APPENDIX A
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY
Middle School, Parel
(REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1908)
Situation — This School was originally opened at Parel, in the Morarji Walji’s Bungalow near the Elphinstone Road Station, on October 18th, 1906, in the interest of the children of the depressed classes. It was thence transferred first to a chawl near the Globe Mill and afterwards to its present habitation opposite the Elphinstone Road station in November 1907.
Admissions & c — The school opened in January 1908 with 123 pupils on the roll of whom 18 were girls. In the course of the year no fewer than 335 new admissions were made, thus bringing the total on the register to 458. Of these 294 left the school, leaving thus 164 pupils on roll on the 31st December 1908. Of this number 65 belong to the touchable and higher classes and 99 to the depressed ones. The number of girls on roll at the end of the year was 23. The average daily attendance for the whole year was 101.
4. Range of Education given — In last June English was begun to be taught in the school, thus making it a middle school teaching up to English Fourth Standard. Besides the education imparted in the usual subjects of the curriculum of studies the school teaches book binding, to the advanced pupils; Sewing is taught to girls and drawing is a compulsory subject in the upper standards. Physical education is carefully attended to, provision being made for drill and cricket, in both of which the students take active interest. I have to express my sincere thanks in this connection to Mr. Madhav Ramji Khedekar and Mr. Ambaji Marayya for the honorary service they render in teaching drill to all the Classes of the School.
5. The Annual Transference Examination of the School was held just before the Divali holidays, in October. Altogether 147 pupils were Presented for the examination. Of them 119 passed under all heads.
The examination was conducted by Mr. Moro Prabhakar Khare, Head Master of Municipal School at Worlee with the help of his Assistants. To all of them I beg to express my sincere thanks.
6. The annual Inspection — Mr. H. S. Sukthankar, Assistant Deputy Inspector of Marathi Schools, Bombay, held the annual inspection on 19th November. He expressed his satisfaction with the work, discipline and tone of the school. I quote below extracts from his report. The grant in aid received by the school in 1907 was Rs. 138. The amount was increased last year to 185 which is nearly the maximum obtainable under Chapter III. Application for transferring the school for registration as primary from an indigenous one has been made and we may expect to secure more grant next year. Mr. Sukthankar’s report referred to above is as under :—
"The school teaches Joint Schools Committee’s standards. St. IV did fairly well on the whole. The work of St. III was on the whole good. The dictation of St. II was fair and copybooks very fair, while arithmetic and vernacular were good. The results of St. I were on the whole fairly satisfactory. The Infant class has on the whole been fairly well trained... Book binding, needle work and embroidery work have been lately introduced in this school and the work done by the pupils was satisfactory... Discipline and conduct of students : Good. The teaching staff is sufficient and fairly competent. Supervision... Good.”
7. Religious and moral instruction is a special feature of this school. Instruction of a systematic character in the Theistic faith of worship is imparted and morality is taught by means of simple stories which the children love being told. Every day, before the regular work commences, the children are assembled together and are taught to recite a hymn from the Sulabh Sangit specially prepared for their use.
8. Visitors to the School — Among those who visited the school during the year under report and thus showed their practical interest in its work were Lala Lajpatrai of Lahore, Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar, Mrs. Ramabai Ranade, Mr. G. K. Deodhar of the Servants of India Society, Prof. Mallik of Bankipore, Mr. G. D. Madgavkar, B.A., I.C.S. Sessions Judge, Broach, Mrs. Manekbai Bahadurji, Mrs. Laxmibai Ranade, Prof. V. P. Dalai, M.A., B.Sc. of the Elphinstone College, Mr. H. Stanley Reed, Editor, Times of India and a large number of ladies and gentlemen. The children of the school are deeply grateful to Mrs. Ramabai Ranade, Mr. H. Stanley Reed and R.B.A.R. Talcherkar who were kind enough to distribute sweetmeats to them. I beg also to express my sincere gratitude to all these and other visitors for visiting the school and encouraging the pupils and the staff in their work.
Special provision — In this school provision is made for bathing and washing. The children in our school come from the dirtiest quarters of the town and have absolutely no notions of cleanliness and hygiene. The dirty children are bathed in the school and they are also made to wash their clothes. Soap is supplied to them in plenty and they are made to realise practically the advantages of a life of cleanliness and neatness. Every attempt is made to discourage slovenly habits and to imbue the little children with the idea that cleanliness is a virtue which is worth practising. The result of this practice are visible in the tidiness observed in the pupils whose dress and habits are in marked contrast with those of other children who have not been yet brought under the influence of the school.
What the School has done and what It wants to do — The Parel School has been in existence now for over two years. During this time no fewer than 400 pupils of the depressed classes have come under its influence and about 300 of them have left the institution after acquiring a smattering however little, of the three Rs. The School staff has attempted without exception to throw as much light of useful knowledge into the lives of these little ones. They have been shown the value of clean and moral living and have been taught to regard life as a precious gift from God and not a thing to be despised and wasted. All that we have done for the poor children is, we are aware, only a very small part of what could and ought to be done for them. More indeed could be done for the improvement of their future life and prospects, but the pity is, they do not stay with us long enough. If they did so, what we desire to do is to train them so, as to completely wipe off the stigma of low-caste life attaching to them. The object which the School wants to achieve is to put the low-caste children on an equal footing with those of the higher classes. With careful and regular training, with education in hygiene, morality and religion we hope to achieve it. We thank God for His help in the discharge of our duty to the depressed classes and we pray to Him to be with us in the year just begun and to enable us to perform our work with love and humility.
V. S. SOHONI
(Hd. Master, Parel School)
APPENDIX B
REPORT OF THE
Deonar Kachrapatti Day School
(FOR THE YEAR 1908)
This school was opened on the 1st of November 1907. It is situated close to the chawls for the depressed classes labourers employed in connection with the removal of the refuse of the city of Bombay to Deonar near Chimbur two miles away from the Ry. Station, Kurla.
The School meets in a thatched cottage erected by our philanthropic citizen Mr. Haji Yusaf Haji Ismail, who was kind enough to pay all its expenses and also to distribute clothes to the children of the school. But for this help of Mr. Haji Yusaf, the work of the school would have been seriously hampered for want of proper accommodation. Our best thanks are therefore due to Sheth Haji Yusaf as well as to Mr. S. M. Edwards I.C.S. the then Municipal Commissioner for having enabled us to start this School.
During the year under report 110 boys and 5 girls were admitted into the School of whom 109 belonged to the Depressed classes. The pupils are all drawn from the children of labourers belonging to the Kachrapatty. The average daily attendance was 25.
Application has been made to the Inspector of schools, Thana District, for the registration of the school for grant-in-aid. In response to it, the Inspector Mr. R. G. Apte, B.A. visited the school and was pleased with all he saw. He has promised to recommend the application for grant.
