Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI
LATER LIFE.
"Many a green isle needs must be
In the deep wide sea of Misery;"
Or the mariner, worn and wan,
Never thus could voyage on.
P. B. Shelley.
A man who girds up his loins for noble action would scarcely find much respite even towards the fag-end of his checkered life. Even in advancing years and declining health, he has to stick manfully to his work and do the battle of life with unbroken spirit, sustained by the consciousness of compassing his country's good. Vidyasagar was no exception to this general rule.
In January 1872 his second daughter Kumudini Devy was married to Aghor Nath Chatterji of Rudrapur (Twenty-four Pargannas). About this time Narayan Chandra so much offended him that he was compelled to cut up all connection with the erring son. Dinamayi Devy felt the unnatural separation most keenly and tried to effect a reconciliation without success. The offence must have been serious seeing that it dried up the fount of parental affection from such a large heart as that of Vidyasagar. He whose eyes brimmed over with tears at the slightest distress of strangers must have had good reason when he became so severe towards his only son. Yet he always gave willing aid to the wife and children of Narayan Chandra.
On the 15th June of this year the "Hindu Family Annuity Fund" was established with the object of giving people of small means an opportunity of making provision after their death for their near relations. To start with it received liberal donatives from some men of substance. The Paikpara Raj, for instance, contributed Rs 2500. For the first two years Vidyasagar and the Hon'ble Justice Dwaraka Nath Mitter were trustees to the fund; but on the death of the latter in February 1874 Maharaja Jatindra Mohan Tagore and the Hon'ble Justice Romesh Chandra Mitter filled his place.
Vidyasagar was connected with the Annuity Fund till the end of 1875, when he severed his connection finding that certain irregularities had crept into the system. Seeing that his colleagues were indifferent and neglected the true interests of the subscribers and his advice was flouted, he resigned the thankless post. In a long letter, which was afterwards printed, he communicated his reasons to the other Directors. The style of the note is spirited, vigorous and highly argumentative and evinces much originality. A little later the two remaining Directors also gave up their office and the company had to ask help of Government.
A most heart-rending calamity overtook Vidyasagar when his eldest son-in-law Gopal Chandra Somajpati died of cholera early in 1873, leaving behind a widow and two little sons. He made the widowed daughter mistress of his household and the two boys were educated by him with loving patience and tender care. His teaching fell on fruitful soil. The elder of the two, Suresh Chandra Somajpati, was the capable editor of the well-known Bengali monthly Sahitya, and was also distinguished for his powers of oratory.
A disagreeable incident took place early in 1874. On the 28th January Vidyasagar went to visit the library of the Asiatic Society in company with two of his friends who wanted to see the Indian Museum. Both these institutions were then located in one and the same building. Vidyasagar, after his custom, wore plain dhuti, chadar and a pair of Indian slippers. The other two were dressed in the fashion of the day and had on shoes of English pattern. When they reached the gates of the place the porter told Vidyasagar to put off his shoes, while his friends were let in with shoes on. He felt so much affronted that he returned home with his companions, without a word of remonstrance. A few days later he wrote to the Secretary of the Indian Museum enquiring whether they had made any rules in respect of Indian shoes and remarking that any such petty regulation would fetter the usefulness of the Society, discouraging the resort to it of those eminent persons who preferred wearing Indian shoes. It is to be regretted he received no satisfactory answer.
About this time he had a difference with Sir George Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1871-'74), concerning the educational policy. Giving effect to the measures inaugurated by Lord Mayo, the Viceroy, His Honour after introducing thoroughgoing changes in all other departments under him turned his attention to the seats of learning. His aim was no doubt commendable, but in some respects he was rather moving too fast. Precipitate changes and drastic reforms bring nobody any good. He lowered the status of the Berhampore, Krishnagar and Sanskrit Colleges from the first to the second grade, thinking that public opinion did not demand colleges of higher grade. The opening of primary or indigenous schools cannot be a sufficient reason for curtailing high-class education. Next, by abolition and absorption of certain professorships he wanted to make a monthly saving of Rs. 650 from the establishment charges of the Sanskrit College. With this view he invited the opinion of Vidyasagar and other leading men. Vidyasagar opposed the revolutionary measures but while publishing a notice in the Calcutta Gazette of May 1872 regarding the proposed changes, the Government stated that Vidyasagar had been consulted. From this people naturally argued that he had given his support to the policy of retrenchment. He requested His Honour through the Private Secretary to remove the erroneous impression from the public mind. In reply he received a letter from the Private Secretary in which he was completely exonerated. Nothing beyond this was done. He was therefore compelled to write in the columns of the "Hindu Patriot," clearly explaining the parts he had played. At this the Government took great umbrage and some of his publications were forthwith excluded from the list of prescribed text-books for schools in Bengal. This decisive and vengeful action involved him in heavy material loss. The fact that he gave his opinion frankly and independently ought to have told in his favour rather than against him.
