Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/243

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
SYED WALAYET ALI KHAN
213

respects to him, he paid him the compliment of calling upon him to enquire after his health. On two other occasions he had the rare honour of receiving a visit from a Lieutenant-Governor at his own house. In 1889 he received a visit from Sir Stuart Bayley, and in 1896, when again seriously ill, he was visited by Sir Alexander Mackenzie. From the highest to the lowest in the land the straightforwardness of his character, his personal disinterestedness and public spirit won universal confidence and esteem.

At a time of life when he might justly have contemplated withdrawal from public duties to enjoy a well-earned leisure, the Nawab was ever ready to incur fresh responsibilities in a good cause. The number of public offices that he held makes a long list. He was for many years an Honorary Magistrate, -a Municipal Commissioner, and a member of the District Board as well as of many other local societies connected with the social and moral improvement of the people. He was an active member of the British Indian Association, of the Central Committee of the Imperial Institute in India, a Vice-Patron of the Lady Dufferin Fund, and a life member of the Zoological Gardens and of the Agricultural-Horticultural Society of India at Calcutta. He was also at one time President of the Behar Text-Book Committee. All these offices were to him no mere sinecures. In each he put forward his best efforts, playing a leading part