Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/27

VI by his Sanscrit learning, and had become the Principal of the Sanscrit College. And more than this, his open mind received and assimilated all that was healthy and life-inspiring outside the range of Indian thought; and with a robust physique and a robust heart he ceaselessly endeavoured for reform. He threw his whole soul in the cause of Female education; and the eminent Drinkwater Bethune welcomed the talented and tireless colleague. Sir, the first Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, appreciated Vidyasagar's labours, and on the death of Bethune, he placed the Female school, known as Bethune school, under Vidyasagar's management.

But educational work of a yet more responsible kind was in store for Vidyasagar. Lord scheme of spreading education in India through the English language had only partially solved the great problem; the scheme was completed by Sir  famous education despatch of 1854 which provided for vernacular education, leading up to English education. There was no man in Bengal worthier to give effect to this new scheme than Vidyasagar, then principal of the Sanscrit College. He submitted a masterly report on the subject, and he was appointed a special Inspector of Hooghly, Burdwan, Midnapur, and Nadiya Districts, on a pay of 200, in addition to  300 which he drew