# Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work/Chapter 21

CHAPTER XXI.
Wards' Institution.
This Institution was founded by Government in 1855 or a little prior to that, for the training of the minor heirs of the Princes and Zemindars of Bengal. It was placed under the direct control of the Board of Revenue for the Lower Provinces. Dr. Rajendra Lala Mitra was appointed its Director. The Hon'ble C. E. Buckland, in his 'Bengal under the Lieutenant Governors', says,—"In 1855-56 he" (Rajendra Lala Mitra) "was appointed Director of the Ward's Institute in Calcutta; and some of the Zemindars who were his pupils acknowledge with gratitude the debt they owed to his careful training." In November 1863, Vidyasagar was nominated a visitor of the Institution. On this subject he received the following letter from the Board of Revenue:—
"From
"R. B. CHAPMAN ESQR. "Secretary to the "Board of Revenue L. P. "To "Pundit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Dated Fort William, the 3rd November 1863.
"Sir,
"With reference to the second paragraph of a letter to your address from the Junior Secretary to the Government of Bengal No 981, dated 5th March ​last, I am directed by the Board of Revenue to request, that you will have the goodness to undertake to visit the Wards Institution, which is now located in Manicktollah, during the months of March, July, and November in each year.
"2. The remaining months of the year have been distributed among the gentlemen associated with you as visitors of the Institution. The Ex-officio members of the Committee of visitors will not confine their visit to any particular period of the year.
"3. I am to take the opportunity of forwarding to you, a copy of the Rules of the Institution. You will observe (Rule 40) that it is expected that you should visit the Institution at least once during each of the months allotted to you, though it is not in any sense necessary that, you should limit your visits to the months named in this letter.
"I have the honor to be
"Sir,
"Your most obdt. servt.
( Sd.) "R. B. Chapman
"Secretary"
After he had made four or five visits, he submitted to Government the under-quoted memorandum:—
MEMORANDUM.
Under existing arrangements, all the wards assemble in one hall and sit round one table for the purpose of reading. This arrangement struck me as unsatisfactory on the first day of my visit, and the impression has been strengthened by the successive visits which I have since paid to the Institution. The wards are divided into several classes, their studies ranging from the Spelling-Book to the Entrance Course. The classes, being obliged to sit together round one table, necessarily cause serious disturbance to each other; and those amongst the wards, who are not very attentive, generally neglect their studies. In the mornings, the Director sits in the hall and sees whether the wards have prepared their lessons for their schools. But his presence becomes an additional source of disturbance to the classes, owing to the ingress and egress of people who come to him during that time.
One private tutor assists all the wards in preparing their lessons in the evenings; but in my humble opinion, one teacher is quite inadequate for the purpose. He cannot possibly devote more than a quarter of an hour to each class and render any material assistance to them. As a necessary consequence, the progress and proficiency of the wards are generally not very satisfactory.
To remedy these evils, some arrangements seem to be absolutely necessary; and I would suggest the following:—
First. Each class should have a separate place and a separate reading table.
Second. Each class should be placed in charge of a separate private tutor.
​My object in suggesting the entertainment of a separate teacher for each class is, to secure the necessary amount of aid to the wards. The present system of education followed in schools is such that, it is impossible for the generality of young pupils to attain proficiency in their studies without proper aid at home; and this much needed aid can never, as I have already stated, be expected from one individual, who attends so many classes for only one or two hours a day. Extra aid is given to their children by people who can even with difficulty afford it, and it is certainly very desirable that the wards should have that aid to its fullest extent.
If the arrangements, suggested above, are carried out, all causes of disturbance will be removed, negligence in the inattentive materially checked, and far greater progress and proficiency secured in future.
Again, under the proposed arrangements, it will not be necessary for the Director to overlook the daily school-lessons of the wards—a drudgery of which I would relieve him altogether and assign to him the far more agreeable as well as important task of training their minds and giving them instruction on subjects of general interest. Such a task would certainly better suit the talents and ability of the Director which he possesses in a high degree. At present, he does this work to a certain extent and when relieved of the drudgery alluded to; he will be able to perform it with much greater efficiency.
