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140 LIFE OF DR. BAM LALL CHUCKEBBUTIT. the cause of Indian unity and sowing the seeds of po- litical life in those parts of the country. It must, here be noted that Babu Surendranath Banerjea has often shown considerable political insight Thus the Indian Association took up the question of Local Self-Go- vernment even before Lord Ripon had made his famous declaration at Dehra Dun that he had it in charge from Her Gracious Majesty the Queen Em- press to associate the people in the management of their local affairs, and agents of the Association had' visited several places in the Mufosil with a view to ' induce the Municipalities to pray for the Elective sys- tem in their constitution under the provisions of the old law which has now been repealed. The Associa- tion kept up a brisk agitation in connection with the- question of Local Self-Government and did much to popularize .it It took a leading part in inducing the Government to concede to the Municipalities the right of electing their Chairman. Meetings were held all over Bengal, and Lord Ripon's Government deferred to this universal expression of public opinion and made this important concession. LIFE OF Da, RAM LALL CHUCK EKBUTTY RAI BAHADUR. .CHAPTER L HIS PARENTAGE. It has been said often times, both in season and out of season, by the hostile Anglo-Indian Press and by so me officials that Bengalees out of Bengal are mere nonentities ; that they are disliked and not respected and loved by the people of the North- West, and Pun- jab where they happen to hold high offices in the Go- vernment Service ; and that therefore the Bengalees * should on no account be appointed to any post in