Vol. 2 · pages 311–315

APPENDIX III UNIVERSITY REFORMS COMMITTEE (Refer Chapter 7. page 48) *QUESTIONNAIRE OF UNIVERSITY REFORM IN BOMBAY PRESIDENCY (The Bombay Government appointed a Committee to look into the problem of reform of the Bombay University. This Committee consisted of 13 members with Sir Chimanlal H. Setalvad, Kt. as its Chairman. Dr. Ambedkar was not a member of this committee but he was one of the 321 persons to whom the committee sent its questionnaire of 54 questions. Dr. Ambedkar replied only some of the questions which he considered worth replying. The questions replied by Dr. Ambedkar are alone reproduced here to be followed by his evidence.—Editor.) 1. What in your opinion should be the aim and function of University education in the Bombay Presidency ? Do you consider that the existing system of University education in this Presidency affords the young Indians of this Presidency adequate opportunities of attaining this aim ? If not, in what main respects do you consider the existing system deficient ? 2. Do you consider that the defects pointed out by you mainly lie in or spring from (a) the spirit and methods of instructor or pupil ; (b) the conditions of education, antecedent to the students’ entrance of the University ; or ( c) the administrative or educational machinery of the University ? 3. How far in your opinion has the University promoted knowledge of, and mutual interest in and sympathy for, the history and culture of the different communities in this Presidency ? Can you suggest means by which this can be further promoted ? II. Secondary and Intermediate Education (Questions 4-7) 4. Do you consider the training and attainments of students coming out of our High Schools sufficient preparation for entering upon University *Report of the Committee on University Reform appointed by Government, 1925-26, pp. 226-31.

293ON UNIVERSITY REFORMS education ? If you consider this preparation inadequate, have you any suggestions for the improvement of the present conditions ? 5. Do you consider the creation in this Presidency of ( a) a new set of institutions in intermediate between High Schools and University ; ( b) a new Board of Secondary and Intermediate Education such as was proposed by the Calcutta University Commission necessary or desirable ? If so, how should such institutions and such a Board be constituted and financed ? 6. If you consider intermediate institutions, with or without an Intermediate Board, unnecessary or undesirable, how without them could the level, range and effectiveness of existing High School education in this Presidency be improved ? 7. How may the University best secure the maintenance of efficiency in the institutions that send students to it for admission ? III. Functions of the University of Bombay (Questions 8-24) (a) Teaching (Questions 8-13) 8. In what directions is it necessary and practicable as well as advisable, in your judgment, to extend the function of the University of Bombay so as to make it predominantly a teaching University ? 9. Do you consider that the University should, in addition to postgraduate teaching take any direct part in under-graduate teaching ? If so, how would you reconcile and co-ordinate the teaching functions of the University with those of the existing teaching institutions ? 10. If you do not consider the University should take any direct part in under-graduate teaching, how by proper co-ordination would you utilise to the best advantage the existing facilities for under-graduate study ? IV. Additional University in Bombay Presidency (Questions 25-30) 25. Is it desirable to constitute any additional Universities within the Bombay Presidency ? What Centres of higher education in the Presidency do you consider— (a) ripe for immediate expansion into Universities, (b) likely to be ripe in the near future, and on what grounds ? 28. How would the institution of additional Universities affect the existing University of Bombay ? How would you secure co-operation, co-ordination, and reciprocity between the University of Bombay and the new University ? What arrangement do you suggest for the period of transition ? VII. Constitution (Questions 36-40) 36. What defects do you find in the constitutional machinery of the University of Bombay ? 37. What should be the strength, composition, duration of office, method

294 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES of constituting and powers and functions of the Senate ? Who, if any, should be ex-officio, life, and nominated members of the Senate ? How does your method of constituting the Senate secure the representation of all interests and communities ? 38. Do you consider that it is necessary or desirable to decentralise the powers and functions hitherto exercised by the Syndicate of the Bombay University ? If so, what powers or functions would you remove from the Syndicate and to what new or existing bodies of the University would you assign them ? How should the Syndicate so reorganised and any new bodies you may propose be composed ? 39. What functions and powers would you assign to the Faculties and Boards of Studies ? How should these bodies be constituted and appointed ? III. Functions of the University of Bombay (Questions 8-24) (c) Prescribing Courses and Examining (Questions 16-19) 16. How in your opinion has the University been discharging the functions of (a) conducting examinations, (b) prescribing courses of study, and (c) appointing text-books ? Would you suggest any modifications in the exercise of these functions ? 17. How far can University examinations be profitably replaced or supplemented by other means of testing proficiency, intelligence and competence ? 18. On what branches of study should the Bombay University undertake the teaching immediately and in the near future ? 19. In considering the extension of the teaching functions of the University of Bombay and bearing in mind the special requirements of the people of Bombay, would you suggest the institution of any more faculties e.g. of Fine Arts or Technology so as to make the scope of the University broader, more liberal and more comprehensive ? (d) Post-Graduate Courses and Degrees (Questions 20-21) 20. When the Bombay University further develops its teaching functions, what should be the duration of studies for post-graduate degrees ? How would you award such degrees, whether by examination, thesis, original research or a combination of one or more of these ? 21. Do you wish to institute any new degrees honoris causa and, if so, on what grounds would you have them awarded ? (e) Promoting Research (Questions 22-23) 22. How Can the University best encourage and guide independent investigation of Indian and especially Bombay’s problems, whether historical, economic, sociological, industrial, or other ? 23. Is there any need for the creation of a University Press and Publication Department ? How might such Department be organised and financed ? (f) Appointing University Teachers (Question 24) 24. In a Bombay Teaching University what should be the method of

