1 THE AMBALA DARBAR. : 591
2 _ ground of their being eminent benefactors and original promoters of the
3 institution, or persons distinguished for attainments in Literature or Science.
4 The Senate so constituted was empowered to expend the income at its dis-
5 posal in the foundation of fellowships and scholarships ; in making grants-in-
6 aid to educational institutions conducted in accordance with the principles
7 of the movement; granting rewards for vernacular translations of European
8 standard works, and for the encouragement of the enlightened study of
9 Oriental literature; to grant “certificates of proficiency” after examina-
10 tions to be conducted under rules framed by the Senate on certain accepted
11 principles, the general object of which was to encourage the diffusion of
12 Western literature, as far as possible, through the medium of the verna-
13 cular, but where this was not possible, through the medium of English.
14 Further, the Senate was to be, with the educational officers of Government,
15 the “Council of Education,” or consulting body, in matters relating to
16 education for the province. In support of the institution, Government
17 granted an equivalent to the income from subscriptions and endowments,
18 up to Rs, 21,000 per annum. -Lastly, while disallowing, for the present, the
19 title of “University,” and declining to grant power to confer degrees, the
20 Supréme Government intimated its readiness to re-consider this portion of its
21 decision, should the institution prove itself worthy of the superior status of
22 a University. The idea of the improvement and extension of vernacular
23 literature generally, and of the encouragement of the enlightened study of
24 Hastern classical languages and literature, originated with Sir Donald
25 McLeod, who addressed the Director of Public Instruction on the subject,
26 fully expressing his views as to the development of the scheme. These
27 were communicated by the Director to the Anjumdén-t-Panj ab, a society es-
28 tablished at Lahore for the diffusion of useful knowledge, under the presidency
29 of Dr. Leitner. That body and its learned president took up the subject
30 warmly, and at many busy meetings which were held by the members,
31 European and native, and with which are associated many distinguished
32 names (such as Sir Charles Aitchison and -‘Sir James Lyall), the scheme of
33 Sir Donald McLeod developed itself into a University movement, and hence
34 it has been rightly said, that the University in the Panjdb owes its origin
35 to the Anjumdn-t-Pany db.
36 To carry out the policy of the University College, the Senate established
37 an Oriental school and college at Lé&hore, endowed lectureships, literary
38 fellowships and scholarships, and held public examinations in the various
39 subjects of study which it was desired to encourage.
40 Amfr Sher Ali Khan had already expressed his desire to have an inter-
41 view with the Viceroy of India, but obstacles of an insuperable nature pre-
42 cluded Sir John Lawrence from meeting the Amir on the frontier of the
43 two countries. When Lord Mayo assumed the Viceroyalty of India, the
44 Amir again expressed his wish for an interview with the representative of
45 the Queen. This request was readily accorded by His Excellency, and
46 it was arranged that the place of meeting should be Ambdld. The Amir
47 entered British territory on the 3rd of March, 1869, accompanied by his
48 young son Abdull4 Jaén, his Secretary, Sayad Nur Muhammad Shah, the
49 Chamberlain, Sherdil Khan, Shah Ghazi, and others. He was received
50 by the Lieutenant-Governor about two miles from Léhore and escorted
51 under royal salute to the State apartments in the fort, where he was
52 sumptuously entertained for five days. A darbdér was held in his honour,
53 in the Montgomery Hall, at which native chiefs and nobles from all parts
54 of the Panjdb were present, and a splendid féte was given in the Shalémar
55 Gardens, which were gorgeously illuminated, On the afternoon of the 27th
56 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.
57 The powers of the
58 Senate,
59 The Senatea consult-
60 ing body in matters of
61 education,
62 The idea of the im-
63 provenient of the
64 Eastern classical lan-
65 guages originated with
66 Sir Donald McLeod,
67 The Anjumdn-t-
68 Panjdb gave birth to
69 the Panjab University,
70 The Lahore Oriental
71 School and College.
72 Meeting between
73 Amir Sher Ali Khan
74 and Lord Mayo at
75 Ambala, 1869.
76 The Amir at Lahore,
77 com