Gujarat Varnacular Societyno Itihas Part 02

Author(s): Hiralal Tribhuvandas Parekh
Publisher: Hiralal Tribhuvandas Parekh

Page 51

.. 10. We trust the Commission will take. due note of the circumstance that in India the wealthier classes are not to be regarded as identical with those most willing to and capable of pursuing education; consequently in this respect any analogy drawn from society in England would, as regards this country, be only. misleading.
Government Educational institutions of the higher order are attended chiefly by the middle classes who evince a hereditary aptitude for literary pursuits. Socially and religiously these classes stand high, but their pecuniary resources are generally very limited. These classes even now feel keenly the burden of the heavy cost of education in the shape of fees which in the Elphinstone College amount to Rs. 120 a year; and there is not the least likelihood of their being able, for years to come, to support independent institutions of the higher order for the education of their sons, nor is the time yet come when independent local bodies or associations of graduates can take upon themselves the maintenance of colleges.
11. Besides it may be said that in this Presidency people do already bear a fair proportion of collegiate education. There are only three Arts Colleges in the British districts. Out of these the Elphinstone College derives a large proportion of its expenditure from funds provided by the people. The Gujarat College has yet received only a trifle from Government over the amount contributed by the people and the funds which support the Deccan College are said to be but a fraction of what the