PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTEENTH (SPECIAL) SESSION
A special session of the Board was held on the 22nd and 23rd April, 1950 in New Delhi to consider primarily the Report of the University Education Commission. The following members were present:-
CHAIRMAN 1. The Hon'ble Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Minister for Education, Government of India.
EX-OFFICIO 2. Dr. Tara Chand, Educational Adviser to the Government of India.
NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 3. Shri E. W. Aryanayakam.
4. Dr. Zakir Hussain.
5. Mr. Humayun Kabir.
6. Mr. Justice Teja Singh.
7. Mrs. Ammu Swaminadhan.
ELECTED BY PARLIAMENT 8. Shri Rohini Kumar Chowdhury.
9. Pandit Govind Malaviya.
NOMINATED BY THE INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD 10. Dr. A. L. Mudaliar.
11. Prof. N. K. Sidhanta.
REPRESENTATIVES OF 'A' STATES Assam
12. Hon'ble Shri Gopinath Bardoloi, Chief Minister and Minister-in-Charge of Education
Advisers:
Shri M. M. Chowdhury,
Parliamentary Secretary.
Shri U. K. Goswami,
Director of Public Instruction.
West Bengal
13. Dr. D. M. Sen,
Secretary, Education Department.
Bombay
14. Mr. K. G. Saiyidain, Educational Adviser.
Adviser :
Shri D. C. Pavate,
Director of Public Instruction.
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Madhya Pradesh
15. Hon'ble Shri P. K. Deshmukh,
Minister for Education.
Adviser
Dr. V. S. Jha,
Education Secretary.
Madras
16. Hon'ble Shri K. Madhava Menon,
Minister for Education.
Adviser
Shri D. S. Reddi,
Director of Public Instruction.
Orissa
17. Shri M. C. Pradhan,
Director of Public Instruction.
Punjab (I)
18. Hon'ble Sardar Narotam Singh, Minister for Education.
Adviser
Dr. K. C. Khanna,
Education Secretary and Director of Public Instruction.
Uttar Pradesh.
19. Shri Parmanand,
Secretary, University Grants Committee.
REPRESENTATIVES OF 'B' STATES 20. Mr. A. Kazmi,
Director of Education, Jammu & Kashmir.
21. Hon'ble Shri Kalu Ram Virulkar,
Education Minister, Madhya Bharat.
22. Hon'ble Shri Prem Narain Mathur,
Education Minister, United States of Rajasthan.
23. Hon'ble Shri Balwant Raj G. Mehta,
Education Minister, United States of Saurashtra.
24. Hon'ble Shri P. Govindan Menon,
Education Minister, Travancore & Cochin.
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SECRETARY
25. Syed Ashfaque Husain,
Deputy Educational Adviser to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Education.
The following members were unable to be present
1. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyanger.
2. Mrs. Zarina Currimbhoy.
3. Mirza Mohd. Ismail.
4. Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra.
5. Dr. A. H. Pandya.
6. Principal Mata Prasad.
7. Mrs. Renuka Ray.
8. Mrs. Hannah Sen.
9. Major-General Mahadeo Singh.
10. Shri Gorakh Nath Sinha, Director of Public Instruction, Bihar.
The following also attended the meeting as observers :