In connection with this school, special mention must be made of the name of Mr. Amritlal V. Thakar, L.C.E. who first drew the attention of the Committee of the Mission to the need of a School, felt for a long time by the low caste labourers at Deonar Kachrapatti and who helped the Committee both pecuniarily and otherwise in establishing School. He still takes a very keen of interest in its working and management and renders all possible aid to the Mission in general and the Master in charge of the school, to make it an institution of real use to the children of the depressed classes. The flourishing condition of the school is in itself an indication of Mr. Amritlal's interest in it.
V. S. SOHONI
(Inspector of Society's Schools)
APPENDIX C
REPORT OF THE
Agripada Day School
(FOR THE YEAR 1908)
Situation — The Agripada Vernacular School was opened on the 1st of June 1908 in the Dagdi Chawl near the Byculla Club, Agripada. Subsequently as the number of pupils increased it was removed to the Improvement Trust Chawl C. This and the adjoining chawls are tenanted by the low classes and the transfer of the School therefore has resulted in supplying a long-felt want of these people.
Attendance & c. — The school was opened in June with about two dozen children, but the number increased so rapidly that in about two months it reached the figure of 70. After initial outface to Agripada the admissions showed a steady increase and by the end of December the total number on roll stood at 114. In all 292 pupils were admitted during the seven months from June to December while 178 left the School leaving 114 on roll as mentioned above. The average daily attendance was 54. Of the 292 admissions only one was a Maratha, the rest being depressed classes children.
The annual Transference Examination of the School was held in December before the Christmas holidays with results which speak for themselves.
St. II St. I Infant class
Children presented for Examination 7 16 41
Children passed the Examination 7 16 34
Sunday Moral Class — This Class met during the months the school was open on every Sunday morning. It was conducted by V. S. Sohoni. The average attendance of this class was 32.
The school has been registered by the Joint Schools Committee for grant in-aid under Chapter III of the Code and we may expect to receive a grant next year.
V. S. Sohoni
(Inspector of Society's Schools)
APPENDIX D
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION
Charitable Dispensary
(From 12th November 1906 to 31st December 1908)
There is no charitable dispensary within an area of one mile around the Mission house, except one private dispensary and one Hakim. If there be any dispensaries in some of the mills, they provide medicines only to those millhands, who attend work and not to their families. Nearly all our patients belong to the backward and depressed classes, whose habits are very dirty and who do not show any inclination to take medicines at the right time. The large number of injuries which are received by workmen from irons & c. and the consequent ulcers might be easily cured if properly attended to at once. But the poor people neglect the wounds which sometimes develop into worst types of gangrene. The many diseases of malarial fever and of stomach affections are due to the low level and defective drainage at Parel. Large quantities of water accumulate in several wide areas and remain stagnant. The mud slowly dries throughout the rainy season, gives a most offensive smell and also breeds a tremendous crops of mosquitos which are the constant source of malaria. Visits to the houses of the poor people benefit them very much. Furniture, instruments and the services of a good compounder are badly needed.
Since the establishment of the Municipal Dispensary in the locality the number of attendance of the patients have gone down and my health also at present being not in a good state. I have at present temporarily discontinued attending; but if arrangements be made to provide the necessary funds, I shall offer my services free as before with the greatest Pleasure.
STATEMENTS OF PATIENTS TREATED
(DISEASES TREATED)
Table 1(To see the tables click here)
The above statement will, I hope, convince the reader of the necessity of such a dispensary for these people and also enlist the sympathy of the owners of the several mills and railways whose employees are so much benefitted by the many activities of the Mission.
From the expenses it will be seen that the Dispensary has been conducted with the utmost frugality. To make it efficient a permanent annual income of five hundred rupees is required necessarily.
Friends of the poor are earnestly solicited to make up the Annual Rs. 500.
SANTOOJI RAMJI LAUD,
(Rd.) Hospital Assistant,
Bombay Med. Est.
Bombay Rd.
Thana
THE APPENDIX E
REPORT OF THE
Nirashrit Sewa Sadan D. C. M.
(For the 20 months from May 1907 to 31st December 1908)
History — The depressed classes Mission was started in Bombay on the 18th Oct. 1906 with the object of elevating the low caste people by (1) promoting education (2) providing work (3) removing social disabilities and (4) by preaching to them the ideals of the Universal religion, personal character and good citizenship. Till the establishment of the above mentioned Sadan the last three objects of the mission could not be effectively carried out.
With the experience of the first six months’ work the Secretary of the Mission found that the objects of the Mission could not be fulfilled unless there was a body of self sacrificing persons who would wholly devote themselves to the mission under the discipline of a proper guide. Fortunately however the Secretary was soon enabled by the help of a generous philanthrophist who promised one hundred rupees, every month towards the expense of the workers, to secure two educated young ladies and two gentlemen all devoted to the Mission.
With these four as Missionaries the institution called the "Nirashrit Sewa Sadan” The Depressed Classes Mission Home was started on the 22nd May 1907. It is now lodged in a building which contains the Mission School opposite to the Elphinstone Road Station B. B. & C.I.Ry. Two more ladies have joined the Sadan since and are being trained there for the Mission work.
Objects — (1) The object of the Sadan is to train such of the high caste young persons as may be found disposed to devote themselves to some useful and charitable work among the neglected classes " specially unmarried young ladies and homeless widows.
(2) To maintain and provide work for such devoted people, after being trained in the Sadan, in connection with the Depressed Classes Mission or similar benevolent activities for the poor.
Work — Schools — The increasing number of the Depressed Classes Mission Schools in Bombay and Poona is due to the work of the Sadan.
The spiritual side of the Mission Schools is looked after by the Sadan. In all the Day Schools of the Mission the Sunday classes are held regularly every Sunday Morning. The average attendance of the children in the Sunday School at Parel which is conducted by Mr. V. R. Shinde and Mrs. Janabai Shinde, is about 50. Some selected hymns from the Prarthana Sangit are taught to the pupils and explained and lives of saints are read to them. Book binding is taught to the boys in the Parel School by Mr. Sayad Abdul Kadir. A sewing class is organized in which sewing and embroidery is taught. Some poor women of the low caste people and the girls in the School attend this class. Clothes and caps are made and sold. The profit realized in this work is given to the poor women who attend the class. The sewing class has received one knitting machine as a present from Harison Patent Co. of Manchester and a sewing machine from Mrs. Bahadurji and Mrs. Rao.
The Bhajan Samaj — There are meetings held on Saturdays in which lectures on Moral and Social subjects are delivered, Keertans performed and readings given from the works of marathi Saints. On the 19th January 1908 a Bhajan Samaj was started in the Sadan. Every Sunday evening are held Bhajan and Divine service in the Bhajan Samaj. Many Boys from Day school and Night school at Parel and many people living in the neighbourhood attend the Divine services, regularly. On holidays, special meetings and social gatherings of men and women are held in which light refreshments are served. During the period under report there were held 9 lectures, 4 keertans, 5 Bhaktivijaya readings, 5 social gatherings and regular weekly Divine Services.
