Madras Native Education Petition

On 11.11.1839, a landmark, historic and revolutionary movement in Madras Educational Sphere took place, which struck at the root of the British Empire, Governor of Madras, being Lord Elphinstone. The artificial Guntur famine in 1833, paved way for resentment against the British Government. The 1833 Guntur famine, was a pivotal turning point against the Government wherein half a million people died of starvation, hunger, disease, poverty. This was used as an advantage by the White imperialistic christian missionaries, to give rice bag for harvesting of native souls into Christianity, as they were responsible for the establishment and set up of a seamless ecosystem utilising this adversity of famine to their advantage, to convert more people into Christianity, across Madras under the guise and garb of benevolence and charity.

The commitment of religious non-interference, was backtracked by the British, after the Charter of 1833, First Law Commission, Lex Loci Draft and the infamous Thomas Babbington Macaulay speech – titled – Minute on Indian Education. This culminated in the first recorded organised Mass opposition against the British Madras Government, condemning their regime’s refusal against religious neutrality.

70,000 people gathered & signed a Mass Petition in a Scroll, demanding that religious neutrality ought to prevail as a bedrock of the promise given by the British authorities & that there must be no religious interference in general Education. This led to the mass petition movement which in turn resulted and paved way for the British Government acceding to their demands and eventually establishing the Madras High school, that later became Madras University in Pantheon Road. Subsequently, the Will of Vallal Patchiappa was effected and the Patchiappa Charities- in 1842 was permitted to be established and thus began the First recorded large scale Native school in Esplanade. This was completely started by the Natives, with zero financial aid and help by being independent from the Government. The Madras University Board was thus established – as per the Speech of Lord Elphinstone in 1840. The roadmap created by Lord Elphinstone, was for the establishment of a central collegiate institution/ University, which would have Twin Departments- a high school for cultivation of English literature, native language, philosophy, science and a college for instruction in higher learning for philosophy and science.

Thus, on 01.01.1840, the historical landmark Madras University board was constituted- Sir George Norton, the Advocate General of the Supreme Court of Madras was the First President, the headquarters at Pantheon Road. (Senate House was later built in 1879 by Robert Chisholm)