Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/171



The 1st of January 1846 was a memorable day for the people of Krishnagar, for it witnessed the opening of the Krishnagar College. Siris Chandra was now the Raja, and he encouraged the establishment of the institution. His predecessors had never thought of sending their boys to public schools; but he unhesitatingly sent his son, Satis Chandra to the College, and himself became one of the most energetic members of its Managing Committee.

Captain D. L. Richardson was appointed principal of the college, and Ramtanu Babu second master of the school. He entered with great earnestness upon his work, and rendered himself a general favourite. His old pupils, still living, say that, when engaged in teaching, the faces of his boys, and the lessons before him, absorbed his whole attention; and he seemed to be almost insensible to everything else. His method of teaching was unique. He was against cramming; and his chief aim was to put his pupils in the way of exercising their faculties on any special subject that might be presented to them. He never remained satisfied with teaching truths in the abstract, but illustrated them in their various relations in actual life. He would comment upon a single word in the lesson of the day so as to give a volume of information. Supposing he met with the word Arabia; he would not think it enough simply to say what or where it was; but would describe its physical features, the nature of the people dwelling in it, and their faith, winding up with a lecture on Muhammad