Excursions — On the opening day of the Bhajan-Samaj some boys from the Parel day school and all the boys from the Deonar school were taken to the Victoria gardens and light refreshment was given to them there. On the last Tabut day a large number of the students of the night schools were taken to the Elephanta caves at Gharapuri. They took with them their tiffin and there was a very happy Preetibhojan.
Collection of clothes — More than 1500 clothes, old and new, were collected and distributed among the needy. The clothes prepared in the Mission sewing class are also distributed among the poor and deserving boys of the schools of the Mission.
Saturday and Sunday Baths — In order that the children should acquire the habit of cleanliness the Missionaries give them Saturday and Sunday baths. Though there were many difficulties raised by the parents of the boys in connection with these baths still they were continued as long as necessary and they proved very effective.
Home Visits — Members of the Sadan visit the homes of these miserable people. They give them moral and religious talks and persuade them to send their children to school. Particular attention is paid to create and encourage the habit of cleanliness among them and to improve their domestic habits. Mrs. Venubai who is trained as a midwife in the Ayurvidyalaya pays sick visits where they are needed.
Boarders — There were three boarders in the Sadan. One was studying in the Wilson High School and the other in the St. Xaviour College. The third was a rescued waif. The first one went to his native place on account of ill health and the second has now joined the Furgusson College.
Moffusil Work — The Secretary of the Mission on his missionary tour visited Poona where he realised the necessity of social and religious work among the depressed classes of that place and soon succeeded in starting a Bhajan Samaj there. A Sunday class also is held every Sunday morning and a free library has been opened. Mr. Sayad in his last tour visited the low caste school at Jamkhandi, Gokak, Kolhapur and Poona.
SAYYAD ABDUL KADIR
(Manager)
Nirashrit Sewa Sadan,
Elphistone Rd., Bombay
APPENDIX F
REPORT OF THE
Somawanshiya Mitra Samaj, Byculla
(FOR THE YEAR 1908)
Under the auspices of the Depressed Classes Mission this Samaj was started on the 24th of March 1907.
The objects are — (1) To promote moral and religious reform among the Depressed Classes so that they will elevate themselves from their degraded condition.
(2) To promote the spread of education among these communities by inducing the parents to send their children to school.
Rules —
(1) Every member should attend the weekly divine service and sermon.
(2) He should abstain from all intoxicants.
(3) All should treat one another as brothers.
(4) No member should bear any malice or hatred or show any disrespect to any religion or caste.
(5) No smoking or chewing or any such other ungentlemanly conduct shall be allowed during any meeting.
(6) No speech in any meeting shall be made in a taunting or insulting spirit.
(7) Persons intending to be members shall apply to the president and be admitted by a vote of the majority.
The Samaj first used to meet in the Dagadi chawl, Morland Road, Byculla. After the opening of D. C. Mission School in the Improvement Trust Chawl No. 3, the Samaj began to hold its weekly and other meeting in one of the school rooms by permission. Till 31st December 1908 there were about 70 members. During the year 1908 there were 52 weekly meetings at which the leading members of the Samaj preached by turns. Mr. V. R. Shinde was occasionally invited to visit the Samaj when he preached at these meetings and made several suggestions as to the progress of the body. The attendance at these ordinary meetings was from 25 to 50.
Public meetings — On the 4th October 1908, public meeting was held under the presidentship of the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Chandavarkar when two of the members of the Samaj spoke in support of the resolution thanking H. E. the Governor and Miss Clarke for their sympathy to the Mission. A fortnight afterwards another public meeting was invited by one of the members Mr. Appaji S. Pawar, when Mr. V. R. Shinde, presided and four of the members of this Samaj addressed the audience which mustered about 400 strong, on education, social reform, temperance and religious reform. The members of this Samaj also attend the Divine Services in the Prarthana Samaj Girgaum and the Monthly Social Gatherings of all the Hindu Clubs newly organized by the Social Reform Association of Bombay.
KONDAJI RAMJI MASTER
(President)
Khadda, Nesbit Rd.,
Mazgaon, Bombay.
APPENDIX G
DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
POONA BRANCH
(Incorporated)
First Half-yearly Report
(June 1908 — December 1908)
It was about the month of April 1908 that owing to an earnest appeal from some of the leading men of the Mahar community of Poona Cantonment that Mr. V. R. Shinde, B.A., General Secretary of the Depressed Classes Mission Society of India, had, after a visit of inspection to the intended centre of Mission work, to think seriously of opening a branch of the above Mission in Poona and place me, in spite of my unworthiness and inability, in charge of it. But the inevitable problem of funds scared him away for two months from setting his hands to the plough. However, Mr. Shinde’s assistant Mr. Sayyad Abdul Kadir, came down from Bombay after the former’s return, and through sheer Perseverance by means of which he was able to secure promises of support and sympathy, opened, on 22nd June, a Day School with a few pupils in a rented upper story of a Marwari’s house in Centre Street of Poona Camp in the midst of the low-caste population. There was no school room furniture at all. A table and a chair were lent by the low caste men. The pupils sat on the floor. All the same a beginning was made. More pupils came in as days passed on; and in July when the School got into some shape, nearly a hundred names were on the roll. Of course, this rapid influx of school children was not steady and many who came in to experience a novelty soon fell off. So, to begin with, we employed only one teacher Mr. Ningappa Shankar Aidale a mahar from Pandharpur where he was a Municipal School Teacher. He was engaged on Rs. 10 a month and he took charge of all the pupils in the School. Mr. Sayad took advantage of the newly created enthusiasm among the people, and before leaving Poona, opened a Night School and a Reading Room also in the same place.
The whole business and subscriptions amounting to Rs. 10 per mensem only were entrusted to me, and Mr. Sayyad returned to Bombay. I had, therefore, to first look for the sinews of war — the wherewithal needed to continue the work. Personal appeals, and appeals through correspondence and in newspapers for pecuniary aid, resulted in my obtaining Rs. 177 in the month of July, Rs. 100 was the generous donation of Mr. H. A. Wadia, Bar-at-law, and Rs. 30 each was from W. T. Morison, Esq., I.C.S., Commissioner of Poona, and Prof. E. A. Wodehouse, M.A., of the Deccan College. With this amount I was able to purchase some school-room furniture, tables, chairs, benches and black-boards. In the middle of July Mr. A. V. Gurjar, a Brahman Matriculate who was an Assistant in the Parel Day School of the Bombay Mission, was sent as Head Master of the Poona Camp Day School on Rs. 15 per month. The monthly expenses now came up to nearly Rs. 50. No school fees were or are charged.
In my desperate efforts to obtain funds, I ventured to approach His Excellency Sir George Clarke, the Governor of Bombay, through a letter dated 19th July 1908. To my great delight and surprise, after the lapse of a few days during which His Excellency seems to have been instituting enquiries into the facts and persons connected with the Mission, I received the following communication dated 12-8-08 from the Private Secretary to His Excellency :—
“Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 19th ultimo, I am desired to inform you that H. E. the Governor considers that your Mission is worthy of support, and he wishes it all success.