1. Shri A. N. Basu, Principal, C.I.E., Delhi.
2. Seth Govind Das, Member of Parliament.
3. Dr. P. S. Deshmukh, Member of Parliament.
4. Shri S. K. Ghosh, Director of Education, Uttar Pradesh.
5. Shri B. N. Jha, Director of Education, Madhya Bharat.
6. Major Raj Narain Mathur, Principal, Vallabh Mahavidyalaya, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh).
7. Shri S. S. Mathur, Director of Education, Delhi.
8. Shri Balwant Sinha Mehta, Member of Parliament.
9. Dr. Raghuvira.
10. Shri B. M. Singh, Director of Education, Ajmer.
2. After welcoming the members of the Board the Chairman said
that the special session of the Board was held to consider primarily the Report of the University Education Commission. This Report was to have been examined at the last meeting of the Board held in January 1950, but the members then felt that they had not given sufficient thought to this important question and they had suggested that it might be taken up in April, 1950. The Chairman hoped that the members had now had time to study the various recommendations of the Report so that decisions might be taken at the meeting. Some of the recommendations, such as the appointment of a whole-time Vice- Chancellor for a University, were more important than others and required a goal deal of consideration. He continued that the recommendations may be roughly divided into two groups. Certain recommendations involved an immediate increase in expenditure, whereas others did not. The Board should, however; examine, all the recommendations on their merit, irrespective of their financial implications. The Chairman emphasised the fact that even if certain recommendations involved additional expenditure, the money should be found to implement them because they were of great importance and urgency.
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The Chairman continued that there was another problem which called for the Board's earnest and immediate attention, viz., the question relating to the spread of Hindi, specially in non-Hindi areas. He explained that, according to the Constitution, English should have to be entirely replaced by the Federal Language within a period of 15 years. If this was to be accomplished, extensive preparations for this change-over had to be made as early as possible throughout the country and particularly in those areas where the Regional language was not Hindi. It was, therefore, all urgent matter for the Board to consider ways and means for popularising Hindi. As regards the employees of the Central Government, the Chairman felt that a course in Hindi for a period of 6 months to a year may be instituted for those who were not conversant with Hindi. Under the British rule the Government used to encourage English Officers in India to learn the language of the area where they were posted; prizes were awarded to persons who attained proficiency in the various languages. Similar methods might well be adopted to encourage those Government employees whose mother tongue was not Hindi.
3. Dr. Tara Chand then addressed the meeting. He pointed out that since 1919 when the last University Education Commission had reported there had arisen a number of complaints against the standards of teaching, scholarship and discipline in the Indian Universities. Moreover, with the recent political and constitutional changes in the country, University education had to be remoulded. It was, therefore,
imperative that a Commission should be set up to investigate the matter in all its aspects and to make recommendations. The members of the Commission which began to function in December 1948 visited all the Universities and discussed problems with the staffs, the members of the University bodies and others interested ill higher education. They received memoranda both from the Universities and individuals. All questions were then considered in detail in the light of these discussions and the memoranda received. The conclusions were embodied in the Report. The Report was sent to all the State Governments, Universities and the Inter-University Board for their comments. Unfortunately, very few comments had been received so far, but the Board could no longer wait for these comments. While the Board would obviously have to consider the whole Report, Dr. Tara Chand drew special attention to those portions which related to matters on which Government would have to take some decision, such as matters relating to the future organisation of the universities, the Medium of Instruction in the universities, classification and the salaries of staff, etc.
4. The Board then proceeded to deal with the Agenda. (Annx. E.)
Item I (a)-
Note.-The numbers given below to the recommendations of the Commission are as given to the recommendations summarised at the end of each chapter of the report.
CHAPTER I
Historical Retrospect This. Chapter deals with the history of higher education in the country and makes no recommendations, There is, therefore, no observation of the Board relating to this Chapter.
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CHAPTER II
The Aims of University Education The Board generally approved the recommendations of the Commission regarding assistance to Backward Communities and abolition of communal ratios in Colleges.
CHAPTER III
Teaching Staff : Universities & Colleges (i) The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (5), (8), (9) and (11)
(ii) In regard to recommendation (6) the Board were of opinion that, in order to attract well qualified persons, the scales of salaries for University teachers should be revised as recommended in the Report. The Central and State Governments should endeavour to implement these recommendations as far and as early as possible. It was also made clear that the scales of salaries recommended were throughout consolidated, including the dearness. allowance.
The Board further observed that in the first sentence of the 5th subpara of para 13 in this Chapter the words "for a term not exceeding five years" should be substituted for "for a term of three to five years".
(iii) As regards recommendation (7) the Board recommended that the scales of salaries suggested. for affiliated colleges with or without post-graduate classes should also be given effect to as far as possible. If, however, it was found impossible for any reason to implement this recommendation in any college, the Board were strongly of Opinion that a deviation from these scales should be permitted only with the previous approval of the University concerned.
