Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/21

Rh rule of law and order which under British supremacy was gradually settling down upon the distracted land. Hindu Society, in the usual acceptation of the term, there was none. Nothing that could be called public opinion existed. Bengal had no literature, scarcely even a language of its own. Such education as existed was confined to Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic, and even the study of these languages had fallen into decay. Hinduism and all that it represented had fallen on evil times. To the task of restoring and reforming it and of constructing the fabric of Society anew, of bringing together all that was best and noblest, and of making for the first time in their history the Bengali race into a people with great thoughts, high hopes and aspirations, Ram Mohan Roy set the whole force of his brilliant intellect and personality. It was but a reformer's accepted fate that he should meet with opposition and distrust from those whom he most strenuously strove to serve. Far in advance of his time he encountered constant abuse and bitter persecution, yet even by exciting opposition he did his country service. In so doing he aroused public interest where there had been none before: he made men think for themselves and realise their great responsibilities: and above all he created that potent force public opinion, to lead the nation along straight and honest paths. A keen patriot he gratefully recognised how much the British Goverment [sic] had done for his