Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/111

 102 LIFE OF BABU SHTAMA CHURN SIRKAB. garded as the best Persian and Urdu scholar of the day, but who had unfortunately come to be looked upon by the Mussul- mans as Duhriah, or an atheist, in consequence of his disbelief of the prophet." SHYAMA CHURN A3 A PUNDIT IN THE CALCUTTA MADRASSA "In July, 1837, shortly before Sir Charles Trevelyan's return to England, Shama Chum was appointed Pundit of the Cal- cutta Madrassa, where he attended from 6 to 10 A.M. Here he continued to serve for about six years, during which period he studied Arabic under two of the best professors of that Ins- titution, namely, Moulvl Ghayasuddin, the then Head Pro. fessor, and Moulvi Abdur-Kuhim of Lucknow, professor of Arabic, both of the Madrassa. With a view to the prosecu- tion of his English studies, he tried to be admitted into the; Hindu College ; but his age proving a bar to his admission, he joined the old St. Xavier's College, where he was taught Latin, Greek and French, in addition to English, besides taking lessons in Italian privately. Having intermediately. passed the prescribed examination in the Fort William College, he used to give lessons in Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali, to young Civil Servants on their arrival in this country. After living for about two years with his friend, Babu Earn Tonu Lahiry, Shama Churn found he was able to support himself, and he accordingly engaged separate lodgings at Thunthunnia, whence he went daily to the Madrassa at 6 A. M., and at 10 A. m., to the St. Xavier's College, where he remained till 4 p. m. From this hour till 8 or 9 PJtf. he attended to his pupils. To fulfil these engagements he underwent the most severe privations. It was impossible to get a fresh cooked meal at the early hour he left home. For seven long years, Sundays excepted, Shama Churn- ate one regular meal at night, made a repast of Native hand*.