Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/380

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RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC SERVICE.
337


In the meantime, Young found another opportunity of giving vent to his spite against Vidyasagar. The readers of the history of India must be aware, that the Sepoy Mutiny broke out at Barrackpore in the beginning of the year 1857, and it was quelled without much effort. But, in a short time, the Sepoys in the different parts of the country rose in arms, and whole India was in great commotion during the months of March, April, May, and June. The residents of Calcutta, both native and European, passed anxious days and nights. No one dared leave his house for fear of life. European soldiers were posted to guard the city day and night. Reinforcements were brought in from other places, and the Sanskrit College building was required to quarter them. There was no time to lose, and Vidyasagar made over the building to the Military, without previously obtaining permission of his superiors. The College had to be closed for a few days. Subsequently when Vidyasagar wrote to Young asking for his permission to hold the college somewhere else, the Director called on him for an explanation as to why he had closed the College and made over the premises to the Military without his permission. Vidyasagar said that he had done so for the safety of the State, and that he had had no self-interest in it. Young, of course, dared not bring the matter to the notice of the higher authorities, for Vidyasagar had done nothing wrong, but the haughty civilian fancied, he had