lApSltfFE AM). WORK OF SIR JAGADIS C. BOSE 



Here now was the sharpest of interruptions to a career 

 hitherto so successful ; and the contrast was a deeply 

 painful one indeed as yet the severest shock of Bose's life. 

 The blow was not simply for himself, as for any ordinary 

 man of science in Britain ; but, as he clearly saw it, full of 

 threatening omen for his future scientific career in India, 

 imperilling his as yet limited facilities for new work, and 

 his newly risen hopes of scientific support towards their 

 increase. The news in fact at once went out to India, and 

 in crude and exaggerated form ' Bose's work and paper 

 are rejected by the Royal Society ' and thus of course 

 with suspicion thrown upon his previous work as well. 



In a fortnight, too, his time in England would be 

 up : his passage was already taken. But he saw that he 

 must fight the matter out and justify himself ; so, without 

 delay, he explained the situation and applied to the India 

 Office for an extension of his period of deputation. He 

 was told that this was without precedent, and could not be 

 granted. A year's ordinary leave was due to him, as he had 

 done the necessary service ; but it was next pointed out 

 that this could only be arranged for in India, through his 

 own College, as a matter with which the India Office does 

 not interfere. However, it would take advice. Unluckily 

 for Bose, the physiologist to whose advice they referred the 

 matter was one belonging to the hostile group ; and the 

 request was naturally declined. But nothing daunted, 

 and determined to burn his boats if necessary, he wrote 

 again, repeating the urgent and overpowering necessity 

 he felt of justifying his result, and saying that he had 

 resolved to remain in England to fight the matter out, and 

 was prepared to take the consequences. The Secretary of 

 State now personally looked into the matter, and as Bose 

 through life had already, and has since so often, found 

 his decision was made in the best English way. He was 

 so favourably impressed by this uncompromising courage 

 that he took the responsibility of granting an extension 

 of deputation, and intimated the fact to Bose's College. 



