5.26 140 2.85 Other Hindus Low castes 17 .14 .. .. Other castes 3,823 32.25 1,573 32.04 Mohamedans .. .. 687 5.80 100 2.04 Parsis .. .. 1,526 12.87 965 19.66 Aboriginal and Hill Tribes .. 6 .05 .. .. Others (including Jews etc.) .. 103 .87 92 .86

Collegiate Education

1881-82

No. of P. c. on total scholars No. of scholars Christians .. .. .. 14 3 Brahmins .. .. .. 241 50 Cultivators .. .. 5 1 Other Hindus Low castes .. .. 0 0 Other castes .. .. 103 21.3 Mohamedans .. .. .. 7 1.5 Parsis .. .. .. 108 21.5 Aboriginal and Hill Tribes .. .. 0 0 Others (including Jews etc.) .. .. 2 0.4