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124 apathy and indifference which seemed to have fallen like a pall upon his co-religionists. Holding a series of conversazionés at his private house, he endeavoured to awaken in them an interest in modern topics. Papers were read on such subjects as the use of history, the rise and progress of navigation and commerce, the discovery of America, the history of civilisation and the principles of Muhammadan law. To encourage thought and enquiry on the part of the students of the Calcutta Madrassa he offered a prize for the best essay in Persian on the question—'How far would the inculcation of European sciences through the medium of the English language benefit Muhammadan students in the present circumstances of India and what are the most practicable means of imparting such instruction?' The object of the prize which was advertised throughout India under the sanction of the Council of Education and published in the Calcutta Gazette was to draw the attention of the Muhammadan community to the question which was of such importance to its future welfare. Upon the frank acceptance of modern conditions and its adaptability to modern requirements depended its position in the new India that was rapidly coming into existence. The time allowed for sending in essays was five months and at the end of that time a very large number, coming from all parts of India, was found to have been sent in. Most of the essays, one reads