Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/152

Rh have been the guiding principles of his life and have actuated him in all his actions and deeds.

Although Ram Lall commenced his English studies at an advanced age, yet his industry and capacity for work soon enabled him to rise to the preparatory Entrance class of the Krishnaghur College, which he joined in the year 1859. It is said that he at first showed a little deficiency in Mathematics when he was in the lower classes; but by his steady perseverance and through the kind exertion of his able tutor Babu Woomesh Chundra Dutt the late distinguished professor of the Krishnaghur College, and now a pensioner, he was soon able to make a tolerable progress in that subject. In the year 1860, he passed his Entrance Examination in the first division and stood very high in the list of successful candidates obtaining a Junior scholarship. He then joined the College classes to prepare himself for the F. A. Examination; but he could not continue his studies to his utter disappointment. It was the accursed dreadful malarious fever of 1864 that devastated the town, and prostrated his health and ultimately compelled, him to give up his studies at Krishnaghur, while reading in the First Year Class.

He now conceived the idea of joining the Calcutta Medical College but his father was opposed to it. He then took the advice of Professor Woomesh Chundra Dutt, his beloved teacher and a kind neighbour and resolved upon going down to Calcutta. He would not hear any body but prepared himself to face any obstacle that might come in his way. He now set about devising means for the completion of his secret object. Finding it hopeless to induce his father to accede to his request, he could not think of no other alternative than to bolt away from his father's house depending upon God who helps those who help themselves.

One night when all the members of the family