The words "(2 each in college)" should be omitted from recommendation (7) where they are entered against " Senior Posts ".
(iv) In regard to recommendations (6) and (7) the Board further observed that the new scales of salaries could not be extended to the existing staff automatically, but that every case should be considered on merits.
(v) With reference to recommendation (10), extending the age of retirement of Professors, the Board agreed that it should not apply to persons in Government service as it will give rise to administrative difficulties.
CHAPTER IV
Standards of Teaching (i) The Board approved the recommendations (3 to (12).
(ii) The Board recommended that the words "University Courses" in recommendation (1) should be substituted by "Degree Classes" and the words " i.e., after the completion of 12 years of study at a school and an Intermediate College " may be deleted.
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(iii) In view of the Government of India's proposal to set up a Secondary Education Commission to examine the system of Secondary Education in the country, the Board felt that no decision should be taken at this stage on recommendation (2). The matter may first be considered by the proposed Secondary Education Commission.
CHAPTER V
Courses of Study-Arts and Sciences (i) The Board approved the recommendations (2) to (5).
(ii) The Board recommended that the words "after a successful completion of 12 years of schooling or its equivalent, that is" may be deleted from recommendation (1).
CHAPTER VI
Post-Graduate Training and Research : Arts' & Sciences (i) The Board approved recommendations (1) and (3) to (14).
(ii) The Board observed, that a viva voce examination is not sufficient to test a candidate's general knowledge of the whole field of the subject and that a written examination, as well as, on some subjects, a practical test may be necessary. The words "an examination to test" should therefore be substituted for the words "a viva voce examination to test" in recommendation (2). It will be for the Universities to decide what the nature of such an examination should be for different degrees.
CHAPTER VII
Agriculture (i)The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (5) and (7) to (14).
(ii) It was felt that all Agricultural Colleges should be associated, where possible, with the new Rural Universities. The Board, therefore, recommended that the word "New" should be deleted from the recommendation (6) where it qualified Agricultural Colleges.
Commerce The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (3).
Education The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (7).
Engineering and Technology (i) The Board approved recommendations (1) to (7), (11) and (12).
(ii) It was agreed that in recommendation (8) the word "American" should be deleted before the word "Industries" and the words "of technological advanced countries" added after the word "Institutions".
(iii) The Board recommended that the words "including Cottage Industries" should be added after the words "new industries" in recommendation (9).
(iv) The Board decided that the words "controlled or" should be deleted from the recommendation (10) before the word "dominated".
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Law (i) The Board approved recommendations (1) to (3), (5) and (7) to (9).
(ii) The Board recommended that the recommendation (4) should read as follows :
B "that a two-year degree course be offered in legal subjects. to be followed by a, period of practical. training prescribed by the High Court".
(iii) The Board decided that recommendation (6) should be deleted.
The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (8).
The Board approved the recommendations made under this Section.
(i) The Board made the following general recommendations relating to Professional education:-
(a) There should be an All-India Council for each professional subject to prescribe proper standards.
(b) All Institutions for professional education, except those which form part of a University should be under the control of the Ministry of Education or of the State Department of Education concerned. In other words all educational institutions should be under a common educational authority and not under different Government departments.
(i) The' Board approved the recommendations (2) to (4).
(ii) The Board were of opinion that the words "may provide" should be substituted for the words "start work with" in recommendation (1).
(iii) It was decided to add "comparative study of religions" as subject no. 14 under (iii) and (iv) of Chapter V, Para 14 of the
Report.
(i) The Board approved the recommendations (3), (4)(ii), (5), 6(i) and (7).
(ii) It was agreed that recommendation (1) should be substituted by article 351 of the Constitution, which reads as follows:
"It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure this enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in other languages of India
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specified in the 8th Schedule and by drawing wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages."
(iii) After considerable discussion recommendation (2) was accepted by the Board, with two members dissenting.
(iv) The Board were of opinion that the word "Higher" should be deleted before the word "Secondary" in recommendation 4(i) and 6(ii).
Note:- Discussion of this chapter also disposed of the item 1 (b) of the Agenda. (Report of the Committee on Medium of Instruction at the University Stage).
