DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0507
Modern Theism. Rammoktm Roy's successors. 497
his face against the time-honoured usages of his country, let
him stand up boldly as the champion of truth, the eradicator
of error, the regenerator of a degenerate age, the purifier of a
corrupt condition of society, and what are the consequences ?
He has to fight his way through a host of antagonisms and
obstructions, sufficient to appal, if not to overpower, a man of
ordinary courage and determination. The inveterate pre-
judices of centuries, deeply-seated antipathies, national pride,
popular passion, a thousand vested interests of tradition,
ignorance, bigotry, superstition, indolence, priestcraft, conspire
to crush his efforts and impede his advance. Every inch of
the ground is disputed by a host of bitter antagonists.
Humiliation, insult, threat, invective, vituperation are heaped
upon his head. Father, mother, wife, children, relatives and
friends hold him fast in their embraces or unite their efforts
to drag him backwards. No one stirs a finger to help him
onwards. At length, by the force of his own resolute
character, by patience and conciliation, by firmness and
gentleness, by persuasion and earnestness, by carrying people
with him against their will, by making his work theirs as
well as his own, he gains a few adherents; for nowhere do
qualities such as these command so much admiration as in
India. Then his progress becomes easier. But if his attitude
towards ancient creeds and social abuses continues that of an
uncompromising enemy, he will still have to do battle at the
head of a little band of followers against countless adversaries,
and will only triumph over opposition in one quarter, to find
it renewed with increased acrimony and vehemence in other
directions.
This may be taken as a description of the early career of
the third great Theistic Reformer of British India, Keshab
Chandar Sen, who was born in 1838.
A few particulars of Mr. Sen's life ought here to be given.
He is a grandson of a well-known member of the Vaidya
caste, Ram Comul Sen, who was a man of great worth, talent
Kk
his face against the time-honoured usages of his country, let
him stand up boldly as the champion of truth, the eradicator
of error, the regenerator of a degenerate age, the purifier of a
corrupt condition of society, and what are the consequences ?
He has to fight his way through a host of antagonisms and
obstructions, sufficient to appal, if not to overpower, a man of
ordinary courage and determination. The inveterate pre-
judices of centuries, deeply-seated antipathies, national pride,
popular passion, a thousand vested interests of tradition,
ignorance, bigotry, superstition, indolence, priestcraft, conspire
to crush his efforts and impede his advance. Every inch of
the ground is disputed by a host of bitter antagonists.
Humiliation, insult, threat, invective, vituperation are heaped
upon his head. Father, mother, wife, children, relatives and
friends hold him fast in their embraces or unite their efforts
to drag him backwards. No one stirs a finger to help him
onwards. At length, by the force of his own resolute
character, by patience and conciliation, by firmness and
gentleness, by persuasion and earnestness, by carrying people
with him against their will, by making his work theirs as
well as his own, he gains a few adherents; for nowhere do
qualities such as these command so much admiration as in
India. Then his progress becomes easier. But if his attitude
towards ancient creeds and social abuses continues that of an
uncompromising enemy, he will still have to do battle at the
head of a little band of followers against countless adversaries,
and will only triumph over opposition in one quarter, to find
it renewed with increased acrimony and vehemence in other
directions.
This may be taken as a description of the early career of
the third great Theistic Reformer of British India, Keshab
Chandar Sen, who was born in 1838.
A few particulars of Mr. Sen's life ought here to be given.
He is a grandson of a well-known member of the Vaidya
caste, Ram Comul Sen, who was a man of great worth, talent
Kk