Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/87

Rh appointed in 1823, and which was still strongly in favour of an exclusively oriental curriculum. Lord Macaulay, who came to India as Legal Member of Council, soon proved himself a strong ally of the Governor-General and he decided that there was no condition laid down the grant made in 1813, for the renewal and improvement of literature, that made it inapplicable for the promotion of a modern English education. Accordingly in 1835 Lord William Bentick ordered that the lac of rupees granted in 1813, should be expended in imparting instruction in European languages and sciences through the medium of English. This decisive action on the part of the Governor General, though opposed by the old school, was eagerly welcomed by the younger generation among whom Ramtanu held an honoured place. He and a number of others used to meet regularly in the house of a friend, Ram Gopal Ghose, and, among other schemes this enthusiastic little group of reformers devised for the diffusion of knowledge beyond their own immediate circle, was the production of two journals, the Gyanuneshun, the Search after Knowledge, and the Bengal Spectator which contained columns both in English and Bengali. Further they started a club known as 'The Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge,' where discussions on every subject were freely encouraged. Topics were by no means wanting, for these years were among the most memorable in