The worst crime which our brothers commit against us is to deprive us of education. There is always some grandfather or elderly uncle who stands in the way of any poor girl who might wish to be educated. From experience we find that mothers are generally willing to educate their girls, but they are quite helpless when their husbands and other male relations will not hear of girls attending school. May we challenge such grandfathers, fathers or uncles to show the authority on which they prevent their gir from acquiring education? Can they quote from the holy Quran or Hadis any injunction prohibiting women from obtaining knowledge?
We know there are Mussalmans of advanced ideas who are anxious to give their daughters a good education, but for want of a suitable High School for Muslim girls they cannot have their wishes fulfilled, and so they groan under the wretched social system. Why cannot the public of Calcutta support one ideal school for Muslim girls? Such a High English School with boarding accommodation and hostel, which can supply the demands of all the different classes of people, high and low, is very badly needed in Calcutta. On our part we are willing to convert this school (we mean the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School) to that ideal one, provided we get public support and money enough to meet the cost of up keep.
From the most ancient times there has existed in India a system of education which though distinct in its characteristics and ideals from the modern western system has produced great men and earnest seekers after truth. This ancient Indian Education developed in the early period of history the science of grammer and mathematics. It has enabled India to make the mark in the sphere of high philosophy and metaphysics. Conditions of life have changed considerably from those prevalent in those early days and to work out without many essential modifications ancient theories and practices in education is by no means a practical proposition. Yes, we must seek the elements of value in our ancient heritage. We must assimilate the old while holding to the now. Thus will we render more beneficial our present educational system, the great defect of which is that it is an exotric in an alien soil. It is unsuited to our needs and requirements and incapable of developing the distinctive thread of our national thought and culture.
If education is described as the preparation for life or for complete living the Indian educator had formed of it a true and valuable conception. The ancient curriculum was not confined to mere book-learning. It included many more things. Physical development received its due share of attention.
