Munshi and teachers of Lord Harris's School, Royapett, Madras

Photograph of a group of three Indian and one European teacher at Lord Harris's School, Royapett, Madras in Tamil Nadu from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (Volume 46), taken in the 1860s by a photographer from the Madras School of Industrial Arts. The munshi, mentioned in the title, is most probably the figure seated on the left and denotes a teacher of languages. In India vernacular education (in the local language) was considered a special obligation for the Government from 1854 when it was declared a concern by the Court of Directors. The vernacular course covered both primary and secondary education and was carried out in many different types of establishment depending on the resources of the area. The Imperial Gazetteer of India states, "There are three classes of secondary schools - the vernacular and English middle schools, and the high schools...The English secondary school stage is divided into middle and high school sections, which really form portions of the same course...the English school education should ordinarily be completed by the time the pupil attained the age of sixteen...In English secondary schools the main course has hitherto led up to the matriculation or entrance examination of one or other of the Universities."

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Group of prize students of Madras University

Photograph of a group of six students from the University of Madras in Tamil Nadu from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (Volume 46), taken by a photographer from the Madras School of Industrial Arts in the 1860s. The first universities in India were founded in 1857, in the three Presidency Capitals: Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, and were modelled on the University of London. Each university was governed by a Chancellor, in most case the Governor of the Province; apart from Calcutta whose Chancellor was the Governor-General, a Vice-Chancellor and a Senate. The Imperial Gazetteer of India, states "All the universities grant degrees in Arts and Law; all except Madras have separate Science schools; and all except Allahabad give degrees or diplomas in Medicine and Engineering. After matriculation an undergraduate wishing to take a degree in Arts or Science must, unless specially admitted as a private student, go through a four years' course at a college affiliated to the University. In the middle of the course an Intermediate or 'First Arts' examination is held...An annual convocation is held at which degrees are conferred: successful candidiates appear in their gowns and hoods, and the proceedings are conducted on the model of the ceremony in an English University."

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Pundit reading the shastras, Madras.

Portrait of a Pundit in Madras, taken in the 1860s by an unknown photographer, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections. A Pundit, or learned Hindu Brahmin, is one versed in Sanskrit with a knowledge of Hindu philosophy, religion and jurisprudence. The Pundit in this view seems to be reading the shastras, which are the scriptural texts or sacred writings of the Hindus. This print is one of a series commissioned by the Government of India in the 1860s to record the tribes, races and castes of India and Nepal. This was part of a larger project for compiling photographs of the people and monuments of India, intiated by the Governor-General, Lord Canning (1856-63).

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Munshi and teachers of Lord Harris's School, Royapett, Madras

Photograph of a group of six Indian teachers, the munshi seated on the right, at Lord Harris's School at Royapett in Madras, Tamil Nadu from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (Volume 46), taken in the 1860s by a photographer from the Madras School of Industrial Arts. The munshi denotes a teacher of languages. In India vernacular education (in the local language) was considered a special obligation for the Government from 1854 when it was declared a concern by the Court of Directors. The vernacular course covered both primary and secondary education and was carried out in many different types of establishment depending on the resources of the area. The Imperial Gazetteer of India states, "There are three classes of secondary schools - the vernacular and English middle schools, and the high schools...The English secondary school stage is divided into middle and high school sections, which really form portions of the same course...the English school education should ordinarily be completed by the time the pupil attained the age of sixteen...In English secondary schools the main course has hitherto led up to the matriculation or entrance examination of one or other of the Universities."

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A View of the Government House and Council Chamber, Madras

Aquatint of Madras (now Chennai) in south India, published by Edward Orme in 1807 and part of King George III's Topographical Collection. Madras was the first important settlement of the East India Company and was founded in 1639 by the agent Francis Day on land ceded by the Raja of Chandragiri. The site, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in south India, had been associated with early Christianity and the apostle St. Thomas is believed to have been martyred here in 68AD. The Portuguese arrived here in 1522 and built a church, but were evicted in the 17th century. The English settlement sprang up around a small fort and Madras gained eminence, remaining the centre of power until eclipsed by Calcutta in the late 18th century

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Women with curry stone and raggy mill, Madras

Photograph of two women with a curry stone and a raggy mill at Madras in Tamil Nadu, taken by Nicholas and Curths in c.1870, from the Archaeological Survey of India. This photograph was shown at the Vienna Universal Exhibition of 1873. This is a view of one woman crushing spices, the other grinding raggy, a grain cultivated as a staple in food in Southern India, between two millstones.

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Portrait of a young South Indian woman, Madras

Photograph of a young South Indian woman in Madras, shown at the1867 Paris exhibition, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections. It is one of a series of photographs commissioned by the Government of India in the late 19th century in an attempt to gather information about the tribes, races and castes of the sub-continent. Material was submitted by professional and amateur photographers working in studios and in the field. This photograph was attributed to the Madras School of Industrial Arts, established in 1850, an important training centre for photographers in the area.

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East end of wall used as a water cistern, Madras

Photograph of the east end of a wall used as a water cistern in Madras, taken by a photographer of the Archaeological Survey of India on 1st March 1902. Madras was established by the East India Company in 1639 as a trading post. In 1644 a small fort was erected and the city became the centre of the British presence in India. By 1690 the fort became a major city complex with 300,000 people. The European settlement remained inside the fort while the Black Town was outside the walls although in the 18th century many beautiful colonial houses with gardens started to be built outside the fort. Fort St George is situated north of the town on the seashore and was gradually transformed into a formidable structure. In 1694 the original Fort House was demolished to build a new one and in 1711 the inner Fort walls and corner bastions were pulled down to create Fort Square.

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Sandalwood carvers at work Ancient photo

 Photograph of sandalwood carvers at work in India, taken by an unknown photographer in c. 1873, from the Archaeological Survey of Indian Collections. This image of three woodcarvers seated with examples of their work in the form of finely-carved wooden boxes was probably shown at the Vienna Exhibition of 1873. The carving of sandalwood boxes is one of the traditional crafts of India and many examples were sent to the exhibition by a number of craftsmen, particularly from Bombay and Madras. Examples exhibited included workboxes, handkerchief and glove boxes, jewellery and money boxes together with many other carved objects.

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