Annie Jane Askwith's contribution to Blind Society

   

    

 

       The British administration in the Madras Presidency was marked by a significant change both in cultural and educational life of the people.  The Tamils never ignored to learn their own traditional system of education.  Yet their institution went into oblivion  when the British Government introduced western educational system.  As a result of the western impact, municipalities and other voluntary agencies like Christian missionaries made an endeavour to establish new schools for disabled.  Subsequently the educational institutions and their numbers were remarkably increased.  The Tamils at that time failed to sponsor education to the disabled through separate educational institutions. So, the first effort has been taken by Miss. Anne Jane Askwith. Hence,the First Blind school was established  at Palamcottah in Madras Presidency,¹ which has an interesting history.  The main motto of its inception was to provide education and to make rehabilitation for the disabled students.

 THE HISTORIC INCIDENT CAUSE FOR THE BIRTH OF FIRST BLIND SCHOOL  IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT OF MADRAS PRESIDENCY:

     In 1888 a blind beggar boy Subbhu went to the Sarah Tucker Educational Institution for alms, where A.J. Askwith, the  Principal of Sarah Tucker Educational Institution to

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.Annual Report of Palamcottah Blind School in 1965.

tell him that, the Institution is not meant for charity but to provide education.  Smiling the boy replied, “GIVE ME EDUCATION THEN”.  The Principal was extremely touched by those four words and promised it as a challenge.  The blind boy was immediately accepted as a member of the Principal’s home.  As a result, first school for blinds in Madras Presidency was established at  Palamcottah in 1890.²

     The first student of the school became the first master of the school. The death of the First Teacher another teacher was appointed in 1892.  During his period, the blind school was divided into two, one for boys and another for girls³.The first  girl admitted in this school is Auvoodaiammal,Who learn to read Tamil letters with in six weeks.  Madaththi was the second girl student of this institution.  Each school had both educational section taught the 3 R’s namely reading, writing and arithmetic.  The industrial section taught grassmat and cotton-weaving, ratton work, brush-making, and basket-making.  Administration of both the schools came under( Miss.A.J. Askwith )one Principal  and separate Headmasters and staff members.⁴  Miss.A.J.Askwith with the help of Mr. Willium Moon invented and introduced a new type of Tamil script called ‘MOON’S TYPE METHOD’⁵.  It facilitated the blind students for reading and writing.

2.Palamcottah Blind School Annual Report 1964, p.1.

3.Sarah Tucker Educational Institution Annual Report,1893; Edward Jonnathan.D.,Selvi. Annie Jane Askwith Ammaiarrum Palamcottai Vizhiyizhantha Palliyum, p.1-4

4. Ibid., p.4.

5. See Angelin Bama.S., Nellai mavattaththil Kalvi Valarchip Paniyil Selvi Anne Jane Askwith Ammaiarin Thondu, Unpublished M.phil., Dissertation,M.D.T.Hindu College, Tirunelveli, April, 1995,p.69.

  

      In 1895, one more  school for the blinds was started at Pannaivilai near Palamcottah.⁶   Miss. A.J. Askwith , the Principal of Sarah Tucker Educational Institution extended her service to the blind and gave an opportunity to the educated blinds to serve in the blind schools.⁷  Accordingly Seven educated blinds were appointed as teachers of Pannaivilai school.  All the seven were the old students of Palamcottah blind schools.   In between 1890 and 1895 number of the schools increased from 2 to 3 in Tirunelveli, two for boys and one for girls.  The strength of the school in the academic year 1890-91 was only Seven.  The Director of Public Instruction and Inpectress appreciated  the strength of the school and knowledge of the 13boys  and 11girls,who were studied in 1893;⁸ it steadily increased to 40 in 1894-95.⁹

           In the year 1899, a boy from Palamcottah blind school secured Cent  percent marks in arithmatic examination which was conducted by the Primary Board of Examination.  However he was blind, he exhibited his intelligence and potentiality through the examination.  Hence,The Government appreciated him and awarded FIRST prize.¹⁰

     In 1904, the Pannaivilai blind school suffered due to non-availability of trained teachers and lack of accommodation.  Consequently, a part of the industrial section namely weaving grassmat was shifted to Palamcottah blind school on 17^th February,

6.Sarah Tucker Educational Institution Annual Report-1895

7. STC Annual Report, 1901,p.26.

8. STEI  Annual Report-1895.

9. The Administration Report of Madras Presidency-1900.

10. Ibid.

   

1904.  In 1905  Miss. A.J. Askwith,the Principal of Sarah Tucker Educational Institution went to visit her home Land (England).  Then she returned back to India with the amount of $2000.  The lumpsum was collected from England and Canada and was spent for the benefit and welfare of the blind students of Palamcottah.¹¹

