Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/153

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ISVAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR.

that English should be the medium of imparting instruction in the Arts, Sciences, and Philosophy of Europe, that the Vernacular Schools already existing in the country should be placed in a more perfect working order, that equal encouragements should be given to the students of English and Vernacular, and that the vernacular languages should be taught along with English.

From this time forward the Committee of Public Instruction began to supervise the working of the new system, and the current of English education began to flow vigorously: The liberty of the Press had already been dealared in 1835. The use of Persian as Court language was interdicted in the year 1837. The native judicial officers of the country were entrusted with more powers. Consequently the working of the new system found fresh fields of expansion. The Committee of Public Instruction divided Bengal into nine divisions. A college was started in each of these divisions, and an Anglo-Bengali school was set up in each district of these divisions. In the year 1852, the Committee of Public Instruction made over charge of the education department to a more powerful association, viz. "The Education Council". Vidyasagar had to bring about many revisions under this Council, of which hereafter.

While Vidyasagar was employed as a teacher in the Fort William College, Lord Hardinge, the then Governor-General of India, came to visit the