The primary object in bringing the wards to the Metropolis is, I presume, to educate them and train their minds in a proper style. Every possible endeavour should, in my humble judgment, therefore, be made to secure that object.
"Calcutta,
On receipt of this Memorandum, the Board of Revenue by its letter No 483 dated the 18th ​November, 1864, called on Vidyasagar for a full report on the working of the Wards' Institution. The letter ran as follows:—
No. 483.
From "R. B. Chapman Esqr. "Secretary to the "Board of Revenue
"To  "Pundit Ishur Chunder Vidyasagar Dated Fort William, the 18th Nov.1864.
"Sir,
"The Government of Bengal have requested the Board of Revenue to call upon you for a full report respecting the working of the Wards' Institution at Calcutta for the year 1863-64, on the following heads:—
"2nd. Number of Boys; Progress; Course of Instruction; Physical education; Health; Food; Expenses; Visitors' Inspection.
"3rd. I am directed to beg the favour of your submitting the required report as early as possible and to request that a similar report be submitted for every succeeding year as soon after the end of May as possible.
"I have the honour to be, "Sir, "Your most Obdt Servt. (Sd.) "R. B. Chapman. Secretary
Similar letters were also addressed to the ​other visitors. It was arranged among the visitors themselves that they should submit a joint report. But subsequently, difference of opinion on some points made Vidyasagar send on his report separately. His report was dated 11th January, 1865, and ran as follows:— "To "R. B. CHAPMAN ESQRE. "SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
"OF REVENUE.
"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 483 dated the 18th November last, requesting me to furnish a full report respecting the working of the Wards' Institution at Calcutta for the past official year. Before entering upon it, I beg leave to state that it was at first in contemplation to submit a joint report by all the visitors; but differences of opinion on certain points having arisen among them, I take the liberty to submit a separate report and to apologize for the delay which has taken place in consequence.—
"Number of Boys.
"There were 12 boys on the Rolls on the 30th April last.
"Progress. Course of Instruction.
"With the exception of two or three, progress made by the pupils was not generally satisfactory, and the course of Instruction requires revision as shall be explained hereafter.
"Physical Education.
"The arrangements for this branch of education are satisfactory. The Wards went through the prescribed exercises regularly. ​
"Health.
"To all appearance they kept their health pretty well.
"Food.
"The articles of food, as far as they came under my observation, were unexceptionable in character and quality. It was prepared by their own men in separate kitchens.
"Expenses.
"The total expenditure of the year amounted to Rs. 31,524-2-10 which yields an average of Rs. 2,627 per head per annum, or Rs. 219 per month. Considering the position of the Wards and the expensive living of Calcutta the average expenditure does not appear to he very high.
"Visitors' Inspection.
"I commenced my inspection from November 1863 under instructions from the Board, and visited this institution five times up to the close of the year. From the commencement, it struck me that the arrangements for the studies of the Wards at home were defective and required reversion. Accordingly I took the liberty to submit a memorandum on the 4th April last, noticing in detail the defects in question, and suggesting such remedies as appeared to me best calculated to correct them. The only change, that has since been introduced, consists in the appointment of an additional private tutor. But I would beg leave humbly to observe that in my subsequent visits the state of things did not appear to me to have materially improved.
"Since submitting the memorandum referred to, I have given the subject my most serious attention, and I take this opportunity to lay my views before the Board for their consideration. It appears to me that all the present arrangements, regarding the Education of the Wards, should undergo thorough revision. Generally the Wards remain at the Institution from 4 to 6 years, and it would certainly be unreasonable to expect that, in so short a ​period, they will be able to make any satisfactory progress in their studies, if they are made to attend public schools and go through their prescribed routine course. The course of instruction in those Institutions commences with the Alphabet and ends with the University Entrance Standard, and it generally takes 9 years for an ordinary student to go through this course. But a student, who has successfully passed this ordeal, can scarcely be considered to have acquired that amount of information and knowledge of the English language which would prove useful to him in after life. It can therefore be easily imagined how inconsiderable is the progress made by those who do not complete this course, but leave off in the middle. Unfortunately, such has been and shall be the case with the Wards in a great majority of instances, if the present mode of educating them in Public Schools is continued. As however it seems highly desirable that they should leave the Institution with a fair amount of useful knowledge, I would beg leave respectfully to suggest a new arrangement for their education.
