Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist/Chapter 4
CHAPTER IV
AFTER RETIREMENT
FROM SERVICE.
"To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite;
To forgive wrongs darker than death or
night;
To defy Power which seems omnipotent;
To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates
From its own wreck the thing it contemplates;
Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent;
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This is alone Life, Joy, empire, and Victory."
P. B. Shelley.
Now that he gave up service under Government, he had to work out his own destiny. Encumbered with heavy responsibilities, with incessant calls of charity upon him, he must task to the utmost his best energies to preserve the even balance of his mind and continue in the strict path of duty. He had already more than his full share of the crosses and cares, yet he must pass through sterner trials. A man of popular sympathies as he always was, he must now shoulder the still heavier burden of his fellowmen's sufferings. Men of his stamp have no private life. To know what he was it is necessary to consider how he manfully met the manifold miseries of human life.
Sir James Colvile, Chief Justice of Bengal, with whom he had formed a close friendship, advised him to pass the Law Examination and enrol himself as a pleader. Though in his youth he had taken a dislike to the bar, he deemed it well to revise and, if necessary, correct his opinion. For some days he studied his friend Babu Dwarka Nath Mitter, a rising practitioner of the time. But finding that his capabilities did not lie that way, he gave up the idea altogether.
Misfortunes do not come single. A calamity befell him in the death of his dear old grandmother. The sradh ceremony was performed at Birsingha in orthodox fashion and in spite of his being the originator of widow marriages, nearly three thousand people assembled to partake of the sumptuous feast. The expenditure was necessarily heavy.
His only source of income was the Sanskrit Press and the Depository, where at first his own books were kept for sale, but soon the works of other authors were stocked as well. He turned to the firms to see if they were properly managed and if they could yield better profits. Dissatisfied with what he saw, he made his associate Raj Krishna Banerjee manager of the book-shop in December 1859 on Rs. 150 a month. Under his watchful eye the business prospered. But no income however large could satisfy the needs of one so charitably disposed. He bore the major part of the expenses on widow marriages and provided for the married couples and their families, who were generally excommunicated from society. His intimates realised his difficulties and hit upon a device for lightening the burden. A Bengali play Bidhava-Bibaha Natak (i.e., widow-marriage drama) was composed and staged for the first time early in 1859. Babu Keshab Chandra Sen, a prominent leader of the Brahmo Somaj, was the stage manager and his friends Babus Narendra Nath Sen, Protap Chandra Mozumdar, Krishna Vihari Sen along with others played the different parts. Vidyasagar, though he regarded the theatre with no friendly eye, was present on more than one occasion. By the charitable performance, however, he made no substantial gain.
He had yet another virtue, or rather failing as the unfeeling wiseacres would term it. He paid off the debts of other people. Whenever any person deep in debt appealed to him for relief he lent his aid. Thus he befriended the distressed to the extent of several thousand rupees, often getting into debt for it. In June 1861 Harish Chandra Mukherji, founder of the "Hindu Patriot," died and its new proprietor Babu Kali Prasanna Singha, after conducting it at a loss, transferred it to Vidyasagar. The latter requested Kristo Das Pal, a youth of great promise, to take the editorial charge and handed over the proprietorship to a body of Trustees in July 1862. They made over the management to the willing and capable hands of Kristo Das who in a short time raised the paper to a position of great influence and prestige.