As regards a subscription I am to inform you that H. E. has permitted Miss Clarke to get up a Concert next month in aid of the funds of your Mission and it is hoped that a considerable surplus should be available for the purpose.”....
This communication was a source of no small encouragement to all the people connected with the Mission work at Bombay and other places. Nothing shall stand as prominent in the early annals of the Poona Branch as the great impetus given to it by the part played by the Head of the Bombay Presidency in permitting his daughter to organize a charitable Concert to aid its work. The Grand Orchestral Concert came off in the month of September when Poona was in season and when the station was full of visitors. Being under the kind patronage of H. E. the Governor, Major-General Alderson C. B., Commanding Poona Division, and the Maharajas of Baroda and Kolhapur, it proved nothing short of a great success in every way. The net income of the event was Rs. 3467-13-6 which was handed over to the President of the Head Society at Bombay. The value of the Concert lies not only in the substantial addition it brought to the funds of the Society but also the fact that the work of the Society has been brought prominently before the public by the Ruler of this Presidency and his benevolent daughter taking a sincere interest in its success, and by their also bringing it within the scope of the practical sympathy of some of the Maharajas and Chiefs of this Presidency. For among those whose contributions to her Concert were acknowledged by Miss Clarke were :-
H. H. The Maharaja Gaikawad of Baroda - Rs. 500
H. H. The Aga Khan - Rs. 500
H. H. The Maharaja of Kolhapur - Rs. 200
H. H. The Chief of Bhor - Rs. 200
H. H. The Thakore Saheb of Amod - Rs. 100
H. H. The Thakore Saheb of Kerwada - Rs. 100
H. H. The Nawab of Sachin - Rs. 103
The Chief of Ichalkaranji - Rs. 25
The Chief of Dharampur - Rs. 10
Soon after the Concert Mr. V. R. Shinde, visited Poona and organized a public meeting of the Depressed Classes of Poona and the surrounding villages, in which a Resolution was passed thanking H. E. the Governor, and Miss Clarke for the practical sympathy evinced by them in the humble work of ameliorating the down-trodden condition of those classes. It was also resolved at that meeting "to set apart the proceeds of the Concert as the nucleus of a fund for the purpose of erecting buildings now so very necessary for the promotion of the objects of the Mission, to be styled, if permitted, 'Miss Clarke Memorial Buildings,' (The permission has since been graciously granted).
In the months of August, September and October, I was fortunate in the pecuniary help I received—at least it was encouraging enough to make me think of giving a permanent shape to the work of the Poona Branch. In addition to some subscriptions and minor donations, Sir Jacob Sassoon bestowed Rs. 500 upon it, the Chief of Mudhol sent Rs. 100 through Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar, and Sardar Nowroji Padumji, Mr. Bomanji Dinshaw Petit and the Hon. Mr. R. A. Lamb contributed Rs. 50 each.
On 1st September, the Poona Prarthana Samaj Night Schools, two in number, which were started by Mr. V. R. Shinde in this City in 1905 and of which I was the Secretary were at my request transferred to the Poona Branch of the Depressed Classes Mission Society, the Poona Prarthana Samaj resolving to pay Rs. 4 a month towards the maintenance of those Schools. One of those Night Schools which was situated in Budhwar Peth and was attended by poor Maratha day-labourers has since been removed to Mangalwar Peth where it is attended exclusively by low-caste men.
In the same month i.e. in September, at the formal invitation of the Central Committee at Bombay, the following gentlemen accepted the following Honorary offices :—
Hon. Dr. F. G. Selby, M.A., L.L. D„ C.I.E. - (President)
Mr. A. K. Mudliar, B. A. - (Secretary)
Mr. Arjun B. Mudliar - (Treasurer)
The Institutions now under the management of the Poona Branch are :—
The Camp Day School.
The Camp Night School.
The Camp Reading Room.
The Ganj Peth Night School.
The Mangalwar Peth Night School.
In connection with the Institutions in the Camp, a Sunday Class is conducted with as many children as willingly attend, and, whenever convenience permits, a Bhajan (Musical Service) is conducted on Saturday nights for adult males by Mr. L. M. Satoor of Kirkee.
In October while plague was at its height, Mr. G. K. Deodhar, Secretary of the Poona Plague Relief Committee, organized illustrative lectures in the vernacular on inoculation for the benefit of the poor and ignorant people of the low-caste community in the Camp Day School and in the Ganj Peth and Mangalwar Peth Night Schools. Also the Camp Day School had a conversational Class on “Cleanliness” one afternoon with Mr. G. K. Deodhar, M. A. of the Servants of India Society. It was unfortunate that the surprise visit of Mr. W. T. Morison, the Commissioner, and Mr. G. Carmichael the Collector, of Poona to the Camp Day School should have fallen on a day when the School was closed on account of plague.
With regard to the teaching staff, educated men among the Depressed Classes fit to do the teaching work are very rare, and Brahmans and high caste men are loath to teach low-caste schools especially in Poona. Still, during the period under report we have not been lacking in teachers. I stated above that Mr. A. V. Gurjar, a Brahman teacher in the Parel School, Bombay, was sent here as Head Master of the Camp Day School.
He had to be relieved of his services in September and in his place another Brahman Matriculate, Mr. G. N. Babras was appointed. This gentleman, during the plague days of October, took ill one afternoon in the school and went on leave to his native place and has not been since heard of.
All the institutions were closed in the month of October on account of plague and were not reopened within the period of this report except the Camp Day School which was reopened on 1st December and soon after located in Sachapir Street in a bungalow costing Rs. 30 a month.
A few statistics may be given in connection with the Camp Day School. As the Camp Night School worked tentatively only for three months, and as the Night Schools in the City had to be closed on account of plague very soon after they were taken charge of, statistics in connection with those Schools are not given.
POONA CAMP DAY SCHOOL
Total No. of Admissions - 161
Average No. of Pupils on the Roll - 89
Average Daily Attendance - 47
Classification of Pupils according to Standards :—
Infant Class - 73
I Standard - 22
II Standard - 7
III Standard - 3
Total No. of Pupils on the Roll in Dec. 1908 - 105
Classification of the above according to castes :—
Mahars - 104
Dhangar - 1
Total - 105
A Statement of Receipts and Expenditure and lists of Donors and Subscribers as well as teachers in the schools are appended.
Thus in brief is the Report for a short period of work. It is an account of the beginning of a hitherto totally neglected piece of national work in the centre of orthodoxy in the Deccan. But it does not give any idea of the difficulties we had to undergo and the anxieties we constantly feel on the score of finances. Consecrated lives are needed for this labour of love and righteousness and the work in Poona is entrusted to one who regrets that owing to his private vocation and his private circumstances, he is not able to devote that amount of energy and time which is needed for the achievement of some of the objects of the Mission. Still he hopes, that with co-operation and sympathy from friends will be able to accomplish something in the new year 1909; and he will consider his work abundantly blessed if as many of the patriotic citizens of Poona as possible will encourage him with counsel and money. The scope — the field-for labour is large. The labourers are few and the funds are less. Primary education is not the whole and sole object of the work undertaken. But humble activities for the social and moral elevation of the depressed classes form a more important part of our programme. And if only the hearts of the people can be moved to help us with their mite, we will be enabled to give effect to some of our objects.