I. That the Institution be turned into a sort of Boarding School instead of being merely the residence of the Wards as at present. II. That a separate course of Instruction, especially suited to the necessities of the Wards, be framed for them. III. That the requisite staff of efficient teachers be entertained for their Instruction.
"The advantages of this system over that followed in Public Schools are so self-evident that it would be superfluous in me to enter into any detailed explanation. At school a teacher of a class has to teach at least 30 boys, and notwithstanding his best endeavours, he can scarcely succeed in expounding more than a few lines a day from a class-book. To learn this the Wards have to remain 6 ​hours at school and to devote two hours in the mornings and two in the evenings at home. It is certain that under the proposed arrangements they will be able to go through the same amount of reading in 2 hours with better success. As a necessary consequence, they will surely attain a much larger amount of useful information and far better knowledge of the language during their short stay and prove more useful members of society in after-life, than they can possibly be expected to do under existing arrangements. But, if those arrangements are continued, and the Wards leave the Institution with the little knowledge that they do at present, it will, I fear, be but a sorry compensation for the trials and inconveniences to which they were put, at a tender age, in the separation from their homes and families.
"I also take the liberty to bring to prominent notice Rule XI of the Rules for the management of the Wards Institution. That rule prescribes that "Corporal punishment shall be resorted to only in aggravated cases." It appears from the Order Book that almost in every month one or more boys have received ratan cuts varying from 4 to 12. The instances, in which they have thus been punished, do not however appear to me to come under the class—"aggravated cases," with the exception perhaps of one which is not sufficiently described. But, irrespective of the nature of the offences committed, I would beg leave to observe that corporal punishment should be discarded altogether as a part of the training of the Wards. This punishment is strictly prohibited in all Educational Institutions on account of its baneful influence. Hundreds of pupils are managed in them without the use of the cane;—its necessity in the Wards Institution is scarcely perceptible. In my humble opinion, such barbarous harsh treatment does by no means become the inmates of that Institution. I have some experience in the training of boys and my firm conviction is that corporal punishment, from ​its degrading effects, spoils more than mends the recipients. I would therefore beg leave strongly to recommend that this rule may be rescinded at once.
"There is also another point to which I would beg leave to draw attention. At present, the majority of the Wards occupy rooms in the ground-floor and sleep in them. As long residence in such rooms, in the insalubrious climate of Calcutta, may eventually affect their health it seems very desirable that measures may be adopted for their accommodation on the first floor, if practicable.
"In conclusion, I beg leave to apologize for intruding on the Board with the above suggestions, which I felt it my duty to lay before them after an anxious and careful consideration of the subject.
"I have &c.,
(Sd.) "Isvar Chandra Sarma."
"11th January 1865."
After the lapse of a few months, Vidyasagar submitted, on the 29th August 1865, a second memorandum setting forth his views on the scheme of bringing the Institution into a successful working order. The memorandum is quoted below:—
MEMORANDUM.
"Great care should be taken in the selection of the teaching staff, in case it be determined to convert the Institution into a Boarding School. They must be well-educated men, experienced in training up children and youth, and free from fashionable vice. The management and control of the Institution should be vested in the Head Master. Under such arrangements, I feel assured that the prejudices entertained against the Institution, not without reason, would be removed and the confidence of the Public restored. But, if, otherwise, the Institution be maintained on its present footing., I shall not be sorry to see it closed at once.
"The after career of some of the young men, brought up in the Institution, reflects discredit on it. If a comparison were instituted between the retired Wards and other young land-lords who were not brought up in the Institution, I believe it will be found that the balance will turn in favor of the latter.
​"I think it would be highly advantageous to the wards, if their term of minority extended to 21 years instead of 18 years, as at present; as in that case, they will have longer time for improving themselves, and they will enter upon the possession of their respective estates at an age, when men's characters are formed in a manner. This extension, I believe, will not be unacceptable to the class of Zemindars, as I find that the British Indian Association, sometime ago, moved the Legislature on the subject.
(Sd.) "I. SARMA
"29th August 1865."
