The appointment of the Commission was proposed in 1914, but due to the outbreak of the World War

1. It could not be possible. Because of the World War I, the proposed Chairman of the Commission, Lord Haildon had refused to head it. The Government, too, concentrated its attention and energy over the war.

However the Government had become keen to find out the defects in the educational system and felt the necessity to do something for education in order to pacify the public opinion. So the Calcutta University Commission was appointed in 1917 under the Chairmanship of Sir M. E. Sadler.

The Commission was named after Calcutta University as it was principally required to look into the affairs of this university and suggest measures for its reforms. Sir Asutosh Mukherji, Dr. Ziaddin Ahmad, Dr. Gregory, Sir Hartog and Prof. Ramsay Miur were some of the more important members of the Commission. Sir Asutosh Mukherji was the most influential member of the Commission. It is said that most of the recommendations of the Commission were patterned on his views.

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The Aims of the Commission:

The Commission was required to examine the condition and workings of the Calcutta University and suggest measures for its reforms. It was also authorised to study the condition of other universities in the country. After the name of its Chairman, this Commission is also popularly known as Sadler Commission.

Functions of the Commission:

In March, 1919 the Commission submitted its report to the Government. This report was in thirteen parts and it had elaborate suggestions for reforms of Calcutta University. The suggestions, though for Calcutta University, could be equally applicable to other universities in the country.

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The Commission started its report with the examination of secondary education, as it considered it as the basis for University education. The Commission studied the various problems of the University very carefully and gave constructive suggestions for the reforms of both secondary and university education. The Commission examined me organisation, nature and working method of the University and gave suggestions for their improvement.