Extreme brain-fag combined with too numerous bereavements that he suffered considerably telling on his declining health, he was advised to resort to some healthy place and lead for a few months at least a strictly secluded and retired life. He rented a plot of land very close to Karmatar (Santhal Pargannas). It wore a somewhat jungly appearance and the savage Santhals were the only people who lived near about. He erected a snug bunglow and planted some fine trees in the compound. His Santhal neighbours were very honest and truthful and delighted in his company, finding him benevolently disposed. Kind and gentle treatment conquers even the savages and it is not surprising that they should reciprocate his feelings. As he supplied them with food and clothes and helped them with medicines in their sickness, so they too gave expression to their sense of gratitude. Sometimes they made him presents of cucumber, brinjal and gourd. A poor man having nothing else to offer brought in a cockfowl. He produced the sacred thread and gently told him that as he was a Brahmin by caste he could not accept the gift. The man burst into tears. Finding him disconsolate and profoundly touched by the cordiality of his intention, Vidyasagar received the bird, only to set it at liberty after he had sent the Santhal away satisfied Spending a few happy months in this abode of sunshine and peace, he returned to Calcutta.
Such halcyon days never last long. Early in 1874 the Hon'ble Justice Dwarka Nath Mitter, one of his best friends and compeers, left the world at the age of 41. The loss of such an intimate weighed upon his heart. Towards the middle of the next year his health continuing to decline he thought it high time to draw up a will in which disinheriting his first-born he settled the property on other lawful heirs. The disposition which he made of his belongings is indicative of his large-heartedness inasmuch as we find that very few were forgotten. He must have had grounds for severity towards his son, for his whole nature was opposed to caprice and injustice. However this may be, Narayan Chandra afterwards came into the estate agreeably to the decision of the Calcutta High Court where he had preferred a suit.
A month later Vidyasagar solemnised the marriage of his third daughter Vinodini Devy with Suryya Kumar Adhikari, a graduate of the Calcutta University and teacher of Hare School. Vidyasagar soon made him Secretary to Metropolitan Institution and afterwards he had the fortune to occupy the chair of the Principal.
Towards the latter part of the year death struck down another of his dear friends Prof. Pyari Charan Sarkar, founder and soul of the Bengal Temperance Society. The sense of isolation was deepened by another calamity. On the 11th April 1876 his old father, Thakurdas, who had been residing in Benares for years, gave up his mortal life. It was a terrible shock to him and tears rolled down his worn cheeks for months together. He observed the mourning and performed the last rites of the departed strictly in accordance with Hindu custom.
It was during this year that he contributed Rs 1,000 to the Indian Association for the cultivation of Science established by Dr. Mohendra Lal Sarkar. The construction of his new house at Brindaban Mullick Lane was completed by the end of the year. The new building with the large compound full of shrubs and trees cost him a large sum. Early next year he removed there with his library, intending to rent a desirable house in the vicinity to accommodate other members of the family. Failing to find out a suitable lodging he at last took them all in. Shortly he married his fourth daughter Sarat Kumari Devy to Kartic Chandra Chatterjee, both of whom henceforward boarded and lodged with him. It was in this year that Sir Richard Temple, the Lieutenant-Governor (1874-'77), was graciously pleased to grant him a certificate of honour, "in recognition of his earnestness as leader of the widow-marriage movement, and position as leader of the more advanced portion of the Indian community."
His health now broke down altogether, and he was reduced to skeleton. He frequented some healthy places, Karmatar being his favourite resort. Wherever he was a kind of restless, heart-eating anxiety about his educational institutions never left him. Neither could he refrain from his usual acts of charity. In this way three long years rolled away.
On the New Year's day of 1880 he was invested by Government with the Companionship of the Order of the Indian Empire. He had always been adverse to titular distinctions but in deference to the wishes of his friends he accepted the honour.