Here is another instance of Vidyasagar's talent for choosing the right person. Two years before he retired from official life, Sarada Prasad Ganguly, an ex-student of Sanskrit College, had solicited him for some means of subsistence. He had started for the sole benefit of this youth, who was hard of hearing, a Bengali weekly Soma Prakash. It came out on Mondays. Sarada Prasad was made publisher, while Vidyasagar wrote most of the articles. Madan Mohan Babu was also a valued contributor. At the instance of Vidyasagar Sarada Prasad was later appointed Librarian to the Burdwan Raj, and as he himself could not issue the paper regularly and punctually he handed the editorship as well as the proprietorship to Pundit Dwarka Nath Vidyabhusan. He made it a complete success. It not only dealt with social and religious topics, but discussed in full all important political matters in chaste language. It was the first Bengali journal to criticise the measures of Government and educate public opinion. The earliest vernacular paper, "Bengali Gazette," had been started in Calcutta by Pundit Gangadhar Bhattacherji in 1815 and several others had soon followed. But for about forty years politics did not occupy any prominent place in them. It was reserved for Vidyabhusan to assist the rulers as well as the ruled by thoroughly ventilating the needs of the people and the intentions of the Government, thus promoting mutual knowledge. In January 1860 Vidyasagar published in pamphlet form his contributions to the "Tattvabodhini Parika" regarding the Mahabharata, but it did not prove profitable. Then in April next year appeared his Sitar Banavas (i.e., the immortal story of the banishment of Sita), a Bengali version in pure prose of Bhavabhuti's Sanskrit drama "Uttara Charita." It was written in four days and had a good sale. Vyakarana-Kaumudi Part IV was printed in 1862.
He sat on the committee appointed in August 1863 to consider the expediency of introducing the study of Sanskrit into the secondary schools of Bengal. The scheme received his whole-hearted support.
Towards the close of the year (November 1863) the Government appointed him visitor to the Wards' Institution. It was a hostel, under the direct control of the Board of Revenue, founded by Government for the residence of the rajas and zamindars' minor heirs who prosecuted their studies in the public schools of Calcutta. The report and memoranda submitted by Vidyasagar were highly illuminating and almost all his suggestions were carried out. As regards one of them, the infliction of corporal punishment, he differed from Dr. (afterwards Raja) Rajendra Lala Mitra, Director of the institution, as also from other members of the committee appointed to investigate the matter. As he could not enforce his views, he resigned the visitorship in 1865.
His Akhyanamanjari, a Bengali reader for the use of young children, came out in 1864, followed four years later by the second and third parts.
It was mainly through the noble exertions of his friend Prof. Pyari Charan Sarkar of the Presidency College that the Bengal Temperance society was formed in Calcutta early in 1864. Vidyasagar along with many men of light and leading warmly supported the scheme. Many a brilliant youth of the land had contracted a love for drink. The inauguration of the Society was therefore hailed with rapture all over the province. Spirituous liquors which were eating into the vitals of the people were entirely forbidden to the members of this institution. At the first meeting several gentlemen spoke bitterly against the vice. Vidyasagar was also requested to say something, but he declined with a negative shake of his head. He was not accustomed to make a speech in public.
On February 26, 1864 the Government put forth a proposal to remove the burning ghat from Nimtala and set up an engine crematorium outside the town. It appeared to Vidyasagar that Babu Ram Gopal Ghose, the renowned orator of Bengal, was the man to oppose the scheme. Knowing full well that Ram Gopal was devoted to his mother and never disobeyed her, he interviewed the old lady and convinced her of the inexpediency of the proposed measure. She then extracted a promise from her son to oppose it by all means. Though personally he felt no religious scruples against the scheme, he thus sided with the orthodox and delivered an eloquent speech in the Town Hall. It was finally decided by Government that the ghat should remain where it stood, on the condition of its being remodelled upon a plan consistent with the requirements of sanitation.
In July 1864 Vidyasagar received a piteous letter written by his protege Michael Madhusudan Dutta from France. He had gone out with his family to England to study law two years back and after some time his Calcutta agent discontinued all remittance. His letters too remained unanswered. Alone with his family in a foreign land, surrounded by clamorous creditors, he was on the threshold of a French prison when it struck him to write to Vidyasagar for immediate assistance. Evidently he did not rely on rotten reed. By the end of August he received Rs 1500 from Vidyasagar who had procured this amount by loan. Rs 4500 more had to be sent to Europe on Mr. Dutta's account. He was called to the bar on November 18, 1866, despite all malicious obstacles thrown in his way by a mean Bengali who would remain nameless. Baffled in his attempts he patiently awaited a more favourable moment to machinate against him. When Mr. Dutta returned from abroad in February next year and applied for enrolment at the Calcutta Bar, he again encountered serious difficulties. With the help of some influential patrons, especially Vidyasagar, he at last got himself enrolled as an advocate of the High Court.
