THE MODERN PERIOD 91 of Carey and others at Serampore has already been mentioned. In 1837 a lithographic press was set up at Delhi, and from that date onwards the publication of books in Hindi has been increasing continually. The introduction of lithography was soon followed by the publication of Hindi newspapers and magazines, of which there are now a large number. All kinds of books have been turned out from the press — translations of English books, books and pamphlets dealing with religious and social questions, novels, educational text-books, and books on many other subjects ; but it cannot be said with regard to most of them that a high literary standard has yet been reached, and experience alone will show how many of them are worthy to rank as standard works of Hindi literature. Hindi prose literature is still feeling its way, and its standards are not yet fixed. One book which has had probably a greater circulation than any other Hindi work in modern times (whether as a whole or in portions) is the Hindi translation of the Bible, and owing to its large circulation is bound to have an important influence on the life of the people. The printing-press has also been used to produce many of the older works of Hindi literature, which are now accessible to the general public in a way which was before impossible. Harischandra That the new influence from the West revived rather than checked the cultivation of Hindi poetry is illustrated in the case of Babu Haris- chandra (1850-1885), of Benares, who is often called Bharatendu (*'The moon of India"). He was edu- cated at Queen's College, Benares, and was a prolific and successful writer of poetry in many styles, having commenced to write at the age of sixteen. He wrote altogether about a hundred and seventy-five different works. Among these are eighteen plays, and Haris- chandra was the real founder of the modern drama in India. In his plays some of his best work is to be found, and they exhibit his great desire for the progress of India and the development of its intellectual freedom.
