Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/694

Rh About this time, he offered the charge of the Institution to the Hon'ble Dr. Gurudas Banarji, one of the present native justices of the Calcutta High Court. But the Doctor declined to accept the responsibility on the very ostensible plea of inability. Gurudas regarded Vidyasagar in the same light as if he was his own father. He has compiled an Arithmetic. To get this work introduced as a text book for schools, it was only Vidyasagar whom he had requested for recommendation. He could not make himself flatter anybody else. Vidyasagar had an implicit faith in Gurudas, and therefore wanted to place the charge of his Institution on his shoulders, as he believed him fully equal to the task. The Doctor had also a very high opinion of our hero. On the occasion of his mother's Sraddha, Gurudas presented him with a very nice silver glass, as he knew that Vidyasagar was not accustomed to receive presents of money or any other kind ordinarily given away to Pandits on such occasions. The glass is still to be found in the possession of Narayan Chandra, who has, after his father's death, inherited all his property. It has the following sloka inscribed on it:—

We have said before, that although Vidyasagar had very reluctantly deserted his native village for reasons already stated, he never for an instant