Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/136

Rh a messenger appeared with a piece of Akshay Babu's composition intended for the periodical. Ananda Krishna Babu read out the article to Vidyasagar, and asked his opinion about it. It was a piece of translation from English, impregnated with European ideas and notions. The former translations of Akshay Babu were all of this sort. In reply to Ananda Krishna Babu's query, Vidyasagar said that the style of the composition was not bad, but that it was somewhat impregnated with European ideas. He then made some alterations and corrections in it, at the request of Ananda Krishna Babu. Subsequent to this, Vidyasagar had to make such corrections on several occasions. Akshay Babu saw that these corrections were far superior to the usual ones, and wondered who could be the author of them. To satisfy his curiosity he, one day, appeared in person before Ananda Krishna Babu, and learned that they were Vidyasagar's doings. It was thus that Akshay Babu came in contact with the young pundit and formed his acquaintance. By degrees, this acquaintance grew into sincere friendship, which ripened with their age.

This was a happy combination for the newly-born Bengali language. Every native of Bengal should commemorate the eventful period in his heart of hearts, and rejoice in the fortunate union. Both Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar and Akshay Kumar Datta may be said to have laid down their