To those who feel like sympathising with us the invitation is freely given to visit the centres of our work in the Camp and in the City of Poona. They also who so much as care to come and see what we do will be co-workers in our cause.
With this report goes a deep sense of gratitude to all those generous hearts who thought our work worthy of their sympathy and support.
A. K. MUDLIAR
(Hon. Secretary)
Vithal Cottage,
Raste's Peth,
Poona City. 20-2-09.
DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA — Poona Branch
THE STAFF OF TEACHERS - POONA SCHOOLS
DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA - Poona Branch
List of Donors - 1908
Table 2 - (For see the all pdf files click here)
APPENDIX H
A REPORT OF THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION
Manmad Branch
(Affiliated)
From its opening on 11th May 1907 — to 31st December, 1908
The general Secretary of the Mission visited Manmad, delivered in Marathi a lecture on “Our duty to the Depressed Classes" and opened a Night School on the 11th of May 1907.
The total number of pupils on the roll is, at present 34, the average attendance being 28.
The pupils are classified according to their castes as under.
Mahar - 24
Mang - 3
Khatic - 3
Chambar - 2
Mahrata - 2
Total - 34
MINOR INSTITUTIONS
Bathing — The teachers in charge of the school take all their pupils, every Wednesday and Saturday to the local river where the latter bathe, wash and swim. The institution has effected such a marvellous change in the external appearance of the students that many people are astonished at first to find them so unexpectedly clean and joyful.
Exercises — Atyapatya and Khokho Clubs have been opened. Students as well as young men from the Maharwada take great interest in these popular games. They are played every evening on the extensive ground just near the school. Cricket and Football will also be soon introduced.
Temperance League — The students have formed themselves into a league with their Head Master for its President and two senior students for Joint Secretaries. Every member is pledged not to drink in spite of his parents, for the fact that the parents ask or even compel their sons to drink is of very frequent occurrence amongst these people. The parents themselves have been exhorted on this point and they have given their word that they will not henceforth ask or compel their sons to drink. If a student is found violating the rule of the League, he is punished with an exclusion from Atyapatya and Khokho for as many days as in his discretion the President may choose to fix. The League has done much good and has been found working very well for the last 5 months.
Anniversary — The first anniversary of the school was celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. After having passed the day in Bhajan, Lectures, Matches etc. a fruit party was given, in the evening, at a very pleasant place on the river Ponjana.
Excursions — Grown up students of the school, accompanied by their teacher, Mr. Jadhao, and the Branch Secretary, made an excursion to the celebrated fair of Nanawati at Chandor. Thakore Mansinhaji kindly procured for us bullock-carts and all of us enjoyed the trip very much.
The needs of the Branch :
The want of a day-school for these people is every day felt here. Being a considerable Railway Junction, Manmad has for its residents many Depressed Classes people serving as labourers to the Railway Companies. Should, therefore, a day school be opened here, it is expected that nearly 100 students from the Depressed classes would join it. It is certainly a very heart-rending spectacle to see so many young ones of our species, whiling away their time in useless games, wandering, stealing, or accustoming themselves to many other dirty habits only because their fathers can not afford to pay for their books and schooling. But in order to meet the expense of a day-school with 100 pupils, the income must be at least 50 Rs. The present income of this branch is not even half as much. So the opening of a day school here wholly depends on the generosity of large-minded philanthropists. A building is very urgently needed for the school as the town people are loath to rent any place in the town for this Purpose.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
(From 11th May 1907 - to 31st December 1908)
Table (To see the table click here)
In conclusion I beg to thank all those that have helped us in our humble labours for the so called lowcastes.
MOHANSINH MOTISINHA
(Hon. Secretary)
Manmad
District Nasik
APPENDIX I
Igatpuri Branch
(Affiliated)
Igatpuri is an important railway centre. On account of the railway workshops there is a large population of workers belonging to the Depressed Classes. Many members of these communities are engaged as domestic servants by Europeans and because of the good wages they earn in that capacity they are financially better off than their brothers elsewhere. There is a government school here for the higher classes in which “low class” children do not find admission. The need of a school for these children of whom there is a large number is greatly felt. There is a Depressed Classes Association with a membership of 58, working at Igatpuri for the social uplifting of the community. The association arranges lecture series, Bhajans, temperance, demonstrations & c. for the benefit of the Depressed Classes. Their greatest need however is that of a well managed day school which it is hoped will be soon supplied.
— ASST. GENERAL SECRETARY
APPENDIX J
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
Akola Branch
(Affiliated)
For the year 1908
On his Missionary tour in May 1907 in Berar, Mr. V. R. Shinde delivered two public lectures, one in Akola and another at Amraoti and created general sympathy for the Mission. He also visited the late Janoji Free Boarding for Mahar students at Akola and addressed a meeting of the depressed classes. People gathered together specially for the occasion from the neighbouring villages.
In July 1908 Mr. K. P. Bhalekar was sent from Ahmednagar as agent of the D. C. Mission, Bombay, to work in Berar. He organized a local committee consisting of — Rao Saheb Vishnu Moreshwar Mahajani, (President), Rao Bahadur Devrao Vinayak Digambar, (Vice President), Narayan Waman Harkare Esq., S. C. Hosally Esq., Bar-at- Law, (Honorary Secretary).
In consultation with whom he was authorised to work.
(1) Akola Night School — This institution in Akola is really independent of this Mission for it was started before this mission came into existence and is supported by Rao Bahadur Deorao Vinayak, the two Mahajanis and other gentlemen. Its accounts are not incorporated with those of the mission. The school was started in February 1908 in a building lent by the Mahars of the Maharwada.
The Head Master is Gopalrao. Hd. Master of the Municipal School No. 2 Akola, whose salary Rs. 8 per mensem is paid by the Mahajanis. The lighting charges are paid by Dr. D. K. Kolatkar. A fund was started for building a permanent house for the school and Rs. 200 were collected. A few gentlemen by public subscriptions name Rao Bahadur Vinayak and the firm of Savant Ram Rampertab gave besides gols, rafters and corrugated iron sheets. It is gratifying to observe that the mahar families have set an example of self help and self-sacrifice by contributing one anna per family every week. The site for the building was given gratis by Government; and the building was completed in October and occupied in November 1908.
There are at present 25 pupils on roll. About 20 attend every night They are taught for two hours. The school was visited on four or five occasions by Messrs. Hosali, Harkare and the Mahajanis and by the Deputy Inspector. The progress made has been found to be satisfactory. The pupils are all mahars and their ages range from 12 to 20.
(2) The Paras Night School — Contains about 25 boys and the average attendance is about 18.