Most of the reforms and revisions suggested by Vidyasagar for the improvement of the Wards' Institution were carried into effect, except the prohibition of corporal punishment. Dr. Rajendra Lala raised arguments in favour of the punishment. A Committee was set on foot to investigate into the matter. The Committee approved of Dr. Rajendra Lala's scheme of corporal punishment for the Wards. This was the origin of the difference between the Doctor and Vidyasagar, which by degrees grew so serious as to ultimately induce Vidyasagar to resign his visitorship.
Babu Bihari Lal Sarkar, in his biography of Vidyasagar says:—'It is not easy to ascertain the true reason why he (Vidyasagar) resigned his visitorship. I tried my best to find it out, but failed. I enquired into the matter of Babu Nanda Krishna Basu, one of the Secretaries to the Board of Revenue; but he also failed to find it out. So far it has been ascertained that his last visit paid ​to the Institution was on the 28th March, 1865, from which it seems that he must have resigned some time after this date.'
In 1863, a Committee was formed to consider the introduction of Sanskrit into the University curriculum for the several examinations in Arts. Vidyasagar was appointed a member on this Committee. The other members were Messrs. Woodrow and Cowell. The order communicated to Vidyasagar on the subject is quoted below:—
OFFICE MEMORANDUM.
"Dated Fort William, the 29th August 1863.
"The gentlemen whose names are noted in the margin are appointed a Committee to consider and report on the extent to which it is expedient to introduce the study of Sanskrit in the Collegiate and Zillah Schools with reference to prospective changes in the course laid down by the University for the several Examinations in Arts. Mr. ​Woodrow will act as President of the committee and will arrange the place and time of meeting in communication with his colleagues:—
(Sd.) "W. S. Atkinson
"Director of Public Instruction. "No. 3041.
"Copy forwarded to Pundit Eshwar Chunder Vidyasagar for information.
| "Fort William | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | (Sd.) "W. S. Atkinson |
| "The 29th August 1863 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | (Sd.) "W. S. Atkinson | "Director of Public Instruction." |
Besides these important works, both private and public, he had to attend to many minor matters. He had almost daily to decide and settle many intricate questions on Hindu Law and politics. On the 16th May, 1864, Mr. Stanforth of Ranchi referred the following question to Vidyasagar for decision:—
"A, a zemindar is an idiot. His tenants give him in marriage, but the Zemindar does not understand at the time what the matter (marriage) is. In course of time, this wife of the Zemindar gives birth to a son. Whether this son can be a lawful heir to the Zemindar?'
On the 22nd June of the same year, Vidyasagar passed the following decision:—
"This son is the lawful heir. Although the Zemindar, at the time of his marriage, does not understand what the matter is, yet such defective ​marriage is not invalid in the eyes of the Hindu Law.'
We have already said that Vidygsagar never hesitated to contract debts on his own account to rescue many debtors from the hands of usurers and money-lenders by paying them off. But he never pressed these persons, whom he thus relieved, for repayment of his money. Most of these people took advantage of his cautious reserve, and never repaid their debts to Vidyasagar. Some of them had really no means to pay. In fact, there is no reckoning how many persons (some of them men of means) he thus saved from utter ruin. We will give here a few instances of his such liberality.
(l) Ram Kamal Misra of Radhanagar and Gorachand Datta of Gangadaspur, two persons quite unconnected with Vidyasagar, were indebted to one Tarachand Sarkar to the extent of 500 rupees. Tarachand sued them, and obtained against them a decree for the whole amount. Both the Judgment-debtors were arrested under warrants of the Court. They then came to Vidyasagar, and with tearful eyes, entreated him to save them from jail. Vidyasagar had no money in his purse at that time. He stood surety for the two debtors and borrowed 500 rupees from Rakhal Mitra, a third party, under a bond executed by Ramkamal and Gorachand, and saved them from inevitable, imminent imprisonment. But the two ​debtors never more paid visits to Vidyasagar, and he had ultimately to repay, from his own purse, the 500 rupees with interest thereon.
(2) On one occasion, Pandit Jaganmohan Tarkalankar was in great peril for 500 rupees. He tried various means to raise the money, but failed, and at last, prayed to Vidyasagar for deliverance. Vidyasagar resorted to his usual means, borrowed the amount, and paid it to the supplicant. But Tarkalankar also no more visited his protector, who had, consequently, to repay the debt out of his own pocket.
