Jignasa Journal Of History Of Ideas And Culture Part 01

Author(s): Vibha Upadhyaya and Others
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 150

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Jijñāsā
understanding of their sentiments in a better way. He even initiated them in Western culture and presented them a World Globe, Atlas, telescope and books in English. The beginning of the modern system of education under the directions of the British Government in Rajputana States from 1842 by way of opening schools for masses, and the Nobles' schools for the sons of the jagirdars and the Mayo College, Ajmer for the education of the Princes. The predilection of the Rajput rulers for modern education gave impetus to the growth of English language and undermined the importance of Persian in the middle class of the society as well as the elite. Of course, in 1844, Persian was introduced with Urdu, Sanskrit, Hindi and English in the Maharaja's College, Jaipur,'' but it could not be restored to its old glory in the changing political and intellectual climate in Rajputana under the British paramountcy. Of course, Persian and Arabic being part of the Muslim culture were taught in the Maktabs and the Madrasas.
On the advice of the British Government, Maharaja Ram Singh (1835-1880) of Jaipur adopted English language in the State administration in preference to vernacular and formed a separate office of the English Department in 1864. Thereafter, the Jaipur Darbar initiated the use of English language into civil and judicial departments and also addressed the Kharitas and other correspondence of importance to the British government in English. The Maharaja's liking for the English also brought about a change in his traditional demeanour as was reflected in his pursuit of British social life. He exhibited a disposition to associate more freely with the Political Agent and English gentelmen than has hitherto been his wont".'' He often paid private and friendly visits to the Political Agent at the Jaipur Residency, and occupied a seat at table with his guests on all occasions. He even "entertained them at the palace, instead of, as formerly, joining them after dinner in a different room".
Thus, the establishment of British paramountcy and the beginning of the modern system of education in the early nineteenth century marred the growth of Persian language and in its place, popularized English in Rajasthan. Moreover, the publication of James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1828-29), encouraged the Rajput aristocracy and historians to learn English. Hence, the historical writing in Persian slowed down, and ultimately petered out by the later part of the nineteenth century. Of course, the influence of Persian was discernible in the writings of historians of Rajasthan, such as, Debi Prasad, Jawala Sahai and Kaviraja Shyamaldass and others who knew Persian, but they preferred to write history of Rajasthan in Hindi, Urdu or English. Debi Prasad, son of Munshi Nathulal Bahjar, a Kayastha by caste and a Persian scholar of Tonk, wrote his treatise in Hindi while Munshi Jwala Sahai wrote several books, such as, Loyal Rajputana and History of Bharatpur in English and the monumental work on the history of Rajputana entitled Waqai Rajputana (in 3 Volumes) in Urdu. Moreover, the publication in Hindi of the Mewar Gazette - Sajjankirti Sudhakar from 1875 under the national fervour of encouraging Hindi as a national language and also the Vir Vinod by Shyamaldass, under the patronage of Maharana of Mewar, were the indicator of the dilution of the tradition of historical writing in Persian in the latter part of the nineteenth century Rajasthan. This dilution was confirmed by the publication of the histories of several Rajput States in Hindi by G.H. Ojha, V.N. Reu and Mathuralal Sharma in the early part of the twentieth century.
It cannot be denied that the Persian historical writing introduced a tradition of historical writing in Rajasthan, while the Persian documents strengthened not only this tradition but also authenticated the history of medieval Rajasthan. The tradition of Persian historical writing has left an abiding impact on the writing of Rajasthan history while the adoption of several Persian terms in Hindi in the administration