Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/53

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44 LIFE 0* MIL WOOMESH CHUNDER BONNERJEE. ing from a partial attack of diabetes, and his state of health was such as required immediate relief and res- pite. But man proposes, God disposes. As soon as he landed in England, after taking a little rest, his patriotism and ardent love to serve his mother coun- try spurred him on to further work in the field of politics. He saw Messrs. Digby and Dadabhai Naoroji, and with their help started the London Agency and took upon himself the responsibility of raising funds in India for iis support. During his short stay, ex- tending over a period of not more than 8 months, he went to different centres of intelligence and public opinion in England, attended meetings called by important political bodies, and delivered numerous speeches. At a meeting held at the Town Hall, Northamp- ton, in which Mr. Bradlaugh, m. p., and Dadabhai Naoroji made remarkable speeches, Mr. Bonnerjee delivered the following eloquent speech (Vide Indian Mirror, 13th September, 1888) :— Mr. Bonnerjee, who was cordially welcomed, said ! Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, — You have come here to-night to hear Indian grievances discussed before yon, and I shall not) therefore, follow my friend, Mr. Nowroji, in stating to you £he great benefits which most undoubtedly you have conferred upon my country. My task is to lay before you the grievances of that country in order that you may consider them, and see for yourselves whether there are no means by which to redress them. NOW THB FIRST GRIEVANCE that we labor under is that there is no responsible Govern- ment for India at all. ("Hear, hear" from Mr* Bradlaugh.) The Government of India is in the hands of one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, cajled the Secretary