DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9550#0369
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKEECH.
319
favour, feeling persuaded that their rule, though a for-
eign yoke, would lead more speedily and surely to the
amelioration of the native inhabitants ; and I enjoyed
the confidence of several of them even in their public
capacity. My continued controversies with the Brahmins
on the subject of their idolatry and superstition, and my
interference with their custom of burning widows, and
other pernicious practices, revied and increased their
animosity against me ; and through their influence with
my family, my father was again obliged to withdraw his
countenance openly, though his limited pecuniary support
was still continued to me.
After my father's death I opposed the advocates of
idolatry with still greater boldness. Availing myself of
the art of printing, now established in India, I published
various works and pamphlets against their errors, in the
native and foreign languages. This raised such a feeling
against me, that I wjs at last deserted by every person
except two or three Scotch friends, to whom, and the
nation to which they belong, I always feel grateful.
The ground which I took in all my controversies was,
not that of opposition to Brahminism, but to a perver-
sion of it; and I endeavoured to show that the idolatry
of the Brahmins was contrary to the practice of their
ancestors, and the principles of the ancient books and
authorises which they profess to revere and obey. Not-
withstanding the violence of the opposition and resis-
tance to my opinions, several highly respectable persons,
both among my own relation and others, began to adopt
the same sentiments.
I now felt a strong wish to visit Europe, and obtain
by personal observation, a more thorough insight into
319
favour, feeling persuaded that their rule, though a for-
eign yoke, would lead more speedily and surely to the
amelioration of the native inhabitants ; and I enjoyed
the confidence of several of them even in their public
capacity. My continued controversies with the Brahmins
on the subject of their idolatry and superstition, and my
interference with their custom of burning widows, and
other pernicious practices, revied and increased their
animosity against me ; and through their influence with
my family, my father was again obliged to withdraw his
countenance openly, though his limited pecuniary support
was still continued to me.
After my father's death I opposed the advocates of
idolatry with still greater boldness. Availing myself of
the art of printing, now established in India, I published
various works and pamphlets against their errors, in the
native and foreign languages. This raised such a feeling
against me, that I wjs at last deserted by every person
except two or three Scotch friends, to whom, and the
nation to which they belong, I always feel grateful.
The ground which I took in all my controversies was,
not that of opposition to Brahminism, but to a perver-
sion of it; and I endeavoured to show that the idolatry
of the Brahmins was contrary to the practice of their
ancestors, and the principles of the ancient books and
authorises which they profess to revere and obey. Not-
withstanding the violence of the opposition and resis-
tance to my opinions, several highly respectable persons,
both among my own relation and others, began to adopt
the same sentiments.
I now felt a strong wish to visit Europe, and obtain
by personal observation, a more thorough insight into