VII. ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LifERATURE. 915 as they would have it, but as their European masters wanted it. The Vaisnavas and the Caktas, who had hitherto been at the helm of our literature, inspite of their occasional indulgence in ornamental style, always meant their works for readers who would under- stand them. But the great Sanskrit scholars, the Bhattacharyyas, as the 7o/ pundits were called, had hitherto nothing to do with vernacular literature. They were now considered fit to write in the vernacular tongue on account of their proficiency in Sanskrit. Their classical accomplishments, how- ever, proved an utter disqualification for the purpose. - We have seen that the specimens of early Bengali prose that have come down to us were all written in simple language. They were generally used for the interpretation of the doctrines of particular creeds or of Sanskrit texts. So the writers found it expedient to adopt popular language. But the Bhattacharyyas not accustomed to write
- oe . The
Bengali showed the defects and faults of untrained — Bhatta- hands. They affected a pedantic style which charyyae sounded strange to the Bengali ear. In their efforts to display their great learning they wrote in a ridiculous style which was difficult not only to foreign people but also even to Bengalis them- selves. The pedantry of the old school of poetry, though sometimes carried to excess, had in it elements which suited the genius of our language. It was absurd in some places, but it was a natural though a peculiar growth. The pedantry of the Bhattacharyyas on the other hand—the vollies of