His Rijupatha Part III, which had been a text-book for the last sixteen years, was excluded from the list in 1882 and he suffered heavily. Two years later one of his closest friends Rai Kristo Das Pal Bahadur, the great orator, politician and journalist of Bengal, resigned his being. He now left for Cawnpur to seek change of air, but returned to Calcutta only after a few days' absence. He was in the highest of spirits when a student from his college topped the list of successful candidates at the B.A. Examination (Philosophy, Honours) of 1885. A branch Metropolitan School was opened at Burabazar next year and another at Bowbazar the year following. A branch school had also been started at Shyampukoor some years back. The new college building was ready for use by the end of 1886 and was formally opened in January next. The purchase of the site and the erection of the stately edifice cost him a lac and a half of rupees.
In 1885 he sold his remaining one-third share of the Sanskrit Press to his friend Raj Krishna Banerji for Rs 5,000. The money went a great way to pay off old scores. In monetary concernments he was always strict and honest. While Principal of the Sanskrit College, the Government had advanced him about Rs 4,000 to publish some books on Arithmetic, History and other subjects and sell them at popular prices. As owing to several causes he failed to perform the task, he reimbursed the money with interest when they had forgotten all about it.
Towards the middle of the year Maharaja Jatindra Mohan Tagore and his younger brother Raja Sourindra Mohan Tagore quarrelled over the patrimony and executed a deed of arbitration in favour of Vidyasagar. The latter examined all the papers in connection with the property, but finding it difficult to adjust the quarrel informed the disputants of his inability to put things straight.
In December he took away all his publications from the "Sanskrit Press Depository" and started a shop of his own called the Calcutta Library in Sukea Street. About this time he came in contact with Mr. Romesh Chandra Dutta, of the Civil Service, who was then translating the Rigveda. Mr. Dutta was a frequent visitor during his illness. Once Vidyasagar promised him assistance in that great work if he got a little better. This desire was never gratified.
On August 13, 1888 his beloved wife Dinamayi Devy ended her earthly career. The old man thus lost his last comfort in life and was inconsolable. Constant grief told on his health and his temper. He was not to survive her long, as his days were numbered. Two months before the mishap he had received a moving letter from his son craving forgiveness but had remained as cold and relentless as ever. After the death of his mother, Narayan Chandra addressed a second letter to him which also failed to mollify his heart. During the last few days of his life, however, Vidyasagar allowed him to put up in the same house and attend his sick-bed.
It was about this time that his son-in-law Suryya Kumar Adhikari, Principal of the Metropolitan Institution, was relieved of his office. The post was then offered to Dr. (afterwards Sir) Gurudas Banerji who respectfully declined on the ostensible ground of inability. Vidyasagar now visited the college personally, often in a palanquin when too weak to walk.
In April 1890 he refounded the high school at Birsingha and named it after his departed mother. His bowels complaint from which he had been sorely suffering for the last six years now grew very serious. Incessant hard work and the loss of his beloved friends and kinsfolk aggravated the malady. He was advised by his medical attendants to leave the town and its surroundings. In December he left for French Chandernagore where he showed signs of improvement. From time to time he paid flying visits to places in the neighbourhood. Once he with his younger brother Sambhu Chandra rambled to the house of a Brahmi of Bhadreswar. The host's son, a leper, offered him tobacco prepared by his own hands. Without a moment's hesitation he accepted the hooka and began smoking with undisturbed serenity. On the way back his brother remonstrated with him on his objectionable conduct. "God forbid," interrupted he, in an accent that savoured of reproach, "suppose you or I were a leper; how would we act?" A cynic might have smiled at the simplicity of his reasoning. Sambhu Chandra, having nothing to say in reply, maintained a respectful silence.
Early in 1891 he was requested by Government to give his opinion touching the age consent on the part of females. A bill had been introduced in the Legislative Council to modify the law on the subject. Vidyasagar came down to Calcutta for a week and after consulting the Shastras submitted a scheme of his own which would give adequate protection to child-wives without in any way running counter to religious usages. There is no need to pursue here the details of the movement; suffice it to state that his suggestions which aimed at discouraging child-marriage were not acceptable to Government. They passed the bill without materially modifying its provisions.
This was the last public act of his eventful life and though he toiled in vain to convince the rulers, he was certainly not to blame. Protracted illness and the infirmities of old age prevented him from setting on foot a wide-spread agitation. Still it must be generally admitted that he did all that could be reasonably expected of a man out of health and devitalised. He rendered an essential service to his country by pointing out the best path to follow.