(3) A certain Brahman had contracted a debt of 200 rupees for the maintenance of his family. He could not repay the debt. His creditor was ready to sue him. The Brahman appealed to the benevolent Vidyasagar for help, and the latter made him a free gift of 200 rupees.
Dear reader, we would ask you earnestly to think over Vidyasagar's greatness of heart. He was not a man of wealth. In pecuniary point of view, he was nothing but a common man of the middle station of life. But in liberality he surpassed the richest millionaires. He gave away his charities unostentatiously to whomever prayed to him for assistance without distinction of caste or creed. It was quite against his nature to refuse a supplicant, be he a Hindu, Christian, Mussulman, Jain or Buddhist.
It is said, that Mahamahopadhyay Rakhal ​Das Nyayratna of Bhatpara, when he first opened his Tol, applied to Vidyasagar for a monthly grant-in-aid for the up-keep of his school. Vidyasagar granted him a monthly stipend of 10 rupees, which Nyayratna received from him for four years. Subsequently when he had sufficient means of his own, he declined to receive the grant any further. Besides this monthly stipend, Vidyasagar helped him in other ways also.
The charities of this benevolent Pandit did not end with the beggars and supplicants. The natural kindness of his heart moved him always to enquire into the affairs of his neighbours, and no sooner did he find any fellow-creature suffering from want and poverty, than he helped the poor sufferer with all his means, and provided for the unfortunate fellow's ease and comfort. Whenever he was out of his house, either on business or airing, he used to take with him a purseful of coins of different denominations, which he always gave away in alms to the indigent, he met on his way. It is said, that on one occasion, as he was returning home late at night, he found by the wayside a harlot loitering in the streets in that dead of night in expectation of some lewd customer. She had not been able to earn anything that evening, and had consequently, nothing to live upon the next day. Vidyasagar gave her some money and advised her to go to rest. On another occasion, he came to learn that a poor Madrasee was living ​with his wife and numerous children in a low, damp, dingy, filthy hovel. The unfortunate man had practically no means of subsistence. Vidyasagar personally visited the man in his hut, and provided for his easy, comfortable living.
One morning, when he was taking an airing walk in company with one of his friends by Cornwallis Square, he saw a Brahman, returning from his Bhagirathi bath, with a most cheerless face and tears trickling down his breast. Vidyasagar asked him the cause of his grief. The Brahman was not at first dispose d to answer the question, for he saw that his interrogator was very plainly dressed in a coarse Dhuti and Chadar and a pair of ordinary slippers (be it remembered that Vidyasagar never dressed himself gaudily), and that he would not be able to do anything for him. Besides, he had heretofore appealed to many millionaires of Calcutta for assistance, but all of them had turned to him a cold ear. He was therefore disinclined to say anything. But when Vidyasagar insisted on hearing his sad tale, the Brahman said, that he had borrowed some money for his daughter's marriage, but that he had had no means to repay the debt, and the creditor had consequently brought a case against him in the Court of Small Causes. Vidyasagar again asked him what was the date for the hearing of the case; to which the Brahman replied that the date fixed for the hearing was on the third day ​following. By and by Vidyasagar drew out from him his name, residence, the number of his case and other particulars. When the unfortunate man was gone, Vidyasagar requested his friend to go to the Court and make an enquiry. The result of the enquiry showed that the poor Brahman was actually indebted to the amount of 2400 rupees, inclusive of interest. The next day, Vidyasagar deposited the whole amount in the Court in favour of the creditor, and cautioned the officers and pleaders that his name might not transpire in the transaction, and that he would himself pay the reward that the debtor would offer for the donor's name. On the appointed day, the poor Brahman appeared in Court, and was surprised to find that his debt had been cleared off. He was exceedingly delighted at his unexpected deliverance, and poured forth thankful blessings on the unknown benevolent donor. But, at the same time, he was very sorry that his best efforts to discover the name of the noble benefactor completely failed. Was not Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar truly great?
