'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1902-1903' [‎55r] (103/106)

1902-1903.]
LITERATURE AND THE TRESS.
'buted
orn
„ The Sind j
423 to,
° s at Poona,
^hile the 1
: ourse.
)01 to 77,20
ls titutions, n
mt. were Hi
g^s in the
- Girls in ]
^ Colleges a
L1 T schools ;
There ■
-hools for gi
ils were ms
ocal Boards,
actively. T
' contributic
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INSTBUCTION.
tlie previous year. Ague and itch were the chief illnesses. No death occurred during
the year. Of the 25 boys discharged during the year inquiry showed that one had died and two
could not be found. The other 22 were all engaged in honest work; 11 following the trade
learnt in the Reformatory. The percentage of boys bad and reconvicted has been reduced very
considerably.
The total maintenance charges were Rs. 15,724 as against Rs. 15,689 in 1901-1902. The
net profit from earnings rose from Rs. 281 to Rs. 730.
2. Literature and the Press.
I
For details vide Appendices to the Animal Eeports on Native Publications and Native Press for 1902-1903 and
Table No. Nil. Press appended to the Judicial and Administrative Statistics of British India for 1902-1903.
Native Publications.
The number of publications increased from 1,288 to 1,384. Of these, 701 were books and
633 periodicals. The number of books in English was 67 ; books in Gujarati increased to 266
and in Marathi to 128. Poetry and religion were, as usual, the principal subjects (253 as
ao*ainst 242 books being registered), while miscellaneous subjects numbered 151. Of the 633
periodicals, 443 treated of miscellaneous topics, while 44 were on medical subjects and 62
on religion. There was no vernacular publication during the year of special significance or
merit.
Newspapers.
whom 3,353 1
Tons. 1,463 of:
in the high j
its-in-aid, includ
'29,711. Offh
mary schools. T:
ons increased fr
is and Professk
480 to 1,244. f
huha and the e
andesh and Po!
Northern Divisi
ols in the Se
othes and soli
l 16 to 26. In
1 for them in I
jntral Division
.ools, 2 in trail
ied mission scl«
Northern Dk
mdary and the?
is 1,561 andl:
], Of the Kii®
■. The attends!
ber of pupils at;
Ira and the Yaji
adu
rei
16«
17, twole? 8 ^
iths’
09 as ag alDS
At the end of the year 1902 there were 148 newspapers and 6 periodicals against 147
newspapers and 5 periodicals in 1901. 22 newspapers were newly started during the yea,r and
20 old publications ceased to exist. Out of the total of 154 newspapers and periodicals, 25
per cent, were published in the City of Bombay, 28 per cent, in the Central Division and the
rest distributed over the other Divisions and Native States. The Kesari again had the largest
circulation (14,000), while the Kdl increased its circulation from 3,500 to 5,400. As in the
previous year, the Bombay Samackdr, with a daily circulation of 4,000, headed the list of
Gujarati papers.
The Coronation of His Majesty King Edward YII was a topic of never-failing interest;
but adverse comments were made upon the visits of Native Chiefs to England. All captious
criticism, however, was hushed at the sudden news of the King's illness, which evoked universal
expressions of deep sympathy and sorrow. The proposal to charge the Indian Treasury with
the cost of the entertainment of the Indian guests in England was the occasion for bitter
indignation in both the sober and scurrilous sections of the Native Press. The Delhi Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
was emphatically condemned by a majority of the newspapers as an unjustifiable extravagance
and an empty display. Lord Curzon's defence of the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). failed to satisfy the Press, which,
with a few exceptions, did not seem to appreciate its wide political significance, although
it was generally conceded that the encouragement of Indian arts and industries by the
Exhibition was a redeeming feature of the ceremony. The proposal to select two young Kumdrs
as “ Pages-of-Honour ” to the Viceroy was bitterly assailed. Nevertheless Lord Curzon's
popularity with the more sober section of the Native Press remained undiminished and the
suggested extension of his tenure of office was warmly welcomed. Lord Salisbury's retirement
called forth adverse comments on his policy in regard to India, which was looked upon as a
policy of “ reaction and repression.'^ The appointments of Lord Kitchener to the command
of the Indian army and of Sir Antony MacDonell to the India Council were approved of.
The attitude of the Press towards the Boer war was scarcely modified during the year and
the news of peace was received with general apathy. Much dissatisfaction was expressed at
the constitution of the Universities Commission and the Commission's Report roused a storm of
adverse criticism, especially with regard to the principle laid down that “ in all matters relating
to education, efficiency must be the first and paramount consideration." The circular letter of
the Government of India on the subject of the Report was on the whole considered satisfactory.
The appointment of the Indian Police Commission was viewed with general approval and
evoked widespread interest. Exception was taken to the Secretary of State's Despatch to the
Government of India on the Report of the last Famine Commission and the Resolution of the
Bombay Government in regard to the remission of famine arrears produced much hostile criticism.
This was, however, abandoned on Sir James Monteath's explanatory statement in Council which
was considered satisfactory. The general plague policy of Government was not a subject of serious
complaint, but the admission of 26 European doctors for plague duty was sharply criticised and
the wholesale inoculation contemplated by the Punjab Government was described as “a gigantic
mistake." The catastrophe at Mulkoval called forth an outburst of indignation. The Native
Press criticised the financial policy of Government with some acerbity, a certain class of papers
attributing the budget surplus to the “ artificial currency policy." Lord George Hamilton's
budget speech was termed u singularly’optimistic." The action of the Viceroy in the 9th
Lancers case was generally applauded. The Tilak case evoked insinuations of prejudice from the
Brahmin organs. The only legislative measures that seriously occupied the attention of the Native
Press were the Sugar Duties Bill, the Cantonments House Accommodation B41 and the Civil
Procedure Code Amendment Bill. The Sugar Duties Bill was regarded unfavourably and