Life and Teachings of Kcshub ehunder Sen. By P. C.
Mozoomdar.
(J. C. Thomas, Calcutta ; Triibner and Co., London.)—The most interesting chapter in this volume is the account of the "Cuch Behar Marriage," the disastrous event, as it may well be called, which embittered the dose of Keshub Sen's life, and so damaged his position as a Reformer. The marriage was proposed by the Government, under whose care the young Maharajah had been care- fully educated. One difficulty was the ages of the parties. The Brahmo Marriage Act had limited the ago of girls to fourteen, and of men to eighteen. Keshub Sen's daughter and the bride- groom were both short of these limits. But then a condition was proposed and observed that the marriage should be formal only till they were reached, the Maharajah leaving for Europe, whither it was not well that he should go unmarried, immediately after the ceremony. Then there were the ceremonies. The Reformer stipulated that the marriage should be celebrated according to the ritual of the Brahmo Somaj, with the addition of such local rites as might be free from idolatry. There he was outwitted. The Court party at Cuch Behar got every- thing into their power, and broke their part of the compact. On the whole, though we cannot acquit Keshub Sen of some weakness, the account leaves us with a more favourable notion of his conduct than we had before. And it must be remembered that, as far as present experience goes, the marriage has turned out very well. There is, of course, much else that is worth reading in Mr.
Mozoomdar's account of his great teacher.
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