The school was started by Messrs. Hosali and Parchure who pay all the expenses. It was opened in a Madhi of the Mahars but steps have been taken to allow the school to be held in the old Mahar school building belonging to the District Board. It was visited three times by the above gentlemen, but the progress made was not very satisfactory. The pupils are all mahars and their ages range from 10 to 25. The teacher is a mahar who is paid Rs 4 per mensem. The school was inspected by the Inspector of Schools who has promised to help the institution.
There is a Mahar Boarding House at Akola started by the late Mr. Januji Mahar. It contains 12 boys who are fed gratis by Mr. Januji’s widow, instructions to that effect having been left by him before he died. These boys are superintended by Messrs. Hosali and Harkare. Out of these boys two attend the High School and the rest attend the Anglo-Marathi school. It may be added that these mahar boys freely mix with the other Hindu boys in the two schools.
These boys and the boys of the night school attend Divine Service every Sunday in the house of Mr. Hosali, when besides singing hymns, sermons are given on moral and religious subjects by Messrs. Narayan Rao Harkare and Hosali. The principles of pure Theism are taught to the boys with great care.
(3) Mission Agent — Mr. Bhalekar who was sent from Bombay visited few places in Berar and collected subscriptions. He gave lectures in various places and reported that the gentlemen of Amraoti were ready to start a Mahar school like the one at Akola.
As regular reports were not received from Mr. Bhalekar, no formal meetings of the committee were held. Of the subscriptions collected by Mr. Bhalekar no portion was actually sent to the Secretary. It would appear that he, Mr. Bhalekar collected only as much as was sufficient to pay his salary and other expenses. As he has resigned nothing need be said as regards his relations with this branch of the mission.
The condition of Mahars in Berar is not as bad as in the Bombay Presidency. They are not considered so untouchable here as in the older province. They serve in the local factories and pretty freely mix with the other Hindus. Though sometimes the prejudice against them is strong.
There is some chance of similar schools being started in other places also; but we think that the work should be left to local men.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
Mr. Bhalekar sends the following statement of Accounts and report of his work.
Table (To see the statement click here)
A local committee was formed at Amraoti with Messrs. Kane and Bhangle. A night school was started in the Nagpurpatil (Amraoti). Another night school was started at Thugaon.
H. S. HOSALLI
(Hon. Secretary)
Akola, Berar.
APPENDIX K
REPORT OF THE
Central India Committee
OF THE
Depressed Class Mission
(Affiliated)
(From 24th April 1907 to 31st December 1908)
On the 24th April 1907 Mr. V. R. Shinde with the help of some gentlemen at Indore started the mission and appointed a committee called Central India Committee of the D.C.M. Society of India.
The following members were elected on the committee :—
Professor Gokhale (Holkar Coll.) — Vice-President.
Mr. S. T. Dravid B.A., LL. B.
Mr. V. B. Tilloo.
Dr. Atmaram.
Mr. Lakshman Rao Khanvilkar — Hon. Treasurer.
Mr. Ramchandra G. Mitbawkar — Hon. Secretary.
The Committee started a school on the 5th of May 1907. Some attempts were made to bring Mahar boys; but their parents do not care for the education and engage them in menial services.
There are 10 chamar boys, 5 Bhoi and 1 Khatik, 1 Bania and 3 Chamar girls in the school.
3 boys are reading in the Marathi 3rd standard
5 „ „ „ „ ,, 2nd ,,
13 „ (10 boys and 3 girls) Marathi primer & c.
Average attendance in the school is about 12. Altogether 3 meetings of the Managing Committee were held to consider as to how to induce Mahar boys to attend school and to open a night school.
The amount of donation promised is Rs. 520; but the actual sum received is Rs. 255-10-3.
Receipt Expenses
Rs. 255-10-3 141-1 Pay of teacher.
50 Sent to Bombay.
21 House rent & sundry.
43 Balance in hand.
________
255-10-3
R. G. MITBAWKAR
(Hon. Secretary)
Brahma Samaj, Indore
APPENDIX L
DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
Madras Branch
(Affiliated)
Mr. Shinde during his short stay in Madras was able to organise a public demonstration meeting in connection with the All-India Theistic Conference in the Memorial Hall under the presidentship of Rao Bahadur Adi Naranayya and as a result of the sympathy created a small Committee to carry on the work of D. C. Mission in this City was formed. This committee have started work in one of the biggest Pariah villages in the suburb of Madras, and have opened a day school with a teacher who is a High Caste Hindu for the youngsters, and a night school is proposed to be opened at an early date for the grown up men who are mostly day labourers. A school house is being constructed, but in the meanwhile the teacher is holding his classes under the village trees. He has been able in this short time to gather about 40 children including boys and girls and the Mission has every hope of successful work here. Besides this, two gentlemen have offered small plots of land for constructing schools in two other villages, but for want of workers and means to carry on the work the Committee have not yet accepted these kind offers, but it is earnestly hoped that as their resources increase the Committee will be able to extend the work into other villages. The Committee have secured the services of Swami Brahmananda as a whole time worker and they will shortly send another young man to Bombay for being trained there in the D. C. Mission work. The Committee have already received letters of sympathy from several persons as well as a few pecuniary contributions. Now that the D. C. Mission Society have taken up in earnest this long neglected work of elevating the depressed classes in our country, we believe that our leading men will support them with all possible help. All contributions should be sent to Mr. H. Balakrishna Rao, B. A., B. L. Hon. Treasurer, D. C. Mission, 97 Anna Pillai Street, G.T., Madras.
V- GOVINDAN
(Hon. Secretary)
D. C. Mission Society, Madras Branch
S.I. Brahma Samaj,
97 Anna Pillai Street,
G. T., Madras.
APPENDIX M
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
Mangalore Branch
(Affiliated)
The Depressed Classes of India, constitute fully one-fourth of the total Hindu population, and more than one-sixth of the entire population of India. But for the proselytising work carried on through many centuries by Islam and Christianity, their number to-day should have been still larger.
They are very important in our social policy, for they are strong and hardy, and constitute the bulk of our agricultural labourers. They possess a hereditary skill in certain manual arts and industries and we could not get on without them.
The disgraceful condition in which we have kept them through long ages is a great blot on our civilisation and religion. By treating them worse than dogs, we have belied the ancient Indian teaching of the oneness of the Life Divine and all its manifestations.
It has been truly said that we, who make grievances of our disabilities in South Africa, should first set our own house in order and do justice to that large section of our own countrymen whom for ages we have grievously wronged.
The problem is nowhere more acute than in the South Canara District. Khan Bahadur M. Azizuddin Saheb Bahadur, Collector of South Canara, in the course of a recent speech, remarked : “I have not come across, anywhere on the East Coast, anything like the persecution of the depressed classes that exists here."
Work among the depressed classes was started at Mangalore in 1897 in a very modest way. In that year Mr. K. Rang Rau, a local pleader, started a school for Panchama children at his own expense and with the help and encouragement of a few European gentlemen. The children were provided not only with free education, but also with a simple midday meal. The school prospered, and many boys were sent out from year to year with a decent primary education.
