Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/349



like learning the art of weaving to make a coat, when you can buy a better coat ready made.

What amount of satisfaction the educated Indians may derive from the perusal of works of imagination in modern languages, it is difficult to anticipate. So much in poetry and fiction depends on nature, manners, traditions, and religion, that we may doubt whether the generality of men will ever find much real enjoyment in productions of the fancy belonging to a distant and different people. There will be, of course, the interest of analysis, comparison, criticism, but not much of tender and intimate participation. It amuses one to hear the boys in an Indian school repeating verses which celebrate the beauty of the snow drop, the comfort of the fireside, the affecting associations of the country church-yard, and the virtues of the ant. It does not seem probable that Shakespear, Scott, Byron, or Tennyson are destined to supersede in the affections of the educated Hindu the legendary epics, which contain the sources of national religion and history, or the fables, apophthegms, and tales in which popular humour and wisdom are condensed. The imagination and the heart of the Hindu will probably remain oriental, however much his reason may become European. But for the reason, gentlemen, how ample is the intellectual circle into which you are now admitted! The natural and abstract sciences, history, political, literary, social, and aesthetic, the study and practice of the fine arts, law and physic, the principles of agriculture, sanitary, penal and economic enquiries, all claim your attention, and all bear upon the phenomena and the interests of your own country. The means I know of prosecuting sustained and independent studies are still defective, but the least manifestation of a desire on your part to enter upon this course, the least exhibition of a liberal spirit in the native community in the pursuit of knowledge, for the sake of knowledge, would be met by the State with generous sympathy.

Now, gentlemen, I bid you farewell. I wish that my feeble voice could impel you fortunately and far on the various paths which are traced before you. Do not forget your teachers. Do not forget the University which has ratified and stamped your efforts. Do not forget your fellow-students. Watch one another. Strive against one another with a friendly jealousy. Let every one be ashamed to do wrong before the face of those who have shared the same lessons of knowledge and virtue. If knowledge is not virtue as well as power, it is a bad power, the power of