EARLY STRUGGLES 41 



at length made, the Principal and the Director, were retiring 

 from the service ; and now Bose's success kindled hostility 

 which more or less persisted. The departmental view was 

 that the teaching of classes was the whole duty of a pro- 

 fessor, and that research must therefore involve neglect of 

 his proper function : even this in spite of his giving, with 

 characteristic thoroughness and pride, twenty-six hours 

 of weekly lectures and demonstrations in the College, 

 although the average performed by his colleagues was very 

 much less. Hence the only time to carry on investigations 

 was after the long day's teaching and preparation work 

 were over. No grant was available for research ; Bose, from 

 his own slender income, had to find means for the con- 

 struction of his apparatus and the payment for assistance. 



But hopefully for Bose, the interest of his work, and 

 its high appreciation by leading Western men of science, 

 attracted the notice of the Lieut enant-Governor of Bengal. 

 He understood the higher function of a University : that it 

 was not mere routine teaching which in India especially 

 had too much become the encouragement of cram for the 

 passing of examinations but the training of students in 

 clear and constructive thinking, and towards the advance- 

 ment of knowledge. He realised the difficulties under which 

 Bose was labouring, and therefore arranged for the creation 

 of a new post with higher emoluments, with more initiative, 

 and with reasonable leisure for research. The duties of this 

 post were to be the organisation and development of labora- 

 tories in the many and widespread colleges under the 

 Government, and the personal training of advanced students 

 for original investigations. The scheme was sanctioned, 

 and Bose was informed that he would receive the formal 

 letter of appointment in the course of a few days. 



But at this very time a matter came up which nullified 

 all these hopes. Bose was a Fellow of the Calcutta 

 University, which, though supported by the Government, 

 is so far an independent body. Bose had formed very 

 definite views with regard to the duties -he owed tp his 



