Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/285

242 submitted an able report on the subject, which met with the approbation of the authorities. They then appointed him a Special Inspector of Schools on a monthly pay of 200 rupees in addition to his pay of 300 rupees for holding the post of the Principal of the Sanskrit College. He had thus a monthly salary of 500 rupees now. He was intrusted with the establishment and inspection of schools under the new scheme in the interior of the districts Nuddea, Midnapore, Hugli and Burdwan.

In his second report, Vidyasagar had suggested the opening of a Normal School to train up teachers for the newly established schools. The authorities saw the propriety of his suggestion, and, in the same year, a Normal School was opened in the premises of the Sanksrit College. Vidyasagar was charged with its management. At his instance, his dear friend, the famous author, Akshay Kumar Datta was appointed its first Head Master. Not long after this appointment, Akshay Babu was afflicted with a severe head disease, which grew so serious, that he was compelled to resign his office. Vidyasagar's great favourite, Ram Kamal Bhattacharyya, was then appointed to the post. Madhu Sudan Vachaspati, one of Vidyasagar's early playmates, was also another teacher of the Normal School.

As Inspector of Schools, he had usually to travel into the interior of the Hugli, Burdwan, Midnapore and Nuddea districts, and to come in