     A Pamphlet of the LIGHT IN DARKNESS (1908) states that the 20^th August, 1908 was an eventful day in the history of Palamcottah  blind schools.  Because the Principal

of Sarah Tucker Educational Institution purchased an area of TWELVE ACRES OF LAND for the schools.¹²  The site of the schools situated outside the Palamcottah town and  subsequently she laid a foundation for the new home popularly known as “TARISANAMANAI’’ means the house of vision.  In 1908, Miss.A.J.Askwith,the Principal, of Sarah Tucker Educational Institution became the Principal of Palamcottah blind schools.¹³  On14th June, 1909 the new home was opened by Thiru.L. Davidson,the Tirunelveli District Collector¹⁴ and then the Pannaivilai blind school was amalgamated with Palamcottah  blind school for administrative convenience.  A meeting was held at

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10. The Administrative Report of the Madras Presidency- 1905.

11.A Phamphlet of the Light in Darkness 1908

12.Edward Jonnathan.D., Selvi Annie Jane Askwith ammaiaarrum Palamcottah Vizhiyizhanthoor palliyum, p.19.

13. Sarah Tucker Girls Higher Secondary School Centanery Special Magazine,August,1990,p.11.

14.Ibid.

Ootacamund on 12^th  May 1909 under theHonorable Governor Sir. Arthur Laley and almost all Principals of the schools for the disabled in South India participated in it.¹⁵  In that meeting they discussed the problems of the disabled students in connection with increased material prosperity through various branches of education particularly vocational training and decided to start an organization for the handicapped.

     Consequently the management of Palamcottah blind schools made a requisition to the Government for financial aid.  Accordingly the Government sanctioned Rs.15,500/- to

construct a building and to dig a well for each blind school in Palamcottah.¹⁶ The amount was sanctioned under grant-in- aid Code (financial Department G.O. No. 263, 1909).  In 1910 a building for girls was built in addition to the existing buildings in Palamcottah blind schools.  The Report on Public Instruction of  the Madras Presidency (1910) states

that the number of students in the industrial section was increased to 16 in 1910.  It was found difficult to run a class of more than 10 students.  As a result, the industrial section of Palamcottah blind schools became a separate department.¹⁷Special Training given to girls in Tape weaving, Basket making, Beads work, Knetting , Handicraft .The things manufactured by the girls would be exported to England and Canada and earn more income for them and the institution.¹⁸

^{15. Edward Jonnathan, op.cit., p.24; Angeline Bama.S., Op. cit., pp..82-83.}

^{16. Government Financial Department G.O. No. 263, 1909.}

^{17.Report on Public Instruction of Madras Presidency, 1910.}

^{18.Edward Jonnathan.D., Op.Cit., p.28.}

   

   

     Miss Annie Jane Askwith the Principal of Palamcottah blind schools invented BRAILLE CODES  FOR THE TAMIL AND MALAYALAM  based on Universal English Braille in 1912.¹⁹  The olden moon’s type method also continued parallel with the new Braille.  The schools for the  blinds in Palamcottah followed two language formula they were Tamil and English.²⁰  The two language formula helped the blinds to improve their own language and to understand the unknowing language easily.  The Director of Public Instruction in Madras and National Institute for the Blind in London recognized the new Braille Code and then sanctioned a lumpsum so as to develop the new Braille system.²¹ On 27^th February, 1914 , Lord Penduland , the Governor of Madras at that time paid an unscheduled visit to Palamcottah blind schools and found their marvelous aptitude of reading, writing and arithmetic with the help of Taylor Frame.²²

     During the First World War (1914-1917) many Indian soldiers were seriously wounded.  Some lost their eye sight and became blind.  The Government appointed a Committee (Department of Education G.O. No. 1271, 1917) to make a suitable solution for the blind soldiers and to provide a vocational training with a view to enable them to

19. Annual Report of Palamcottah Blind School, 1912;Edward Jonnathan, p.31.

20. Murugesan.N., Education of the Disabled Students in Tamilnadu, M.Phil Dissertation, 1987,p.32.

21.Edward Jonnathan.D., Op.cit., p.11

22.The Madras Mail, dated 27^th & 28^th February, 1914.(English Daily)

earn more in addition to their pension.  The Committee submitted its report to the Government in 1917.  In this report the Committee recommented the schools for the blind in Palamcottah was a suitable institution for the training of the blind soldiers.  Accordingly the Government sent 18 blind soldiers to the Palamcottah blind schools with the permission of the Principal Askwith.  Simultaneously, the Government sanctioned Rs. 945 for the purchase of looms and Rs.3900 for the construction of a shed to lodge the blind soldiers.²²  Following that in 1917 the school management opened a hospital inside the school campus for the sick blinds.²³

      The Report on Public Instruction (1919) of Madras Presidency highlights that Five schools for disabled children  existed in all over Madras Presidency.  Yet there was no school to provide special training for the trained teachers of disabled children.  In the

circumstances the Church Mission Society established a special section for the trained teachers in addition to Palamcottah blind schools in 1918.²⁴  At the same year W.G. Speight a war blind and former student of the Palamcottah school was appointed as the Principal.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22.Education Department G.O.No.1271,1917.