During the visit of Mr. V. R. Shinde to Manglore, in November 1907, this work hitherto carried on by one individual, was organised under the Depressed Classes Mission, of which four representative Hindu gentlemen of the town became members of the Local Committee with Mr. Ranga Rau as Hon. Secretary.
The Mission is now conducting the following institutions:-
1. A day school with 78 Panchama pupils — 66 boys and 12 girls — and manned by two teachers. These pupils, besides free education, are supplied with clothing, books, etc. and a daily midday meal.
2. A boarding house, with eight grown-up scholars, who live permanently on the school premises for general education and industrial training. It is hoped that boys trained in this way under close supervision will when sent out, have a leavening influence on their community.
3. An industrial institute, in which six fly-shuttle looms are worked at present. The object is to encourage some of these unfortunate people to make weaving a domestic industry.
To meet the cost of establishing and running the industrial institute, it was resolved to raise Rs. 2,000 in forty shares of Rs. 50 each — the subscribers to receive no interest or profits during the first five years, and a moiety of the profits during the next five years, and to have their money returned to them at the end of the tenth year. Only 17 shares have so far been subscribed.
The Secretary also sent out appeals for pecuniary help, to all parts of India. Response came readily from distant parts, from Bombay, Hyderabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Agra, Calcutta, and other places far away, one generous donor anonymously giving Rs. 700. Help unsolicited was received from England also. But South Indian donations are yet few and small.
The total receipts from all these sources have amounted to about Rs. 2,500. This amount has already been spent and work cannot be continued satisfactorily unless it receives a more adequate share of Public patronage.
The school costs Rs. 50 a month, including the free feeding. The cost would have been greater, but for the enthusiastic service of a band of young men, members of the local Brahma Samaj, who regularly go from house to house and collect doles of rice for the scholars.
The efforts of the Mission to give Panchama boys and girls an intellectual, industrial and moral training, have so far been successful. The fission has a further scheme for working among the grown-up people. Seven-and-a-half acres of land have been purchased, and fourteen acres will shortly come in possession as a gift from the Government. The committee propose to parcel out this land among about sixty Panchama families, on a permanent lease for nominal rent and help them with small advances for building huts. In this way, a small Panchama colony is to be established, the people having their own little holdings for garder cultivation. As funds permit, it is proposed to extend the colony.
This scheme, when completed, will greatly facilitate the work of the Mission. These people, who live apart and are subject to incessan persecution at the hands of the higher castes, will have the immense benefit of living close together, on their own holdings. Their childrer can be more easily got together for school instruction, night classes car be more easily worked for the grown-up people. And all the people can be more easily trained into habits of temperance, cleanliness, economy etc. Altogether, their intellectual, material, and moral
up-lifting can be more easily accomplished.
The colony will be formally opened shortly.
It is hoped that the work sketched above, which has been carried on hitherto under great discouragements, will appeal to every one, of whatever nationality, with human sympathies, and particularly to every, patriotic and public spirited Indian.
Seven centuries ago, Panchama kings ruled in Canara. To-day, the Canara Holeya is the lowest of the low — despised and cursed of men To uplift this race is noble work. They are numerous in South Canara- about two and a half lakhs, or a fifth of the total population.
We are all members of one another, and each part of the work must respond in sympathy to the rest. Work such as is being carried on at Mangalore has not yet been started in other parts of South India. It ought to be. But meanwhile, every friend of the cause should contribute his mite towards the work at Mangalore.
Friends can help the Mangalore Depressed Classes Mission in any of the following ways :—
1. By purchasing one or more shares in the industrial institute (Rs 50 per share).
2. By making a donation or an annual contribution to the Mission
3. By lending money, not less than Rs. 100, without interest, re payable by ten
annual instalments.
4. By giving rice, clothes or building materials.
5. By purchasing articles made in the institute.
Any contribution, however small, will be thankfully received.
Contributions may be sent to Mr. K. Ranga Rau, Hon. Secretary , D. C. M., Court Hill, Mangalore, who will also be happy to furnish any information called for.
V. Raghunathaya
(President, D. C. Mission, Mangalore)
Temple View,
Mangalore. 21-11-08.
APPENDIX N
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
Dapoli
A promising field for the activity of the Depressed Class Mission lies at Dapoli in the Ratnagiri District, which has a considerable proportion of the communities whom the Mission seeks to benefit. Among them are some Mahars and Chamars who have served as Commissioned Officers in the Military and have followed other occupations in different parts of India, and now live in Dapoli on the pensions and other means earned by them. The more enlightened among them have always felt the degradation of their class but had not until lately taken steps for their improvement. On 16th November last a meeting was held in the maidan under the presidency of Mr. Sayad Abdul Rahiman Kadri a leading Musalman pensioner residing in the town and was attended by several prominent members of the "untouchable" Classes and their sympathisers of other caste. It was resolved that organized efforts should be made to rescue the depressed classes from their present undesirable condition and to induce the younger members of these communities to take advantage of the educational facilities which exist in Dapoli. Prominent mention was then made of the interest taken in depressed classes by His Excellency the Governor and Miss Clarke, who have patronised the concert held at Poona in aid of the Depressed Classes Mission and who have generally shown their sympathy towards the objects of the Mission. A Committee was formed to collect donations and subscriptions and to apply them to the elevation of the depressed classes. It held three meetings up to the end of the last year. Printed leaflets explaining the objects of the movement and appealing for help were prepared and are being circulated and methods were laid down for acknowledging receipt of amounts recovered and spent, and for Sporting the work done and progress made by the Committee, to its supporters. Attempts are being made to secure the sympathy and co- operation of the prominent residents of the Taluka and appeals for help have been responded to not only by the more intelligent and well-to-do members of the depressed classes but also by the leading members of other communities. On the arrival of Mr. M. C. Gibb, Commissioner S. D. in the town, a deputation waited upon him to explain the objects of the Society and he was pleased to express his sympathy and make a contribution in money.
A movement which aims at elevating the condition of the depressed classes has ample and strenuous work before it. But its scope can be widened only with the enlargement of funds for which it has to depend upon sympathetic and charitably disposed ladies and gentlemen in and out of the District. The Committee has begun operations by finding out boys of the school-going age who idle away their time without aim and ambition and sow the seeds of further degradation, and by encouraging them to attend school. These boys have to be helped with clothes, money, books and papers according to their requirements and some arrangements may have to be made in course of time to provide for their board and lodging. The Mahar and Chamar members on the Committee showed zeal and earnestness in the mode of work and the result has so for been to raise the number of the “untouchable” students of the local Marathi School from 16 to 35. A Chamar boy who was for some time a student of the Mission High School and had left off his studies has been induced to renew his attendance. It is hoped that sustained effort on the part of the Committee will result in rescuing several children of the depressed classes from their present listlessness and in increasing their attendance in the local Vernacular and English schools. 'The existence at Dapoli of a Mission High School of a long standing under European Management provides special facilities which are not to be found in most Taluka stations and makes it possible for the Society to pursue its objects in a manner easier and cheaper than it would have been under different circumstances.
