Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/269

226 himself, heart and soul, to its furtherance. He sincerely believed, that female education was highly beneficial to his country, and he earnestly and diligently devoted his energies to its progress. Through his unremitting zeal, perseverance, and efforts, backed by the powerful influence and co-operation of the philanthropic Bethune, funds were raised for the stability of the institution, which wanted a building of its own. Bethune himself contributed largely to the building fund. It was the munificent Bethune, that bore the most part of the monthly establishment charges of the school, which were considerably great. It was he, who defrayed the cost of bringing the girls to school from their houses in a horse-carriage. In short, it was Bethune, who bore the greater part of the expenses.

The carriage, in which the girls were taken to school and back again to their houses, had the words "কন্যাপ্যেবং পালনীয়া শিক্ষণীয়াতিযত্নতঃ" painted on it. The passage was selected and taken from the Sastras by Vidyasagar. It means that daughters too (like sons) should be carefully brought up and trained. Vidyasagar's idea was, that the passage would attract the eyes of his countrymen, who would thus see that the education of the females was not interdicted by the Sastras, but rather made an obligatory duty for every householder. But, unfortunately, his countrymen were tightly bound down by the customs of the country. They