The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-29
HINDOO IS HERE
TO STUDY MINING
HIGH CASTE NATIVE OF INDIA
ENTERS UNIVERSITY.
Is Sent Here as Part Of Movement for
Higher Education Of Natives, Who
Are Discouraged by Government
Will Support Himself to Show Coun-
trymen It Can Be Done.

When the university opens for the
fall semester, Sept. 10, it will enroll
among it's students Hira Singh, ma
tive Hindu who has travelled all the
pose Of studying mining engineering as
1t is taught in Minnesota.
From present indications Mr.. Singh
will be one Of the features of interest
about the university, and there is some
excuse for the lively curiosity dis
played about him, for tho Nj. Singh
is intellectual and attired in conven-
tional garb, he is picturesquely typical
of the highcaste Hindu, with his slen-
der, dark face surmounted by snowy
turban. .... ..@,
Less than two years ago Swami Ram,
B.A., MA, and also doctor of philoso-
ply in one Of the mission colleges of
Hindoostan, made tour of the edu-
cational centers of the United States
and several other progressive countries,
with view to interesting philan-
thropic people in young Indian stu
dents who desired to go abroad to
study. That he was at least partially
successful is shown by the arrival of
dents; about twenty more are prepar-
ing to come later on. There seems to
be great need of men with .prac-
teal education along various lines, as
the country is rich in gold, silver and
copper ores, and would bear abundant
crops of grain, fruits and vegetables
if practical methods Of agriculture
were applied
Higher Education Not Encouraged.
There are primary schools, high
schools and some colleges supported by
the government, but only the simple
1l,o, 4~,,
crudely by curious system of mem
orizing the text Students are required
to spend eight hours in study and six
in recitation, but in such fashion that
much is forgotten when the students
are tested. The government does not
take kindly to the idea of educating
the natives, for obvious reasons, and
while there is little or no effort made
to establish proper colleges, art and
technical schools, there is a highly eff
fective effort made to abolish private
Indian schools by compelling them to
raise their fees. It is Mr.. Singh's in
here and then to return to some rich
canton, probably Tehrigarhwal, and de-
velop some Of it's resources, at the same
time teaching young Indians working
with him.
Will Make His Way.
The task of Mr.. Singh is by no means
an easy one, as he means to be self
supporting during the four years. This
is not at all necessary, as he comes of
wealthy family belonging to the mil,
itary race called Sikhs. Besides, he
was offered funds and scholarship by
native rajah, but, desiring to show
his more timid and less fortunate
brethren that the scheme was practic-
able, he refused all offers of help ex-
cept immediate expenses. thus bearing
his name Of "Lion'' most worthily
He is very hopeful about the future
as he has found Americans so kim.
especially Dean and Mrs. w. S. Pattee
with whom he has been staying at 1915
Fifth street Sc. He will be under the
guardianship of Dean F. J. Willing of
the school of mines during his stay in
Minneapolis.