Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/137

 purpose of educating the native mind so that it might grasp the truths of the Gospel. He began at first with six boys. There was, however, a number of young men who had received, or were receiving, instruction from Derozio, whom he could approach with Christian truths; and it was in the hope of acquiring a closer acquaintance with them that he took his lodgings in a house near the Hindu College, and commenced delivering lectures to them. That Hindu boys, who had already to some extent broken with their religion, should have an opportunity of hearing Christian doctrines, was a cause of great grief to the College Committee, which went so far as to interdict the students of the college from attending the lectures. The Committee did not stop there; it caused the dismissal of Mr Derozio from his post in the college.

Babu Ram Kamal Sen, grandfather of the late Keshub Chandra Sen, acting as their mouthpiece, called a Committee meeting, and moved that Mr Derozio’s manners and conduct were such as to injure the morals of the boys in touch with him, and that he should be removed from the staff of masters. David Hare and Dr Wilson took Mr Derozio’s side, and the majority of the members did not dare to oppose them. The proposal had to be given up. But the young man’s enemies did not give up their hostile intentions. They objected to his being retained in service on the ground that, in the present state of the country, the continuance of his connection with the college would be detrimental to its interests. Here Mr Hare and Dr Wilson were compelled to remain silent. They did not know fully what the state of the country was, and therefore felt themselves unable to give their opinion. Having insured their silence, the majority of the Committee passed the resolution that Mr Derozio be dismissed.