Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/584

Rh Chandra was married to Bhava Sundari. Communicate the news to my dear mother and others.

"You wrote to say, that if Narayan Chandra married a widow, our kinsfolk and relations would not eat with us and would have no intercourse with us. On this point I have only to say that Narayan Chandra has entered into this alliance out of his own motion, and not at my instance. When I heard that he was determined on marrying a widow and that his bride was also come, what could I do but gladly approve of it; I ought not to have opposed it. I am the originator of the widow marriage movement; we have already given many widows in marriage. Under such circumstances, if my son had taken to wife an unmarried girl instead of a widow, I could not have appeared in public; I would have been an object of hatred and aversion in higher society. By entering into this alliance of his own accord, he has added to the glory of my name; he has made himself worthy to call me his father. I consider the inauguration of widow marriage into Hindu Society the most virtuous deed of my life. I don't think I shall be able to do anything more pious in this life. For the furtherance of this cause I have given my last pice, and if necessity arises, I am prepared to sacrifice my life. In comparison to this, the severance by our kinsfolk and relations of their intercourse with us is of very little consequence. Had I, on this consideration,