Mohsin Fund was an important endowment created by Muhammad Mohsin which funded the establishment of numerous academic establishments across Bengal in the 19th and early 20th century.[1][2]
History
Mohsin Fund was established in 1806 by philanthropist Muhammad Mohsin.[3][4] He was the zamindar of Saiyadpur Estate which he inherited from half-sister Mannujan Khanam.[3] He funded a number of food kitchens during the Great Bengal famine of 1770.[3] He established an Waqf to manage revenue from his zamindari and his family Shi'ite Imambara.[3] The Waqf, Islamic trust, would provide funding to the Mohsin Fund. He himself was celibate and as such did not have any heirs.[3] The Waqf governors start embezzling the assets and funds of the Waqf including the Saiyadpur Estate.[3]
The Privy Council took up the case and the British Raj dismissed all governors as they believed the corruption would be threatening revenue from the estate.[3] The Waqf and Fund expanded significantly under management of the colonial government.[3][5] It funded the established of Hooghly Madrasah in 1817 and Hooghly Mohsin College in 1836.[3] The government used the fund to benefit both Muslim and Hindu students but it was decided to exclusively use the fund for Muslim students in 1873.[3]
