Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements: 83
I enjoyed my life at Deveton with the girls and was quite free to
go about as I liked. I passed my I.A. After the results were out Mr. Das
wanted me to join either the Deveton or the Convent for the B.A. But
I did not care to go to any of these colleges. This time Mr. Das was ill
and the doctors advised him to go to England. I made up my mind to
stay at Cuttack in his house during his absence. At first he refused but
in the end he gave in, stipulating that Mr. and Mrs. Anam Chandra
Das and their family would stay with me during his absence. To this
I readily agreed. Thus I severed my connections with Calcutta, my birth
place, and settled down in Cuttack, my adopted country.
LIFE IN CUTTACK HOW I CAME TO CUTTACK
Mr. Das owing to his illness decided to go to England for
medical treatment and left for England in 1897, and with his consent
I came to live in Cuttack under the guardianship of Mr. and Mrs. A.
Das who lived with me in the same house. I took to gardening and
furnishing the house and passed my time pleasantly. He had left enough
money for my legitimate wants. I thought I would give him a surprise
by joining the Ravenshaw Boy's College and studing for the B.A. I
went to see the Principal of the Ravenshaw College and asked him if
he would admit me into the Third Year Class. In those days coeducation
was not favoured. He refused it. I went to Calcutta and saw
the Director of Public Instruction of Bengal. Orissa was then under the
administration of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. I succeeded in
getting permission of the D.P.I, to study in the Ravenshaw College. I
returned to Cuttack triumphant in being successful in the Mission The
Principal admitted me with great reluctance. I saw the science Professor
who was willing to take me in his class. The Professor of Mathematics
was also willing. This time I came to know Miss Isabella Samuels,
whom Mr. Das had educated in the Bethuna College for L.A. As I
wanted a woman to study in the college with me I persuaded her to
come and join the Ravenshaw College with me. She readily consented
as I promised to bear all her educational expenses. She came and lived
with me in Mr. Das's house. One thing struck me when I was studying
with boys that they were very well behaved and docile and would not
even open their lips in our presence, but I often used to ask questions
in order to clear my difficulties. During tiffin time Isabella and myself
came and rested in the Principal's room. On his return Mr. Das was