Before his arrival Vidyasagar had kept a house furnished in European style for him. Inured to the plenty and comfort of restaurants abroad, he preferred the Spence Hotel. By and by his family returned from Europe, which increased his financial embarrassments. He had no good practice at the bar. He was, beyond doubt, a poet of no mean calibre, being the first to introduce blank verse in Bengali poetry, and his books fetched him good return. This did not suffice. Nursed in the lap of luxury from childhood, he had early formed intemperate habits. Besides, he was extravagant in the extreme and lived beyond his income. Vidyasagar had to advance him Rs 4000 more. He had raised the whole amount of ten thousand rupees by loan on behalf of Mr. Dutta and as the latter did not repay a pice he was compelled to dispose of two-thirds of the "Sanskrit Press" to satisfy the importunate creditors. Over and above this sum, the poet borrowed money from several other sources, which in time came to about Rs 40,000. At last the liberating angel Death came to his rescue in June 1873. The Milton of Bengal breathed his last in the General Hospital at Alipur.
This was not the only time when Vidyasagar ran into debt to relieve others. Once he borrowed Rs 7500 from Maharani Swarnamayi of Cossimbazar. Another time he secured a loan of Rs 25,000 from a member of the Paikpara Raj family. On several other occasions he raised thousands of rupees by loan to save many insolvents from being driven out of their hearth and home. Most of them were never famous for their sense of gratitude. They never paid him back or cared to see him again in their lifetime. Instances are known of persons who throve afterwards and could have easily paid him off, which really they never did. Paying back is double labour!
Vidyasagar's extravagant credulity sometimes made him a dupe. A book-seller of Uttarpara regularly and systematically took him in once a year by representing himself as a poor student of the Uttarpara school. For five years he wrote begging letters and working upon his feelings received by post all the books he wanted, which he sold off directly. It fell out that the Headmaster of the school paid Vidyasagar a visit and the latter took occasion to ask the former how that boy was faring. Of course the teacher could not tell him anything but promised to enquire into it in return. In a few days Vidyasagar was undeceived. He could only scratch his head, finding his compassion misplaced.
Not content with satisfying the needs of those who prayed help, he would enquire of his neighbours whether all was well with them. If he came to know that they were in any way incumbered, he used his best endeavours to succour them. Whenever he went out he took the purse with him and if he came across any deserving person, he instantly helped him. Once while returning from a friend's at an advanced hour of the night he chanced upon an unfortunate loitering in the streets. When he learned that she had nothing to live upon on the morrow, he gave her some money, at the same time telling her with paternal solicitude to retire to rest. On another occasion when he was taking a turn with a friend of his in the Cornwallis Square, he found a Brahmin slowly coming back from his morning bath in the Ganges with a clouded face and weeping eyes. Stopping him, he began to interrogate. The Brahmin, who had in vain applied to many people of substantial means, was naturally loath to speak to a man clad in coarse dress. Pressed hard, he replied that he had run into debt to give his daughter in marriage and had been sued by the creditor in the Court of Small Causes, and that he was too poor to repay the amount. His name, the number of the suit, the date for hearing the case, as well as other particulars were gradually drawn out of him. Finally dismissed without any visible sign of aid, he departed, feeling all the flatness of frustrated hope. Yet he had at last appealed to one who never disappointed anybody. By sending his friend to court Vidyasagar learnt that the man had been sued for Rs 2400. He deposited the amount in favour of the creditor, telling the court officials not to reveal his name. He further promised them that if the Brahmin offered any reward for the name of the benefactor, he would himself pay that sum if they respected his secret. On the appointed day the unhappy man trudged his weary way to court. To his surprise and delight he found that the debt had been cleared. His utmost efforts failing to unearth the name of the rescuer, he poured forth his blessings and went his way with a light heart.