23.George Muller .T.S., “Oru Marakkappatta Monnodi”  An article published in  STC Higher Secondary School Centenary Special Magazine,p.11.

24. Report on Public Instruction of Madras Presidency,1919

   

      

 According to the Annual Report (1921) of the schools for the blind in Palamcottah, the boy’s  industrial section has experienced in the weaving of cellular cloth and succeeded in manufacturing good quality of products and in fair sales.  Moreover they attempted to adopt a new technique  in production and sale for strengthening their hands. Since January 1921, the working hours of the industrial section had been increased to 7 hours for boys and 6 hours for girls per day with a view to improve the production of sale materials.²⁵ At the same year, the management of Palamcottah blind schools passed a resolution that those who have the age of 10 and above, the administration was made directly.  They were sent to the special class of industrial section.  Those students spent half a day for industrial training and the remaining for learning three R’s.

       The Annual Report (1924) of Palamcottah blind schools reveals that the scout troops went to Madras in getting the training of first class badge in August 1924.  On 30^th

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25.Palamcottal Blind School Annual Report , 1921-22.

September, 1924, the founder and first Principal Anne Askwith of these schools reached eternal peace at the age of 65.  After her death the administration of blind schools came under  the control of Tirunelveli Diocesan Trust Association.  Consequently the schools were named as “T.D.T.A. Schools for the Blind”.²⁶

    

      The Palamcottah T.D.T.A. Schools for the blind (1926) reports that a girl leader of industrial department went to Poona in 1925 carrying with some materials produced in the schools and marketed in Poona at a reasonable price. 

The civilians of Poona were much attracted by the handicraft products and purchased it.  At that time, the industrial department organized and sold things at about Rs. 1,000.²⁷ It is clear that the blind girls students were set an example for economic independence attained self confidence, and proved that visually handicapped no way affect their self reliency and break the age old traditions, travel far and wide for their better future. According to the Annual Report (1929) of PalamcottahT.D.T.A. schools, in the year 1920, the government introduced a revised syllabus for all schools.  The syllabus insisted more attention to theory than practice.  Moreover the government forced to adopt the similar syllabus in the industrial section of blind schools.  As a result

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27.Palamcottah T.D.T.A. School Annual Report,1926-27.

26.Edward Jonnathan ,Op.cit.,p.45.

the number ofqualified students were decreasing.  Because they were well versed in practicals. So the blind school’s management made an attempt to bring out the attention of the Government on the real problem of the students of industrial section.  Yet the Government denied the apprehend and accept their demands.  In the critical moment the management of the schools itself made a full right to frame a separate curriculum, conducting examination and to issue the qualified certificate for its own students.²⁸

     According to the Report (1929) of Madras Presidency on Public Instruction, in 1929 the Palamcottah blind schools attempted to translate printing articles into Braille code for general reading.  At the same year, the Madras Blind Association opened a workshop in Madras.  The required skilled workers were sent from Palamcottah blind schools.  In one way it gave an employment opportunity to the blinds, in another way the Blind Association  workshop got an efficient and effective work to reach its goal.²⁹

      In  1930,  the American Blind Association convened an international  conference

for the welfare of the blind students.  The delegates of the Palamcottah blind schools participated in this conference.  It enhanced the name and fame of the blind schools and its service to the society at International level.

^{28. Palamcottah T.D.T.A. School Annual Report, 1929.}

^{29. Ibid.}

   

      

     Between 1890-1947  there were 8 blind schools in Madras Presidency.  In 1961,  the Palamcottah boy’s and girl’s schools were amalgamated into one for the sake of administrative convenience.   The remaining blind schools were closed before Independence.However the seed sown by Miss. Annie Jane Askwith for the empowerment of disabled boys and girls, still gives its fruit. Thousands of disabled and neglected visually chanllenged are self relient because of the giant efforts taken by Miss Annie Jane Askwith at Palamcottah. Due to her selfless help to women and visually chanllenged in the field of education,the government honoured her by Heiser-i-Hind Award in 1907.  Many of the Allumini of this school are working³⁰ in the Central,  State Government Offices; Aided andGovernment Educational Institutions and receipient of National Awards.  Moreover, Miss.Annie Jane Askwith’s effort could change the mentality of the society, gives confidence to differently abled people, empowered the visually challenged women to become self relient, economically independent, self-confidence and courage to achieve like others in the world.

30. see.Edward Jonnathan.D., op.cit.; Angeline Bama.S., op.cit.; Paul Appasamy, The centenary history of C.M.S. Tirunelveli,1923.