Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/201

 always learning; and every new truth he learnt was illustrated in all its bearings in the class-room.

Even when an octogenarian he would jump up with joy on hearing something new and interesting, stop the speaker, bring out his own memorandum-book, and then and there write down what he had heard. Knowledge from any source whatever was always prized by him. If a boy in his class ever pointed out any mistake of his, or suggested a better explanation of a passage than that which he had given, he, instead of being angry, as teachers generally are in such a case, gave calm attention to what the boy said, and was greatly delighted to have his own mistake corrected, or his faulty explanation superseded by a better one.

Here are some stories illustrating this admirable trait of his character. Without vouching for their truth, we give them just as we have heard them. Once Mr Lahiri, during his last connection with the Krishnagar College, was explaining a certain passage in the English text-book, when a boy, interrupting him, said, “Oh, sir, that isn’t the correct meaning.” To this Mr Lahiri replied, saying, “Well, what is your meaning?” At this the boy gave his explanation in such a satisfactory way that the master was quite delighted to hear him.

The second story more plainly shows Ramtanu Babu’s modesty and desire to learn the truth. Once a boy doubted the correctness of his explanation of a certain passage. As he was sure on the point he explained it again, with illustrations to make it more lucid. But the boy’s doubts were not removed. Then the modest teacher, having a fellow-teacher supposed to possess a very sound knowledge of English, Babu Umes Chandra Dutt, called him into the class-room, and said, “Will you please explain this passage to my boys?” and on Mr Dutt’s explaining it he turned towards the boys, saying, “You