Vidyasagar having no other source of income than his publications was often saddled with heavy debts. As already noted, his expenses on widow-marriages and girls' schools started by him were considerable. Some of his friends, Indian as well as European, remained staunch and true and forwarded their promised contributions regularly. Even Sir Cecil Beadon, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1862-'67), sympathised with his noble efforts and sent liberal subscription. But all this was not enough to meet his ever-growing needs. Sir C. Beadon seeing his difficulties enquired whether he was willing to reenter Government service, but he replied in the negative. A year later the situation grew so grave and critical that he requested His Honour to provide him with a suitable post. As no place could be found for him just then, he was told to bide his time. After some months he abandoned all thoughts of public service and during the next five and twenty years that he lived he never again tried for any appointment.
The Metropolitan Institution—now deservedly named Vidyasagar College in compliment to the illustrious person whose handiwork it is—merits especial notice. In 1859 the Calcutta Training School was founded by six gentlemen. A few months after Vidyasagar's retirement from official life he was made a member of the committee of management. He became secretary of the new committee formed in 1861. In the year 1864 the name of the school was changed into the Hindu Metropolitan Institution. Owing to the decease of the other members Vidyasagar became the sole surviving manager four years later. He took up the burden cheerfully and did his level best to make the school a success. At the outset he had to spend some money of his own; but under his able management it soon became self-supporting. The University results were also brilliant. In January 1872 Vidyasagar again formed a managing committee with himself, Dwarka Nath Mitter and Kristo Das Pal as members. The institution was affiliated to the Calcutta University up to the First Arts Examination in the same year, though not without great difficulty and bitter opposition. It was the first private enterprise of the kind and people harboured doubts whether a college entirely managed by Indian professors could impart higher education efficiently. The guardians of the boys perpetually vexed Vidyasagar with numberless questions. Losing all patience he told the students point-blank that they might all leave the college if they so desired. When they with one voice declared that they were best where they were, he assured them that he would go all lengths to make the college as serviceable as possible. The boys shared his confidence; they knew he was not a braggart. The best Indian professors were engaged on fair salaries. At the First Arts Examination of 1874 the college stood second in order of merit, which was doubtless an agreeable surprise for many. In 1879 it was raised to a first-grade college and three years later affiliation was granted for teaching the Law Course.
The successful working of the college under the direction of Vidyasagar was in no small measure due to the fact that he recognised merit at once. He chose the best teachers and professors and inspired them with his own zeal and tenacity of purpose. As he sought no personal profit, he could afford to pay them handsome remuneration. Corporal punishment was absolutely prohibited and teachers were instructed to try the effect of kind and gentle words. Those boys who did not yield to rectification were expelled. Once he was under the painful necessity of dismissing a teacher for flogging a boy, in defiance of his express injunctions to the contrary. No tuition-fee was charged from the poor students. Some taking advantage of the fact defrauded him. Backed by the recommendation of a man of condition who testified to his indigence, a lad entered the school as a free student. Some time after his expensive, handsome clothes attracting Vidyasagar's notice, he learnt that he was a near relative of that rich man. Blazing up, he expelled the culprit, to make an example of him.
He often paid surprise visits and walked into the classes, deadening his footsteps, to listen to the teachers and to see if the boys were attentive. This had the beneficial effect of keeping them all mindful of their work. Nothing that could contribute to the happiness of his men was too trivial for his notice. When the old porter of the institution died of carbuncle and Vidyasagar came to know that no medical aid had been given him, he engaged a doctor for the college to prevent future negligence. Under his personal supervision the institution flourished in no time and spread its branches in different quarters of Calcutta. Students flocked from all parts of the province and the classes were always full. The teachers drew the highest salary they could expect anywhere, the students received the best kind of instruction available in Bengal, the guardians had the satisfaction of seeing their boys progressing steadily, the public with admiring eyes watched his career with an interest which never slackened for a moment, the Government paid homage to merit by granting certificate and title of honour, and the founder enjoyed supreme peace and bliss emanating from conscientious discharge of duty. It is pleasing to record that the college has ably maintained its fair fame and upheld its salutary traditions to this day.
