Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/84

68 had originated in the desire to give the rising generation a thorough education on western lines. Government had at first intentionally avoided introducing anything of the kind in its sincere desire to avoid the appearance of forcing a new system of education against their will upon the Indian people. So far from desiring to urge anything that might be opposed to their wishes or antagonistic to their train of thought, Government had endeavoured to encourage education on eastern lines. Warren Hastings with this object had established the Calcutta Madrassa as early as 1781 for the study of Arabic and Persian, and more recent efforts had been made in the same direction. But already the spirit of change and unrest was abroad. A feeling of revolt against the old creeds had grown up, and freedom of thought was making itself as it had never hitherto done in the history of Hinduism. Though as yet confined to the few, this spirit of progress was animating some of the most brilliant and able men of the rising generation. To such as these, education on western lines appeared the first essential. While fully alive to the many merits of the old regime, they were convinced that western modes of thought, western knowledge of science and western insistence on moral excellence could alone breathe new life into the decaying structure of modern Hindu society.

For five years Ramtanu remained at the Hindu college under influences which left their mark upon