Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/805

 VI. ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 763 made it a daily paper. Besides the Prabhakara he edited the Samvad Ratnavali which was started in 1849. He translated the Bhagavata into Bengali verse and also the Provodha Chandroday Natak which he called Vodhendu Vikasha in Bengali. He was a voluminous versifier; it is said that he composed more than 50,000 couplets. I¢vara Chandra died in February, 1858. Thus the wayward lad and spoilt child lived to wield great influence in the literary atmosphere of Bengal, immediately before it became charged with European influence. He was pre-eminently a poet of the old school, and with him died the last echoes of the age of Bharata Chandra and Jaya Narayana Sen. Satire was his forte and bright wit sparkles in his lines directed against what was false and artificial in society. At home he was a genial friend and his company was sought for by the wealthy and talented alike. He kept no accounts and could have amassed a fortune, had he desired to do so. His income from the Prabhakara was great ; and besides he was endowed with monthly pensions and honorariums from many rich men in Bengal; he spent money heedless of the morrow, and was always ready to help the needy. No His iend was refused a loan when he w ইট frie was 5 e wanted it and তরি many did not repay, but the poet never asked his money back. In the sketch that Bankima Chandra draws of him we find it mentioned that I¢var Chandra distributed prizes and rewards amongst young men who showed skill in literary composition, and young Bankima Chandra who was destined at a subsequent time to win far greater laurels than