No less intimate was his connexion with the success of the Bethune School, reference to which has already been made in general terms. It has been seen how he acquitted himself with credit and distinction as honorary secretary. A few more facts remain to be noticed. Vidyasagar always encouraged the pupils in divers ways. Early in 1865, Sir John Lawrence, Governor-General of India, and Lady Lawrence while distributing prizes to the successful and meritorious girls were highly delighted to award one of them a gold necklace, being a present from Vidyasagar. On this occasion the Hon'ble Justice Sambhu Nath Pundit also gave away a pair of gold bracelets.
Vidyasagar's fame had already reached abroad. So when Miss Mary Carpenter, daughter to a clergyman of Bristol, came to Calcutta, she was eager to cultivate his acquaintance. He was introduced to her by Mr. Atkinson, Director of Public Instruction, in November 1866, when she paid a visit to the Bethune School. The large-hearted lady had come in contact with Raja Ram Mohan when he was putting up in her residence at Bristol and had listened with rapt attention to the impassioned eloquence of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen. She had imbibed from childhood a sentiment of love for the women of India and had resolved to give up her whole life to further the cause of female education. When she met Vidyasagar she was charmed and they soon became fast friends. Whenever she went to the neighbouring girls' schools she requested him to bear her company. In accommodating her he once met with a sad accident. While returning from a visit to Uttarpara Girl-School the buggy he was riding overturned by chance and he was thrown violently to the ground, where he lay senseless. A crowd gathered round. Nobody stretched a helping hand. Miss Carpenter's vehicle which was following soon made its appearance and drew up close by. She promptly alighted to furnish necessary aid. By fanning the fallen man with her handkerchief and sprinkling water over the face, she brought him back to consciousness. But the injuries sustained were of a more serious nature. His liver was permanently affected and henceforth he constantly suffered from weak digestion and poor appetite. He often resorted to healthy places but derived no appreciable benefit. This trouble ultimately carried him away from the world.
Next year (1867) a movement was started by Miss Carpenter to found a female normal school to train up lady-teachers for school and zenana. Sir William Grey, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1867-'71), Babus Keshab Chandra Sen, M. M. Ghose, Dwijendra Nath Tagore along with some other Europeans and Indians of light and leading declared for the scheme, while the Hon'ble Seton-Karr, Mr. Atkinson, the Hon'ble Justice Sambhu Nath Pundit, Vidyasagar, Raja Kali Kristo and others stoutly opposed it. The opposition held, and with good reason, that the project would speedily and hopelessly collapse as respectable Hindus would never allow their grown-up females to leave the zenana in order to work as teachers. The prophecy came true. The Government ultimately opened the normal school, which had to be abolished after a year and a half for want of a sufficient number of pupils. Differences of opinion on this head as well as on others drove the Pundit to resign the secretaryship in 1869.
A brief account of the noble private library he possessed may be given here. It contained a valuable collection of books, all beautifully bound and arranged with studied care. His friends had free access to it and could take away books home. But some of them never cared to return them and shamelessly denied having taken any, when questioned. Once a rare and useful Sanskrit work, missing from his library, was found exposed to sale in a book-stall. The keeper innocently revealed the name of the seller. This happened to be the very acquaintance of his who had once removed the book but never returned it. Vidyasagar paid down the price demanded and from that time forward never trusted anybody with books. A particular friend of his once begging a loan of some historical works from his library, he purchased a brand-new set for presentation.
Once a plutocrat of the city called on him while he was in the library. The visitor was surprised to see so many books all beautifully bound and exclaimed, "Sir, you must be crazy to spend so much in getting those books bound in morocco!" Vidyasagar simply smiled and passed on to other topics. After a while he began admiring the splendid shawl which the gentleman had on and inquired about the price. Highly flattered, the unsuspecting visitor replied that it being of real Benares make had cost him Rs. 500. "Why did you expend so large a sum," came the hard but happy retort, "when a common blanket might have kept you warm as well? Why wear that gold watch-guard when a strong threat might have alike served the purpose?" The caller realised that the tables had been turned upon him and had not a single word to say in reply. With a profound bow he retired in silence.