Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/244

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Authors in the Beerbhoom district.

Thus 54 teachers receive in all rupees 2,889-8, which averages to each teacher rupees 53-8-1 per annum. One of those who receive nothing supports himself and contributes to the support of his pupils by farming. One of those who accept invitations and presents adds to his income by the ceremonial recitation of the Puranas, another has the proceeds of a temple assigned to him by the officiating Brahman, and a third refuses to accept invitations and presents from all of the Sudra caste. One teacher, now dependent on occasional presents, formerly had an annual allowance of rupees 100 from the Rani Bhawani which has bean discontinued since her death; and in another case the inhabitants of the village subscribed to give the father of the present teacher an endowment of sixty bighas of land, for which they paid the zemindar rupees 24 a year; but since the death of the father, the zemindar has resumed the land although he still requires and receives the increased revenue from the villagers. The sole object of the endowment was the encouragement of learning. Three teachers are in the enjoyment of endowments of land consisting—two of 25 bighas each, and one of about 50 bighas. It is the medical teacher who receives rupees 108 mentioned above, which sum includes both presents and an annual allowance from his patron and also the proceeds of his general practice.

Among the learned teachers of this district, the following are the names of those who claim the distinction of being authors, and of the works they profess to have written:—

Jagaddurlabha Nyayalankara, dwelling at Nandur in the Sakalyapur thana, has written four works in Sanscrit,—first, Uddhava Chamatkar, containing 175 slokas, relating to an incident in the life of Krishna connected with his friend Uddhava; second, a commentary on the preceding; third, Pratinataka, a drama divided into seven parts, containing 532 slokas, on the history of Rama; and fourth, a commentary on the preceding.

Viseswar Siddhantavagis, dwelling at Tikuri in the Ketugram thana, has written a work in Sanscrit called Duti Sambad, containing 41 slokas, on the history of Krishna.

Viswambhar Vidyaratna, the medical teacher, dwelling at Sonarundi in the Ketugram thana, is now engaged in the composition of a work in Sanscrit in support and illustration of the doctrines of Susrusha Charaka, a medical text book; he purposes printing his own production.

Rukmini Kanta Vidyavagis, dwelling at Banwari Abad in the Ketugram thana, professes to have written the following works:—First, a commentary called Vichar Tarangini, containing 400 pages in prose, on Alankara Kaustubha,—a work on rhetoric; second, Rasa Tarangini, containing 80 pages in verse, on the amours