GENERAL SIR JAMES HOPE GRANT & THE CHOICE OF LOVEDALE
The episode of Glimpses of A Glorious Past in the OL Assembly of January 9, 2021 tells us how Lovedale came to be chosen to be the site for the expansion of The Lawrence Asylum. You will recall that it had initially been set up in Ootacamund on September 6, 1858.
Do check out this video in which OLs Prem Rao, NIL 1967 and Naomi Varghese ARA 2005 give you the details.
Another influential voice supported the move to Lovedale. This was none other than Lt General Sir James Hope Grant (1808-1875) then the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for the Madras Presidency.
A veteran who had fought in the relief of Lucknow, Sir James Hope Grant supported the choice of Lovedale as the site for the new Asylum
The School Archives had this Memorandum signed by him which is reproduced from Book 1 of Glimpses of a Glorious Past: An Informal History of The Lawrence School, Lovedale."
MEMORANDUM.
I am of the opinion that it would not be advisable to select Bishop’s Down for the site of the Asylum. It is , no doubt, true that there are 150 acres in the grounds; but very much of this lies in a valley where it would not be desirable to erect dwelling houses, and the number of children that are likely to require accommodation must be considered.
2. Independent of the present Lawrence Asylum, it is very probable, in course of time, amalgamation will take place with the Madras Military Asylum. Under these circumstances, a large extent of ground should be kept available, and Bishop’s Down is, I conceive, a site quite unsuited for an Institution which may number between 6 and 700 children.
3. I also think it very unadvisable to place the Asylum in the midst of the station. Though there may not, at present, be many houses, still, in consideration of the easy access to the Hills, Ootacamund will, in all probability, increase greatly in size.
4. The expense of Bishop’s down is 40,000 Rupees. This I consider would be thrown away, as the present dwelling cannot be thought to be worth that sum, and it must either be built or undergo great alterations to make it a permanent residence.
5. The proposition that this expense would probably be covered by the sale of the house or the houses of the present Male and Female Asylums, is surely not an advantageous one, as it would be decidedly desirable to place whatever sum would be realized to the credit of the Building Fund.
6. I have again looked at the site of Lovedale, and, in my opinion, it appears admirably adapted for the Asylum in question. There seems to be not only ample extent for the large buildings that will be required, but also for cricket and play grounds, which are most indispensable for children; and combining the very desirable object of being near, but not in, the station of Ootacamund.
7. I would strongly advocate, however, that whatever site may be selected, should be decided on without loss of time, as it is sad to know of urgent cases of admission being refused from want of accommodation which is now the case, and,. Especially, as the boys are so much overcrowded in the Asylum at present.
(Signed) J. HOPE GRANT.
Lieut Genl. and Commander –in –Chief.
OOTACAMUND,
26TH September 1862
Many years later when the Rev W H G Padfield, the then Principal, brought in the system of Houses, “Hope Grant House "was named after General Sir James Hope Grant.
Those interested in the military career of General Hope Grant can read, " Life of General Sir Hope Grant" edited by Col. Henry Knollys, published by William Blackwood & Sons, in 1894.
He was commissioned in the 9th Lancers of the British Army in 1826. He served with distinction in India from the 1840 to 1858 when he was transferred as Lt General to be in command of British Troops in China and Hong Kong.
We think it was this connection that resulted in Chinese convicts being shipped from the Strait Settlements to Madras Province in India when the jails became full there.
Some of these were confined in the Nilgiris and actually worked in the building of our School- but that story is for another day.
He returned to India in 1861 as the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. In 1865 he went back to England as the Quarter Master General and became General in 1872. He passed away in London in 1875.
His love for Lovedale is borne out by the fact that though he had left India a decade earlier, in his will he left some money for The Lawrence Asylum!
2 comments:
In our time there were two large portraits at the entrance to the Senior School. We did not know whose portraits they were. It is only now, after Gen Hope Grant has been identified, that we know that the portraits are of the general and his wife.
In the First Anglo-Sikh War of 1845–1846 he took part in the battle of Sobraon; and in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1848–1849 he commanded the 9th Lancers. He won high reputation in the battles of Chillianwalla and Gujarat.
Sir Henry Lawrence was appointed Resident of Punjab after the first war and the Chief Administrator after the second. There was only 4 years difference in their Army seniority. But Sir Henry held a much higher post in the civil hierarchy. It is clear that Gen Hope Grant helped greatly in the establishment of Lovedale in view of his association with Sir Henry. It was indeed fitting that a House was named after Gen Hope Grant.
Thank you for this interesting information, JT. Such contributions enrich the content of this blog.
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