295ON UNIVERSITY REFORMS selecting and appointing University Professors, Readers, Lecturers etc. ? What qualifications are requisite in them ? What range of salaries do they require ? What should be the conditions regulating their appointment and tenure of office ? IV. Additional Universities in Bombay Presidency (Questions 25-30) 30. What principles or policy should be followed by ( a) the Bombay University, (b) any new University within this Presidency in permitting the opening of any new College or Institution, constituent or affiliated ? V. Relation of the University and the Public (Questions 31-34) 31. How far do you consider the curricula of the Bombay University satisfy the needs of Agricultural, Industrial, Professional and Public-life in the Presidency, and especially in the City of Bombay ? 32. Can you suggest method of promoting cordial relation and cooperation between the University and other public bodies whether industrial, commercial, professional, municipal or Government ? 33. What measures should be taken to bring the University and its working into closer relation with the industrial and commercial life and interests of the City ? 34. What should be the extent and purpose of the University’s contribution to the education of the adult non-collegiate population ? How should the University organise extension lectures, vacation terms and other measures to this end ? VI. Relation of University and Government (Question 35) 35. What should be the relation of the Government of India and of the Government of Bombay to the University of Bombay and to any new Universities that may be created ? What modifications, if any, do you think necessary in the existing powers of the Chancellor and of Government to control University finance, legislation, appointments of University Officers and Teachers and membership of University bodies ? What should be the relation, if any, of the Director of Public Instruction and the Minister in charge of Education to the University ? VIII. Curricula (Questions 41-44) 41. Are you generally satisfied with the subject and curricula at present prescribed for the various University Examinations ? If not, can you indicate the changes you desire ? 42. Are you in favour of establishing ( a) an absolute or ( b) a greater differenciation of the pass and honours courses ? How would such differenciation affect the Colleges and Students ?

296 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 43. Would you approve of an absolute exclusion of science from the Arts Courses ? Do you approve of the present dissociation of Literature and Arts from the study of science ? 44. Do you consider the existing courses for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree provide a sufficient variety of options and satisfactory combinations and correlations of Courses of Study ? IX. Use of the Vernacular (Questions 45-46) 45. To what stage and to what extent do you consider the vernacular, can and should be used to replace English as the medium of instruction and examination (a) in Bombay, (b) in any newly constituted University ? What safeguards do you suggest to secure that the standard of English required by students does not suffer from such replacement ? 46. What do you consider the best method of promoting the scientific study of the Vernaculars of this Presidency and for encouraging the production of good vernacular literature of all kinds ? XIII. Special Communities (Question 52) 52. Do you consider any special measures are required for the promotion of University education in any particular community ? *WRITTEN EVIDENCE BY D R. B. R. AMBEDKAR Question 1: I agree with the Inspectors of the Board of Education in England that the aim and functions of University Education should be to see that the teaching carried on there is suited to adults ; that it is scientific, detached and impartial in character; that it aims not so much at filling the mind of the student with fact or theories as at calling forth his own individuality, and stimulating him to mental effort; that it accustoms him to the critical study of the leading authorities, with perhaps, occasional reference to first hand sources of information, and that it implants in his mind a standard of thoroughness, and gives him a sense of the difficulty as well as the value of reaching at truth. The student so trained should learn to distinguish between what may fairly be called matter of fact and what is certainly mere matter of opinion. He should be accustomed to distinguish issues, and to look at separate questions each on its own merits and without an eye to their bearing on some cherished theory. He should learn to state fairly, and even sympathetically, the position of those to whose practical conclusions he is most stoutly opposed. He should become able to examine a suggested idea, and see what comes of it, before accepting it or rejecting it. Without necessarily becoming an original student he should gain an insight into the conditions under which original research is carried on. He *University Reforms Committee-Written Evidence No. 103, pp. 1-17, dated 15th August 1924.