“you shall get a few stanzas from me within two or three days” and as a matter of fact within three or four days the first canto of the তিলোত্তমাসম্ভব কাব্য was sent to me. I was so agreeably surprised, and at the same time so charmed with the artistio manner in which the verses were written, not to speak of the sentiments and the rich imageries of the poetry, that I at once took the MS. to my friends the Rajahs of Paikpara. It was then read by several of our friends who had some reputation for literary taste and I was glad to find that they all agreed with me in my opinion of the composition. Very large indents were no doubt made upon the Sanskrit vocabulary but for all that our poet's attempt could not but be pronounced a complete success. A few days after I again met Michael in the Belgachia Hall. He came up smilling to me and shaking me heartily by the hand, as was his wont, he asked me “How I liked his specimen verses?” “Like them?” said I, “why they are simply charming you have won the bet and I frankly acknowledge my defeat.” At this he laughed and said “I am so glad I have been able to convince you of the capacity of our “weakling” as you thought our Bengali language to be.” My late lamented friend Rajah Issur Chunder then said “well, now our friend, Michael, must complete his little poem as soon as possible.” “Certainly,” said Michael, “and I hope to do so in about a fortnight.” The poem was indeed completed within a very short time, and was printed and published at the Stanhope Press, the best Bengalse Press then in existence. By way of a compliment the little volume was dedicated to my humble self and the original Manuscript was also handed over to me. This as you know is carefully preserved in my library. A short time after Michael with his usual exuberance of spirit proposed that we must have a photograph of the presentation of the MS. by the poet to my humble self. At first I was not much inclined to meet his wishes, but he would not listen to my excuses. So we both went by appointment to the studio of Messrs. Binecke and Co. the best photographic establishment then in Caloutta and there a photograph was taken, but neither I nor Michael liked the pose or the general execution of the picture, and it was arranged that we should call another day and take a second chance. With one thing or another this did not come to pass for some time, and the idea went out of the poet's head.
এই কাহিনীর মধ্যে একটি কথা বিশেষভাবে স্মরণীয়। যতীন্দ্রমোহন
