Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/37

Rh, adding that it was his mature opinion that "the indigo planters have done more essential good to the natives of Bengal than any other class of persons.' 'This is a fact which I will not hesitate to affirm' he wrote 'whenever I may be questioned on the subject either in India or in Europe. I, at the same time, must confess that there are individuals of that class of society who either from hasty disposition or want of due discretion have proved obnoxious to those who expected milder treatment from them. But you are well aware that no general good can be effected without some partial evil, and in this instance I am happy to say that the former greatly preponderates over the latter. If any class of natives would gladly see them turned out of the country, it would be the Zemindars in general, since in many instances the planters have successfully protected the ryots against the tyranny and oppression of their landlord.'

Although for a time Ram Mohan joined the Unitarian Community, it was inevitable that he and his followers should form a separate community of their own. This came to pass on August the 28th, 1828, when the first Theistic Church of modern India was founded. At the outset it was called simply Brahma Sabha, the Society of God. It was not until eighteen months later that the first building for the worship of the new society was dedicated in the presence of about five hundred Hindus of all classes.