The reader is already aware that Vidyasagar had opened many female schools in different places, but that the bills for those schools had been refused by Mr. Young, the Director of Public Instruction, and that he had to pay off those bills out of his own poor purse. The reader has also been told, that besides these undue payments, he ​had to incur large expenses on the marriage of Hindu widows, and on the maintenance of many poor persons who had contracted such alliance. His slender revenue from his business and the sale of his books was never adequate to meet these heavy demands. We have already said that most of them who had promised him liberal contributions forsook him one by one, and that only a few of them, mostly Europeans, helped him now and then. Of the natives, only Prasanna Kumar Sarvvadhikari, of whom mention has been made before, and his younger brother, Raj Kumar Sarvvadhikari, who was then a professor in the Lucknow Canning College, and is at present Editor of the Hindoo Patriot, were faithful to him. To support our statements, we will take the liberty to quote below some correspondence that passed between Vidyasagar and some of his friends.
A
"My dear Pundit, *** "I enclose a cheque for Rs. 1651 on account of my subscription to your Female School fund for April, May, and June, 1863.
"Yours very truly
(Sd.) "C. Beadon."
B.
"Calcutta "11th October 1863
"The hon'ble sir burtle frere
my dear sir, **** "You will no doubt be glad to hear that the ​Mufussil Female Schools, to the support of which you so kindly contributed, are progressing satisfactorily. Female education has begun to be gradually appreciated by the people of districts contiguous to Calcutta, and schools are being opened from time to time. ****
"I remain, "With great respect and esteem, "Yours sincerely (Sd.) "Isvar Chandra Sarma"
C.
"Darjeeling "August 17th—1866
"Pundit Isvara Chandra Sarma:—
"My dear sir, "I have now the pleasure to enclose a cheque for Rs 33 on account of Sir Cecil Beadon's subscription to the Female Schools for the half-year of 1866. This would have been sent before, but the cheque book was accidentally left behind.
"Believe me, "Yours very truly (Sd.) "H. Raban."
D.
From an Indian friend to Vidyasagar,
"The contribution you speak of, would have been made ere this, were it not for a difference of opinion between myself and brothers who contend by urging that as no practical benefit has hitherto ​resulted, as had been expected by the advocates of the cause of widow marriage, further contributions to that end are needless, and though my argument was in favour of perseverance in it for a time when a better result might ensue, it has failed to be of any avail with them. Being thus restricted in the use of my own discretion in the matter and indisposed as I feel to act independently of them, I am really sorry that my further co-operation with you in this respect should cease, and I trust the reasons I have mentioned will plead for my cause."
E.
Vidyasagar's reply to the above.
"As the intimation came too late, I naturally counted upon receiving your donation, and I made arrangements accordingly. I have, in consequence, been placed in a very difficult position."
F.
"My Dear Sir,
"Dada's letter of the 18th September just reached me. I am glad to hear that first half of the Currency Note for Rs. 100 has reached you. I enclose the second half.
"Dada tells me to send you 15 Rupees every month, as my contribution to the widow marriage fund. If you have no objection, I will send my subscription in advance for six months, this will be more convenient to me than sending it every month. * * * ​"As I shall remain very anxious till I hear from you, kindly let me know of the safe delivery of this letter enclosing the second half of the Currency Note.
"I remain,
"Yours affectionately
(Sd.) "Raj Kumar Sarbadhikary.
It is needless to say that these small donations and subscriptions contributed very little towards liquidation of his heavy debts. Besides these, he had, at this time, to pay 1800 rupees to Maharaja Satis Chandra Ray of Nuddea, as will be evident from the following letter, which the Maharaja wrote to Vidyasagar acknowledging receipt of the amount:—
"My Dear Vidyasagar Mahashaya,
"I have received through my Dewan Kurtic Chunder Roy the eighteen hundred Rupees (Rs 1800) which my late father deposited in your care in his life time and for which I am much obliged. Hoping you are quite well.
"I remain,
"Sincerely yours
(Sd.) "Satish Chunder Roy."
