Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/56

 poraries—Babu Moti Lal Seal, a millionaire of Calcutta, one Shyama Charan Das, a wealthy ironsmith as well as the Chief of Kota (Rajputana)—had fruitlessly tried to alter that longstanding custom. Some of Mr. Derozio's pupils, who had discussed the question in their paper The Bengali Spectator, had also met with no better success. Without surrendering himself to despair at the failure of his predecessors, Vidyasagar devoted every spare hour to the study of the Shastras. One night he suddenly lighted upon a passage in Parashara-Sanhita and shouted with transport of joy, "I have found it at last!" He gave it an explanation which supported remarriage. The whole night he composed a pamphlet stating his view of the case, quoting that particular passage and commenting upon it. It was printed and distributed broadcast with the permission of his parents. This excited wide-spread consternation and alarm throughout the city and loud protests from the orthodox were not wanting. Soon