country. We have described in some little detail some incidents in his early career only to bring out that feature in his character which in its later full development and transformation later in life earned for him the soubriquet of “Surrender Not.”
On his return from England after the unsuccessful visit described above, he was appointed by Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar to lecture on English in the Metropolitan Institution (now Vidyasagar College). He made his mark as a teacher and was later appointed to teach English in the Free Church Institution (Duff College), now amalgamated with the Scottish Churches College. He also helped in teaching in the City School, founded by his friend Mr. Anandamohan Bose
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Surendranath’s Residence at Barrakpur
and others, which has now grown into City College. At this time he acquired a small school in Calcutta which developed under his guidance, care and tuition into the Ripon College, for teaching science, arts and law. He was thus able as a teacher to come in touch with thousands of young men and influence their lives. The Students’ Association, which he founded, was another means of influencing, and awakening public spirit and love of country in the minds of young men. Some of his most notable addresses were delivered in connection with the Students’ Association. At present there is no association like it in Calcutta or Bengal to hold before young men lofty ideals of public spirit and political service.
Four names are associated with the foundation and early activities of the Indian Association; they are in alphabetical order Anandamohan Bose, Dwarakanath Ganguli, Sivanath Sastri and Surendranath Banerjea. Personally we do not know, and do not wish to take sides in a controversy by stating, with whom the idea originated. But there can be no question that so far as the work of political agitation and that of rousing the country are concerned Surendranath occupies the first place in the band of early political workers in Bengal, whether in connection with the Indian Association or in their individual private capacities.
At the time when the Indian Association was founded, the British Indian Association held the field. But it represented mainly if not entirely, the party and other propertied men in the country. Though when it suited the purpose of Government to accept its opinion as that of the country it could not and did not properly give voice to public opinion, such as it was in those days. Therefore an Association to give expression to popular opinion was needed. There was no doubt, already in existence a body known we believe as the Indian League. But it was practically a coterie. Some interesting details regarding its origin and early history are given in Pandit Sivanath Sastri’s Bengali autobiography.
When the Indian Association was about to be founded it met with opposition from the party of the Indian League, which put up the Rev. Kalicharan Banurji to oppose the motion for the establishment of the Association at the inaugural public meeting held for the purpose in the old Albert Hall. Then came to pass an inspiring episode in the life of Surendranath Banerjea which shed a halo of glory round the youthful brow of that ardent
