Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/58

 closed in dismal failure, the Raja, to proclaim his neutrality and simplify matters, gave away a pair of shawls to the leader of the adverse party. It was transparently clear to Vidyasagar that he could expect no valuable assistance from that quarter. The agitation now spread like wild fire throughout Bengal and various protests and pamphlets were issued in no time. Several indignation meetings of the learned Pundits held in various districts declared against the proposed change. The champions of remarriage were not silent. There soon appeared two anonymous pamphlets Braja-Bilas and Ratna-Pariksa, supporting the newfangled view. Rumour fathered them on Vidyasagar. If this were true, it is to be regretted that he could condescend to scurrility. A third booklet Vinaya-Patrika was soon put out anonymously but generally attributed to the same source. A fourth pamphlet entitled "Whether widows ought to be married or not" followed, bearing Vidyasagar's name. This was written in