Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/79

Rh inherited his pious nature. His last days he devoted almost entirely to religious exercises, strictly observing every orthodox Brahminical rule of life. His simple, well-ordered household was one of Ramtanu's earliest recollections and it had an influence upon him that remained with him through life.

Ramkrishna Lahiri had eight sons and two daughters of whom Ramtanu was the fifth son and seventh child. His mother was Jagaddhatri Davi, daughter of Dewan Radhakanta Rai of Krishnagar whose position was second only to that of the Maharaja himself. Ramkrishna, however, who was only Dewan to the Tila Babus, a younger branch of the family, never commanded a large salary and the education of his numerous family left him in straitened circumstances. His edlesteldest [sic] son Kesava Lahiri was appointed to the sheristadarship of the Judge's court at Jessore and with true filial devotion he made his first object the rendering of help to his father in bringing up his large family. To him Ramtanu owed much of his early education, and he always spoke of him with the greatest admiration and respect as a perfect type of devoted son and brother. Many little incidents are recorded of his life showing his unselfishness and willingness to help others. He it was who took Ramtanu to live him and personally superintended his earliest studies in the intervals of his own heavy official work. Thus the first years of Ramtanu's life