The Board generally approved the recommendations (1) to (8).
(i) The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (11) and (13) to (48).
(ii) The Board recommended that the words "Degree" and leading to a doctorate " should be deleted from recommendation (12).
The Board generally approved the recommendations (1) to (8).
The Board generally approved the recommendations (1) to (11).
The Board generally approved all the recommendations (1 to 6) in this Chapter and added that the recommendations of the University Education Commission, as accepted by the Board, would be totally unfruitful if the financial support of the Government of India was not forthcoming They, therefore, urged the Government of India to make a definite beginning from 1951-52.
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In regard to the recommendations contained in these chapters the Board endorsed the Commission's recommendation (1) in Chapter XV in respect of Aligarh and Banaras Universities. With regard to the other recommendations in Chapters XV and XVI the Board resolved that the Central Government should take up the matter with the individual universities and States concerned and take such steps as may be necessary.
The Board approved the recommendations (1) to (5).
The Board approved the recommendation of the Commission in this Chapter.
Appreciation.-After completing the consideration of the Report of the University Education Commission the Board desired to place on record their warm appreciation of the Commission's work.
Item I (b).-Please see note above under Chapter IX of the Report of the University Education Commission [Item I (a)].
Item II.-The Board recorded the views of the Universities in regard to the private coaching institutions.
Item III.-The Board recorded the replies from the State Governments relating to the private practice by Government Medical Officers.
Item IV.-The Board then took up the question of encouraging and popularising Hindi particularly in non-Hindi areas. Dr. Tara Chand explained that certain suggestions including the following were already before the Government of India but that the latter would welcome further suggestions from the Board :-
(1) For all examinations for recruitment to Central Services there should be a compulsory paper in Hindi.
(2) All employees of the Central Government should be required to pass a test in Hindi.
(3) There should also be prizes for such Government servants whose mother tongue is not Hindi and who acquire proficiency in the language.
(4) Special efforts should be made to spread Hindi in non-Hindi speaking areas and the Government of India should support such efforts.
A general discussion followed and the following further suggestions were made by several members :
(1) If Hindi is to become effectively and quickly the Federal Language it should, to begin with, be such as can be commonly understood.
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(2) A distinction should be made between the written and spoken Hindi. While the latter should be easy so as to be commonly understood, the former should draw more and more from Sanskrit so as to bring Hindi closer to the languages of non-Hindi speaking areas, such as Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra.
(3) Every University, especially those in the non-Hindi areas, should open a Hindi Department so that University students who wish to study the language may have the necessary facilities.
(4) Universities should undertake publications of Hindi books on the subjects taught in the graduate and post-graduate classes. The Government of India should, if necessary, render financial help to these Universities for this purpose.
(5) A prize may be instituted by the Government of India to be awarded to the author of the best Hindi publication for the year.
Item V.-The Board accepted the invitation of the Hon'ble Minister for Education, Travancore and Cochin to hold the next meeting at Trivandrum.
Item VI-The Board considered their recommendation relating to the constitution of the Standing Committees, made at their last meeting in January 1950 and resolved that there should be three Standing Committees, viz., Basic and Secondary Education Committee, Higher Education Committee and General Purposes Committee. Each Committee should consist of 15 members to be nominated by the Chairman of the Board and meet, if necessary, twice a year.
Conclusion.-The meeting then adjourned with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
I. (a) To receive and consider the Report of the University Education Commission (Appx. S.)
(b) To consider the Report of the Committee on Medium of Instruction. (Appx. G.)
II. To consider the views expressed by Universities on Item XXII of the last year's Agenda regarding the harm done by private coaching academic and the measures suggested to combat the evil. (Appx.D.)
III. To report the action taken on paragraph 36 of the University Teachers' Committee Report regarding prohibition of private practice by Government Medical Officers. (Appx. E.)
IV. To consider what steps should be taken to encourage and popularise Hindi in non-Hindi States. (Appx. T.)
V. To consider the venue for the next meeting.
VI. To consider constitution of Standing Committees of the Central Advisory Board of Education. (Appx. U.)
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