“বিদ্যাসাগর ও বাঙালী সমাজ” লেখক – বিনয় ঘোষ

“বিদ্যাসাগর ও বাঙালী সমাজ” লেখক – বিনয় ঘোষ এর বইয়ের  পরিশিষ্ট ৩, এর ৫৪২ থেকে ৫৪৫ পৃষ্টায় লেখা আছে। আর যেমন আছে সেরকমই দেওয়ার চেষ্টা করছি, যার ফলে দেখতে পাবেন কিছু বানান অন্যরকম আছে। আর বোঝার সুবিধার্থে কিছু লাইন Bold ও Under line  করে দিয়েছি।  

অব্রাহ্মণ হিন্দুদের সংস্কৃত কলেজে পাঠাধিকার সম্বন্ধে বিদ্যাসাগরের চিঠি।

From: The Principal of the Sanscrit Collage.

To

    Captain F. F. C. Hayes, M.A.

    Offg. Secretary, Council of Education

   Dated From Willam 28^th March 1851

Sir, 

    I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Secretary Dr. Mouat’s letter No. 79 dated the 7^th January last, requesting me to report on the subject of any other castes than Brahmanas and Vaidyas, being admitted to the Sanscrit College and to ascertain and submit to the Council the opinion of the Principal Professors of the Institution of the question.

2.  In reply beg leave to state that I see no objection to the admission of other castes than Brahmanas and Vaidyas or in other words, different orders of Shudras, to the Sanscrit College. But as a measure of expediency, I would suggest that at present Kayasthas only be admitted-they form a very respectable portion of the Hindu Community of Bengal. The prohibitions in the Shastras with regard to the Shudras do not apply in their full extent to the Kayasthas. The most orthodox Brahmins do not hesitate to give them instructions and even those Brahmins who perform the part of spiritual guides to Kayasthas are not held in disrepute, but rather are highly esteemed inspite of the Dictum of Manu, “Let him not give temporal advice to a Shudra; nor what remains from his table; nor clarified butter of which part has been offered to Gods, not let him give spiritual counsel to such a man, nor inform him of the legal expaintion for his sin”.

    3.     In the days of Manu, the only duty prescribed for a Shudra was to serve the three superior orders, nameluy Brahmans, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas- but practice has now so far superseded precent that the Kayasthas, though considered to be of the Shudra class- not only perform almost all the duties of the higher classes. But are virtually the heads of the Religious Societies in Calcutta and its Suburbs.

   4. There is no direct prohibition in the Shastras against the Shudras studying Sanscrit literature. The only portions of it, from the perusal of which they are excluded are the sacred writings. But there are not wanting authorities which allow this privilege. From certain texts of the Bhagavata Purana clear inferences may be drawn to show that they are privileged to read the above works i.e. acknowledged to be a divine Revelation and to be the essence of all the Upanisads, the most sacred portion, of the Uedas.

                      ইদং ভগবতাপূর্বং ব্রহ্মণে নাভিপংকজে।

                      স্থিতায় ভবভীতায় কারুণ্যাৎ সম্প্রকাশিতম্‌।।

                                   B. XII, Ch. XIII, V. IX.

   The (the Bhagavata) was first revealed by Vishnu to Brahma, situated in the Lotus (growing out) of his Naval and afraid of (being from into) the world.

                    সর্ববেদান্ত সারঙ্ঘি শ্রীভাগবত মষ্যতে।

                                       B. XII, Ch. XIII, V. XIII.

    By Studying it (the Bhagavata) a Brahmana obtaios wisdom, a Kshatriya territory, a Vaisya Weasth, a Shudra purification from sin.

    5.    Very lately a curious occurrences took place in this part of Bengal which to a certain extent, favours the admission of the Kayasthas to this Institution. An opulent Kayastha, the late Raja Rajnarayan  Bahadur of Andool attempting to prove that the Kayasthas are Kashatriyas and therefore not subject to the restrictions enjoyed against the Shudras, insisted orthodox Pundits to give this opinion on the subject and a host of them have subscribed in the affirmative.

  6.  By the existing rules of the Sanscrit Colllege Vaidyas are admitted to it, though Raghunandana, whose works are the classes them with the Shudras. I can therefore conceive no reason, why Kasyasthas, who occupy from sharing the boon with their brother- Shudras, the Vaidyas.

    ইদানীন্তনক্ষত্রিয়াণমপি শূদ্রত্বমাহমনুঃ শনকৈ স্তু ক্রিয়ালোপাদিমাঃক্ষত্রিয়জাতয়ঃ।

বৃষলত্বং গতা লোকে ব্রাহ্মণাদর্শনেন চ। এবঞ্চ ক্রিয়ালোপাদ্বৈশ্মানামপি তথা।

এবম শষ্ঠাদীনামপি।।

                    Shudddi Tattwa, Page 150 Serampore Edn.

    Manu has pronounced that the kayasthas of the present age are become Shudras as “By degrees from the extinction of ceremonies and omission of the study of the Vedas, the Kshatriya are become Shudras”. So from the extinction of ceremonies, the position of the Vaishyas, is the same, and also of the ambasthas, (or Vaidyas) and the like.

    7.  It would not be irrelevant to state here that in the years 1828 and 1829 during the time of Dr. Wilson, some students of the Hindu College were allowed to study Sanskrit in this Institution, among whom was a kayastha named Baboo Amritalall Mitter, a near connection of Radhakant Bahadur, who received instructions from our Pundits in Grammar and Literature, passed examinations in these branches and obtained prazis.

   8.   The reason why I recommend the exclusion of the other orders of Shudras at present, is that they, as a body, are wanting in respectability and stand lower in the scale of social considerations’ their admission,  therefore, would I fear, prejudice the interests of the Institution.

   9. In conclusion, I beg leave to submit the poinion of the Princilal Professors of the College on the subject in original with its English translation from which it will be seen that they are averse to this innovation.

                                    I have the honour to be

                                              Sir,

                               Your most obedient servant,

                                ESHWAR CHANDRA SARMA

সংস্কৃত কলেজে সুবর্ণবণিক ছাত্রদের পাঠাধিকার সম্বন্ধে বিদ্যাসাগরের  চিঠি।

From

      The Principal Sanscrit Collage.

To

       G. Gardan Young Esq., Director of Public Instruction

                         Dated Fort Willam, the 21^st Nov. 1855

Sir,

   With reference to the Memorial of Baboo Shamacharan Sen  forwarded for report under your endorsement No. 1289 dated 15 Aug. last, I have the honor to remark that up to year 1851 the admissions to the Sanscrit College, were confined to Hindoos of the Brahmin and Baidya Cast only. When under order of the late council of Education the privilege of studying in that institution was extended to the Kayasthas the most repectable calte among the Sudras. In the year 1854 this privilege was further extended to all the respectable castes of Hindoos under further orders.

    But these orders I regret cannot apply to the people of the caste to which the memorialist belongs nor would it in my humble opinion be expendient at present to admit applicants of that class. It is true that some families of Sonar Baniya of Calcutta are a popular men but in the scale of castes the class the class stands very low. Admission from that class will I am sure not onlyshock the prejudice of the orthodoz Pundits of the Institution but materially injure to its popularity as well as respectability. Personally I have a always been opposed to the exclusive system as will appear from my former reports to the late Council on the subject of admitting applicants of other castes than Brahmans and Baidyas, I would have been glad to admit the son of the memorialist. The greatest latitude that expediency would allow has I believe already been under present circumstances.

    The papers received under your endorsement are herewith returned as required.   

                                                   I have etc.

                                        ESHWAR CHANDRA SHARMA