The promoters of the movement are aware that in the work which they have set before themselves, some difficulties may arise, owing to ancient customs and prejudices which prevail in the Mofussil in a more aggravated form than in an advanced city like Bombay. But they propose to meet them in a spirit of conciliation and leave it to time and general spread of education to accomplish what can never be achieved by resistence. Any other course is sure to alienate the sympathy and cooperation of the higher classes upon which the institution must at least in its infant stages so largely depend. The majority on the Committee consists of Mahar and Chamar gentlemen of local influence and their earnestness is shown in the practical work of the movement, in the contributions they have gathered from their own people and in drawing the attention of the humbler members of their communities to the benefit of education. The spirit of harmony and good will which inspires them is shown by the sympathisers they have secured among the higher classes. The Committee has an educated Musalman as their chairman and two Brahmins of different sects, one of them, a pleader, working as a member and the other as Secretary. The largest donation promised to the Society comes from a leading Brahmin Banker of the town. The co-operation which the movement has thus secured is encouraging as it provides the Society with the initial guidance and business experience which enable it to work along right lines and which the Mahars and Chamars however earnest and enlightened are at present unable to find in their own communities.
Number of pupils supported by the society in the :—
Table : (To see the table click here)
WAMAN A. WARTI
(Hon. Secretary)
Government Medical Dispensary,
Dapoli, District Ratnagiri.
APPENDIX O
THE DEPRESSED CLASSES MISSION SOCIETY OF INDIA
(D. C. M.) Est. 18th October 1906
(RULES OF CONSTITUTION)
1. Name — The Society shall be called “The Depressed Classes Mission Society of India."
2. Object — The object of the Society shall be to maintain a Mission which shall seek to elevate the social as well as the spiritual condition of the Depressed Classes, viz. The Mahars, Chambhars, Pariahs, Namsudras and all such other neglected classes in India by means of —
(1) Promoting education,
(2) Providing work,
(3) Remedying their social disabilities, and
(4) Preaching to them ideals of Religion, personal character, and good
citizenship.
3. Missionaries — Any person who at the invitation of the Executive Committee agrees to devote himself to the work of the Mission and is accepted as such by the Council of the Society shall be deemed as Missionary of the Society.
4. Board of Spiritual and Social Ministry — To minister to the spiritual and social needs of the Depressed Classes in India, there shall be a separate Board consisting of all the missionaries and three other members to be annually elected thereto by the Council from among themselves. This Board shall have a charge of all the spiritual and social institutions and organisations of the Mission, such as the congregations, Sunday Schools, Young People’s Clubs etc. etc.
5. Membership of the Society — The General Body of the Society shall consist of :—
(a) Patrons :— (1) Persons who make donations of five thousand Rupees or more to the funds of the society (2) or persons of distinction accepting office at the special invitation of the Council of the Society.
(b) Life Members — (1) Those paying a donation of Rs. 1000 or more (2) Persons who have rendered not less than five years’ continuous service as Missionaries of the Society.
(c) Members — Those paying an annual subscription of not less than Rs. 25.
(d) All Missionaries of the Society ex-officio.
6. Any lady or gentleman, other than a Missionary, satisfying the conditions in the above Rule No. 3 shall be admitted as a member of the Society on being duly proposed and seconded by two members of the Executive Committee, and accepted by that Committee.
7. Officers — The Society shall have a President, a Vice-President, either of whom shall also be the Chairman of the Council of the Society, a General Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, a Minister and an Assistant Minister, both of the latter being Missionaries.
8. The Council — There shall be a Council to elect the Executive Committee and to advise on the affairs of the Mission, its branches and affiliations. The Council shall consist of ten members of the Society in addition to the Officers mentioned above, who shall be members of the Council ex-officio.
9. All the Officers of the Society and not less than three-fourths of the non-official members of the Council, shall be either duly admitted members of any of the Brahma or Prarthana Samajes in India or those who shall have declared their sympathy with the ideals of the Theistic Church consisting of these Samajes in India, in a prescribed form.
10. The Officers and members of the Council shall be elected in the annual meeting of the General Body of the Society to be held in the month of February each year, and shall be eligible for re-election in subsequent years.
(N.B. Any vacancies during the year shall be filled up by the respective bodies themselves).
11. Executive Committee — The Executive authority shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman of the Council, General Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, the Minister, the Assistant Minister, and three Missionaries or failing one or more of such, other members to be elected annually by the Council immediately after their being elected for the new year. The Executive Committee so constituted shall have power to initiate measures and to do everything necessary or desirable to further the aims of the society.
12. Meetings — To elect a new Council and to adopt the annual report, the general body of the Society shall meet at least once every year in or about February, and at such other times when the Council desires or is requisitioned to convene a special meeting of the general body. Any twelve members of the society may sign a requisition to the Chairman of the Council who shall thereupon convene a special meeting of the General Body.
13. The Council shall meet at least once in every quarter of the year, to adopt the quarterly report to be presented by the General Secretary and to advise and suggest measures to the Executive Committee in order to further the aims of the Society.
14. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every month to conduct its work and shall duly record its proceedings.
15. Branches — The Council may start new branches of the Society or sanction the conversion of the existing affiliated bodies into branches, in order to further the objects of the Society. Such branches shall be managed by a Committee of consisting of members of those branches, which shall act under the general control of the Executive Committee.
16. Affiliated bodies — Subject to the approval of the Council the Executive Committee may create new affiliations or affiliate existing bodies doing work similar to that of the Society provided these bodies agree :
(a) To work in a way not inconsistent with the aims and ideals of the Parent
Society.
(b) To place two members of the Council (to be annually elected by that body)
on their Committee to represent the Society.
(c) To contribute 5 per cent of their income to the funds of the Society.
(d) To submit a duly adopted annual report of their work and accounts so as to
reach the General Secretary before the first of every February.
Except for these conditions of affiliation the Affiliated Bodies shall be independent in the conduct of their affairs.
17. Associated Bodies — The Council may associate with the Mission any other body if in its opinion the sympathy and co-operation so secured are calculated to further the aims of the Mission.
18. Board of Trustees — There shall be a Board of three Trustees elected by the Council to take charge of all the immovable property of the Society and such of the funds as may be from time to time assigned to the Board by the Council as Permanent Endowments. The Council shall not hold in its possession more than two thousand Rupees beyond the estimated amount of the annual expenses. All sums in excess of the above limit shall be assigned to the Trust.
18. Quorum — Twelve members shall constitute the quorum of the general body; six, of the Council and three, of the Executive Committee.
19. No alteration can be made in the objects and constitution of the Society as defined herein in Rules 2 (Objects) Rule 3 and 4 (Missionaries and Board of Spiritual and Social Ministry), 8 (Council) and 11 (Executive Committee).
APPENDIX P
D. C. M. SOCIETY OF INDIA
Donations
(from 18 October, 1906 — to 31 December 1908)
Table (To see the list click here.)