Page:Who's Who in India Supplement 2 (1914).djvu/133

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SUPPLEMENT 83 a great sensation at the time. Immediately after the passing of the Act the brothers Ghose, in a single day, with the help of borrowed type, made their paper wholly English and there- by placed it beyond the jurisdiction of the Act. Since the retirement of Babu Shishir Kumar from public life in 1888, Babu Moti Lai has been editing the "Amrita Bazar Patrika " which became a daily in 1890. Babu Moti Lai Ghose is a grand personality in India. As a rule he works from behind and rarely comes to the front, yet his 'paper is one of the most potent factors in Indian Society and Politics. Originality, humour, vigor and perspecuity characterise most of his public writings and speeches and there are few Indian public men who are so well informed about the affairs of the country as he. Among the officials he is known as an honest and sincere man but an uncompromising critic of the Government. All the same, he has access to the highest authorities from the Viceroy downwards. Lord Curzon' valued his opinion though the Patrika attacked his policy vigorously. Lord Minto was so impressed with his genuine patriotism that he had agreed to forward his scheme for the reversal of the partition of Bengal which was based on the Sindh system. Of the two Bengali gentlemen whom Lord Hardinge consulted when releasing the accused in the Khulna dacoity case which evoked bitter criticism from the Anglo-Indian Press, Babu Moti Lai was one and Mr. S. P. Sinha the other. It was at the instance of Babu Moti Lai that Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal, was pleased to take up the sanitary and rural water supply question in that Presidency in right earnest and acknowledged this fact publicly at the Rural Water Supply Conference held at Darjeeling in October, 191 2. When the present King- Emperor visited this country in 1906 as Prince of Wales the only Bengali gentleman whom he did the honor of granting an interview was Babu Moti Lai. The private character of Babu Moti Lai is exemplary. He leads the simple life of a genuine Hindu. He has a kind and loving word for all. His heart bleeds for the sufferings