Osmania University steeped in history

With barely a few days left for Osmania University to celebrate its centenary one can’t but help to become nostalgic and be proud about being a part of this great institution which has shaped some of the finest brains in the country.

A peek into history reveals certain interesting facts about the genesis of the university as also the various twists and turns in its 100 year sojourn.

Early history of Indian universities dates back to mid 19th century, when the Government of India took up the work of organising universities. During a long period of more than half a century, between 1857 and 1915 only five universities were established in India- Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, established in 1857 and Punjab (now in Pakistan) and Allahabad founded in 1882 and 1887 respectively.

About the same time, the first universities were contemplated in British India. The appointment of Sir Salar Jung I as the Dewan of state of Hyderabad in 1853 paved the way for the embarking on a policy of modernisation of administration on British lines in that state. The founding of Dar-ul-‘ulum or the Oriental College in 1853-1854, establishment of a Civil Engineering college in 1869 and the creation of the Education Department in 1869-70 were in line of modernizing the educational system in the state.

The state education scene witnessed the arrival of Sheikh Jamaluddin Afghani, a Professor at the Al-Azar University of Cairo. Afghani visited India on as many as five occasions and came to Hyderabad for a prolonged sojourn in 1879.

He launched a determined campaign for the establishment of a proper university which might be set up anywhere in India and pupils to be taught in their own native tongue instead of Persian, Arabic or English.

The idea of an university in State during the time of Nizam Mahaboob Ali Khan in 1884 when Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, who came to India on a semi- governmental status and visited Hyderabad proposed establishment of Mohammadan University or Nizam University.

In 1885 Nawab Rafa’ at Yar Jung after enumerating the defects of the prevailing system of education though the Persian medium of instruction proposed for the foundation of a Jamial Ulum Oriental University with Urdu as the medium of instruction.

The widespread demand in the Hyderabad State for higher education calculated to satisfy the intellectual and cultural aspirations of the people paved the way for the establishment of Osmania University.

People were averse to control of higher education in the state by Madras University. This demand fructified after Nizam Osman Ali Khan’s accession to the throne of Hyderabad in 1911, according to an unpublished thesis of Rajendra Prasad in 1976. In 1913, the Government of India passed a resolution on educational policy which served the twin-objective of restricting affiliations and satisfying the Indian opinion through encouragement to regional Universities.

As a consequence of this sympathetic attitude towards India aspirations, universities followed in quick succession and included the Banaras Hindu University (1916) Mysore (1916), Patna (1917), Osmania (1918) and Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.

According to the late Prof. Radha Krishna Sharma, eminent historian and Head, Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, Osmania University, “ it is crucial to note that the development of university education was the establishment of universities outside the British Indian territories.”

The Mysore University came through an act of Mysore legislature. The Osmania University, which was established at Hyderabad in 1918, came as a surprise to the British Government which had no prior information regarding the Nizam’s intention to establishing a University in State.

On 14 December, 1917, the British resident at Hyderabad forwarded the state proceedings to the Government of India in reply to their numerous queries informing them that it was a fact that the Nizam had sanctioned the university.

The Government of Hyderabad made it clear that the new university was intended “merely to supplement not to supplant” the English College of the Nizam’s College, affiliated to the University of Madras.

The late Prof Sharma adds that the Hyderabad Educational Conference held in 1914 demanded the establishment of a University. Early in Osman Ali Khan’s reign an educational advisor was appointed to revamp education system. Higher education was then taken up and in April 1917, the Right Hon.

Sir Akbar Hydari (Nawab Hydar Nawaz Jung Bahadur) then Secretary to His Exalted Highness Government in Educational Department, submitted a memorandum after surveying the existing educational institutions and identifying the deplorable defects. He recommended Urdu language for imparting of knowledge and training of the intellect.

On 26 April 1917, the Nizam through a Farman, the royal charter, approved the proposal for establishment of a university for Nizam’s Dominions, to be called the Osmania University of Hyderabad. The Education Department proceeded and drafted the curricula prepared by committees. The royal charter was promulgated by the Nizam in September 1918.

In the beginning, Osmania University College was housed in eight large and commodious buildings in the city, but the authorities found the location not satisfactory for expansion. It was decided to acquire a site and have buildings worthy of the university.

The University College was opened in August 1919. The first intermediate examination was held in April 1921, and the first BA examination in 1923. It started with a provision for instruction in Theology, Arts and Science and a Law class was opened in August 1923.

The first MA and LLB examinations were held in 1925. The translation of Engineering and Medical books had been taken on hand. The first year MBBS class of the University College of Medicine was opened in July 1927 and the College of Engineering and the Teachers Training College in 1929.

Syed Ali Raza and Nawab lain Yar Jung Bahadur, two experienced engineers embarked on a world tour to study all the academic and engineering points of view and to propose the appointment of a consultant architect. They started on 24 September 1930 and visited several countries.

After the European tour they proceeded to Egypt and Turkey. In Egypt they saw the University of Egypt where they met the Belgian Architect Monsier E. Jasper who was the consultant architect of the University as also of Hotel Casino, Race Course and residential quarters there.

Therefore, they suggested Mr Jasper as the consultant architect of Osmania University building project. They returned to India on 24 September 1931 and the rest is history when the Arts college building was inaugurated in 1939.

By: Prof K Stevenson