We have already said that Vidyasagar generally borrowed monies from his Indian friends, and sometimes when they happened not to have the required money, he would receive from them their Government Promissory Notes, and raise loans by pledging them. He had borrowed a large amount ​by pawning the stock-papers of his friend, Dr. Durga Charan Banarji, and the latter, when he had an urgent necessity for money to clear his own debts, wrote to Vidyasagar asking for return of his Promissory Notes. Among other things Durga Charan said in his letter;—"You will learn from the same that my debt affair is about to come to a crisis, which does not admit of further delay." Of course, Vidyasagar had no money then to be able to release his friend's Notes, and he replied to his letter to the following effect:—’I have tried my best continually for several days to release your Papers, but have failed to make any means. I do not see any chance of my being able to return your Notes soon. You are well aware that I did not receive your papers on my private account. I took them for the furtherance of widow marriage. I have taken such Papers from some other friends also. I took all these in the hope that I should be easily able to clear the debts, when the advocates of widow marriage would pay their contributions. But unfortunately most of these subscribers have not kept their word. The expenses on this account have been daily increasing, while my income is decreasing. I have consequently been put to a great peril. Like others, you yourself subscribed your name to pay a donation and monthly subscriptions, you have paid only a half of your promised donation. The other half you have not yet paid, and you have withheld your monthly sub​scription some months since. It has now become very difficult to clear the debts. However, I am trying my best to repay them. If I find no other means, I shall dispose of my every thing, and clear the debts; there is no doubt about that. But I am deeply sorry that I am unable to return your property at a time when you yourself are in great want. Had I been able to foresee that the people of our country are so mean and worthless, I would never have gone to give widows in marriage. I would have stopped with the passing of the Widow Marriage Act.'
In fact, Vidyasagar was, at this time, too cumbrously embarrassed. He saw no way of deliverance. He had some friends among the higher European officials of Government, of whom Sir Cecil Beadon, the then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, was his best friend. Beadon clearly saw his difficulties, and one day asked him if he was disposed to re-enter the Public Service. Vidyasagar replied that if he could help, he was not willing to put on again the shackles of thraldom, but that he would think the matter over, and let him know his mind. About a year after this conversation, when he saw that it was almost impossible for him to manage without a fresh source of income, he addressed a letter to his friend, Beadon, on the subject. The letter ran as follows:—
"The Hon'ble Cecil Beadon.
"My Dear Sir,
"A change in circumstances compels me to ​trouble you with a request to do something for me. I am in difficulties, and I find it almost impossible for me to put over them without a fresh source of income. About this time in the last year, you were pleased to ask me whether I was willing to re-enter the public service. I think I expressed my unwillingness at the time, but what was then a matter of choice has now become a matter of necessity.
"Trusting to be excused for the trouble
"I remain, &c. Sd. "Isvar Chandra Sarma."
This was what Beadon wrote to him in reply:—
"My dear Pundit,
"I will bear your wishes in mind. But I do not, at present, see any way in which I could find you suitable employment in the public service.
"Yours truly Sd. "C. Beadon."
In the mean time his circumstances grew more embarrassing every day, and he began to seriously think of re-entrance into Public Service on some lucrative employment. About three years after his correspondence with the Lieutenant Governor, referred to above, he was informed, though wrongly, that a Professor of Sanskrit was about to be newly appointed in the Presidency College at Calcutta. He then wrote again to Beadon, praying for the appointment. The letter is quoted below:—
​"The Hon'ble Sir Cecil Beadon.
"My dear Sir,
"About three years ago when I communicated to you my willingness to re-enter the public service on account of the difficulty I was in, and solicited you to do something for me if practicable, you were pleased to say in reply that you would bear my wishes in mind. Since that time my difficulties have assumed a far more serious aspect, and I am compelled, though most unwillingly, to trouble you again with the request for doing something for me, if practicable.
"In March last, you expressed in the course of conversation a wish for appointing a professor of Sanskrit in the Presidency College. If you still entertain that wish, and if you see no objection to my being selected for the appointment, kindly give it to me. But I must say candidly that notwithstanding the serious nature of the difficulties I am in, my vanity would not permit me to serve if the salary, which European professors of that Institution draw, is not allowed to me; the grant of such an indulgence would not be an altogether unprecedented one. The native Judge of the High Court can be pointed out as an instance. With every sentiment of respect and esteem.
"Yours Sincerely
Sd. "Isvar Chandra Sarma."
