1904] Obituary Notice of Vr. C. E. Wilson. 71 



while his re-creation of the Old Fort is a piece of work mucli needing 

 to be done, and ouce for all well done. 



But important as are these services to history and to aj-chaeology — 

 and therefore to this Society — Dr. Wilson's highest distinction lies in 

 another field and is of such a nature as to merit the grateful remem- 

 brance of the people of Bengal at large. This is his educational work, 

 especially as shown in that rare quality, a warm personal sympathy 

 with the individual student. In this respect his educational career has 

 been unique. In his love for and devoted service to the student he 

 stands alone in Bengal ' nee viget quidquawi simile aut secundum.'' 



This distinguishing characteristic was manifested at once when he 

 first came out and started work at the Dacca College in 1887. Nothing 

 is more difficult in educational work in India than to make a personal 

 interest in students living and practical. This difficulty hardly existed 

 for 0. R. Wilson. He soon made a name for himself in the student 

 world, and even excited some criticism without it. When he went to 

 Calcutta in 1890, the same devotion was shown on a larger scale and 

 its results remain permanently in the Calcutta University Institute. 

 This institution was started by Babu Protap Chandra Mazumdar, the 

 veteran leader of the Brahmo Somaj, and was at first called the Society 

 for the Higher Training of Young Men. But it had but a languid ex- 

 istence under that title. It was Mr. Wilson's energy as Secretary 

 during 1893 — 1900 which, together with the interest taken in the scheme 

 by Lord Lansdowne, Mr. Hisley, Sir Charles Elliott and other benefactors 

 gave it its present form. Mr. Wilson also started a paper— the Cal- 

 cutta University Magazine — intended to be an organ of university 

 opinion, which, though fallen on evil days, still exists. But it was his 

 personal interest in and liking for Bengali students, and a real liberality 

 and kindness towards those needing help which constitute Mr. Wilson's 

 best claim to the grateful recollection of the Indian community. The 

 various expressions called forth by his death are sufficient testimony 

 that this has been felt and acknowledged. 



But with all his sympathy for Indian students, Mr. Wilson did not 

 fail to see the weak points in the characters of most of them, or the 

 startling defects in their education as promoted by the Calcutta Uni- 

 versity. He was one of the first to advocate the thorough reform of the 

 Calcutta system. Early in the nineties he, along with some others in- 

 cluding the present Bishop of Madras, drew up a scheme with a view to 

 practical reform. He was closely interested in the work of the Univer- 

 sities Commission and hopeful that some good would ultimately result 



