You ask me to give a few reminiscenses of the Poet - a somewhat difficult task indeed, considering that with a failing memories, it is not an easy thing for me at this distance of time to bring back to my mind, recollections of “auld lang senesine”. However there is one incident which of course I will never forget & that is with reference to the introduction of Blank verse in our language. Of this I have already mentioned to you but you wish me to give some further details,— well, here they are.
It was a fine evening in the Belgachia Villa & we were sitting in the Lawn Hall when the Stage had been set up for the performance of the Ratnavali. Both the brother Rajahs were there & so was Mi Michael. It was a rehearsal night & the amateurs were coming in one by one; the conversation gradually turned upon the subject of drama in general & of Bengali Drama in particular. Michael said that no real improvement in the Bengali Drama could be expected until Blank verse ways introduced into it. To that I said that it did not দুষ্পাঠ্য⟨seem to me⟩ দুষ্পাঠ্য introduce Blank this kind of verse in our language, for th I thought the very nature of construction of the Bengali was ill-adapted for the slately measure & sonorous cadence of blank verse.
“I do not argue with you there” said he “& I think it is still worth making an attempt.”
"You remember” I added “how once Iswar Chandra Goopto once made a caricature of blank verse in Bengali beginning with the lines.
কবিতা কমলা কলা পাকা যেন কাঁদি।
ইচ্ছে হয় যত পাই পেট ভোরে খাই॥ &c
“Oh!” said he “it is no reason because old Iswar Goopto could not manage to write blank verse that nobody else will be able to do it.”
“But দুষ্পাঠ্যI saidদুষ্পাঠ্য “if I am correctly infomed the French which is no doubt a more copious & elaborate language than our own, has no blank verse poems in it, দুষ্পাঠ্য no wonder then that the Bengali should be found inadequate for this kind of versification.
“You forget my dear fellow” he replied “that the Bengali is born of the Sanscrit than which is more copious ⟨& elaborate⟩ language does not exist.”