To the above Beadon replied as follows:—
"My dear Pundit,
"I should be glad if I could in any way for​ward your wishes, but I see a great difficulty in the matter. I am sure the Government of India would not listen to the proposal of founding a Sanskrit Professorship in the Presidency College on so high a salary. But I shall consult Mr. Atkinson on the general question without mentioning your name. * * *
"Yours truly
Sd. "C. Beadon."
Vidyasagar then addressed to Beadon the following letter:—
"The Hon'ble Sir Cecil Beadon.
"My Dear Sir,
"When I wrote to you about the Sanskrit Professorship I was under the impression, that the creation of such an appointment had been settled and that the place was entirely in your gift. But as it appears from your favour of the 9th ultimo that there is likely to be great difficulty in the matter, and as it is farthest from my wish to put you to any sort of inconvenience on my personal account, I most gladly withdraw my request. You need not trouble yourself any further on the subject.
"Hoping to be excused for the trouble.
"I remain,
"Yours sincerely
(Sd.) "Isvar Chandra Sarma."
So here ended his desires and attempts to re-enter the Public Service. He no more thought of ​such an employment. That Vidyasagar should be compelled under critical circumstances to seek for an opportunity to re-obtain a service from which he had retired of his own will disregarding the counsels of his friends, is no strange thing. Not a few great men are known to have sought for rescue, though much against their will, under pressure of difficulties. Maharaja Pertab Sing, the greatest hero of Rajputana, when defeated by the army of Akbar, was obliged to wander from hill to hill with his family. Yet he did not submit to the Mussulman Emperor. At last, when he saw one day that his dear children were feeding upon bread of grass seeds, and even that hardly sufficed to appease their hunger, he thought of submitting to Akbar, and accordingly addressed to him a letter intimating his design. But, in fact, his after thoughts prevented him to take that disgraceful step, and he gave up his design of yielding to the Mussulman Emperor. Was there ever a greater patriot and hero than Pertab Sing? When such a great man was compelled by adverse circumstances to determine upon adopting a step so humiliating, there is nothing strange in Vidyasagar's determination to seek for re-entrance into dependent life. However, fortunately for the country, he was baffled in his attempts, for he was destined to be of greater service to his fatherland, as will appear presently.
Vidyasagar had an intimate friendship with ​Mr. Dall, an American Missionary. He had been a resident of Boston in the United States of America, and belonged to the Unitarian Church of that city. He was sent out as a missionary to preach Christianity in this country. He established a "Useful Arts School" in the Dhurrumtollah Street of Calcutta. In this school, instructions were given to the natives of this country in Music, Fine Arts, and Athletic Exercises, besides English literature. Dall was a kind-hearted, benevolent man like Vidyasagar. He also founded a free School for the education for poor native children. It was his kindness of heart and benevolence that attracted our noble hero to form an acquaintance of him. Whenever Dall wanted pupils or teachers for his schools, he consulted Vidyasagar on the point. Besides this, he also asked for our hero's advice on all important matters connected with the education of the people of this country. In proof of our statement, we will crave indulgence of the reader to quote here two of Dall's letters.
(1)
"Useful Arts School,
"No. 85 Dhurrumtolla.
"Jany. 6, 1864.
"My Good Friend,
"I truly thank you for your prompt attention to my request. The teacher you send looks like the right man.
"I thank you.
"Sincerely,
(Sd.) "C. H. S. Dall."
(2)
"85, Dhurrumtollah, "Useful Arts School. "Feby. 1st 1864.
My Good Friend,
"Many thanks for your sending of this young man to-day. The place he was to have filled happens to be just now occupied by a teacher who seems very attentive. Should the place be vacant I shall send for this young man.
"The upper teacher next to my highest, whom your kind note says may come to-morrow or the next day, and begin on 25 Rs. we look anxiously.
"Call and see us when you can
"and always believe me
"Your friend and co-worker
(Sd.) "C. H. S. Dall."
* ↑ "Recordkeeper "Can you give the last date on which the late Pandit Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar paid a visit to the Ward's Institution, Calcutta. Sd. "N. K. Basu 29-7." "The last date is 28th March, 1865. "To Secy. "N. N. Seal 29-7"
* ↑ The names noted in the margin were Messrs. Woodrow and Cowell and Pundit Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar.