Page:Bengal Celebrities.djvu/210

PRAPHULLA CHANDRA RAY. The name of Dr. P. C. Ray is justly famous for his achievements in Chemical service, and if he lives long enough, as we hope he will do much to wipe away the reproach, made by no friendly critics, that the Bengalis have no aptitude for natural science. Though rather young in years and weak in health, he has already utilised the few moments he could steal from his pro- fessional work in the Presidency College in discovering for the first time, & few lost links in chemical science and in starting a new industry in India, which promises to be much lucrative. He was born in 1861 in an obscure village in the district of Khulna in a respectable family. His father, the late Babu Harish Chandra Ray, was a man of no mean education — he leamt - English from Captain D. L. Richardson in the Krishnagar College and could also read Arabic and Persian. He had a strong love of literature and sought the company of some of the best men of letters in his days. After studying in his native village school established by his father and maintained by him, Praphulla Chandra came to Calcutta and joined the Hare School, and afterwards the Albert College. In the latter institution he contracted a friendship with his teacher, the Late Babu Krisna Behari Sen and learned Latin and* French, in order to be able to study Chemistry in England, lie then joined the Metropolitan Institution, and while in the 4th year class there, he secured in 1882 the Gilchrist Scholarship and went off to England. To the honour of his parents be it said that unlike most of his countrymen, they heartily supported him in the enterprise. He entered the Edinburgh University, and completed his education there in six years when he received the degree of i>. Ht c. in 18S7. Although he made Chemistry bis special subject, yet he did not neglect to study the other branches of science. The e.ssay which he composed on his taking the Doctor's degTee can still be s^en in the pages of the proceedings of the Royal Society. During his residence there, he was not unmindful of his country. His patriotism and general culture found expression in an essay, entitled "India before and after the Mutiny," which became deservedly popular and was noticed favourably by some of England's noblest sons, in the columns of several well-known journals. He also utilised his residence there by making an in- telligent study of the political life of Englishmen,