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[ 67 1 MICHAEL MADHUSUDAN DUTT. As the first great poet of the century, who was indebted to his # western masters for his inspiration, and as the creator of blank verse in Bengali, Michael Madhusudan Dutt is a favourite with those who read Bengali literature. He was born at 1 at Sagardari, in the District of-Jessore. His father, a wealthy Vakil of the Sudder Court, sent him at the age of twelve to the Hindu College. Under the leadership of Professor De Rozio, he soon became prominent in the rebellion against Hindu ideas and customs. He studied English poetry and drama eagerly, but neglected Mathematics. lr> 184^ he passed the Junior Scholarship Examination, but left the Hindu College and became a Christian in 1843. Then he studied at the Bebop's College till 1847, when he went to Madras and became the sub- editor of a journal there. During his college life he had acquir- ed a proficiency in English, Greek, Latin, French, German and ludiau, and later on he learnt Sanskrit He could easily read the m-wterpiwees in these languages. In Madras he married a Eurasian lady, the daughter of the editor of the journal on whose staff he was. but had to live in very straitened circuit) *tauces, which was ail the more unbear- able to the son of a rich man. Iu 1856 he returned to Calcutta attd claimed the property of his father, who had died in the mean- time, lie was consequently involved in expensive litigation, but succeeded in the end. At that time he became a clerk in the Court of the Presidency Magistrate, Calcutta, whence he rose to the post of an Interpreter. In lHo'2 he went to England to study for the bar, leaving his wiie and children to be maintained by his trustees, whose irregularity and negligence in this respect drove her away to England. Madhusudan was now in a very critical position, and appealed for help to the great Yidyasagar, whose fame as a constant friend of .the distressed did not full to reach his ears. Vidyu-sigar, with his characteristic promptitude, at once resp>nd- e<i to the etll, and hy his help, Madhusudan returned to Calcutta