founded the Military Orphan Society. The East India
Company made a contribution of Rupees Three per month for
each orphan of the Lower Orphan Society to educate, clothe
and feed the orphaned Anglo-Indian children of soldiers.
Similar contributions were also made by the Company's
officers for the upkeep of the school.
Majors paid Sicca Rupees nine per month. Captains and
Surgeons paid Sicca Rupees six per month and Subalterns and
Assistant Surgeons paid Sicca Rupees three per month. By
1786, the contribution paid by the East India Company was
Sicca Rupees Five per child per month. At that point, the
Company made a grant of Rupees forty thousand for the Lower
Orphan Society and Levitt's house was purchased. (29) The
education of Anglo-Indian orphans created the stereotype of
the poor Anglo-Indian child who had to be supported by
public funds.
The benevolence of the military towards these children was
a facade. It facilitated the stratification of the Anglo-
Indian community into a class of subordinates who received
education as a hand-out. The poor Anglo-Indian orphan
child etched the perspective deeply into the Anglo-Indian
culture.
In 1787, Lady Campbell, the wife of the Governor of Fort
St. George opened the first Girls' School. It was called
the Female Orphan Asylum, and again, catered for Anglo-
Indian children. Two years' later, in 1789, the Madras Male
Orphan Asylum (the successor to St. Mary's Charity School)
was opened by Dr. Andrew Bell.
Bell rejected the racist description for Anglo-Indians.
The mixed community were referred to as an inferior race
who lacked intelligence and possessed no moral values. The
school was highly admired, and the anti-racist attitude of
Bell was reflected in the student's success.
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