In the preface of ‘Rajarshri’ Tagore acknowledged the help he received from Bir Chandra Manikya and Radha Kishore for his novel. A book of poems“Kahini” by Tagore was also dedicated to Radha Kishore. It was Tagore, who approached Radha Kishore for financial support to Jagadish Chandra Bose, in order set up the Bose Institute in Kolkata. The Maharaja made Bose promise — not to divulge that he had contributed handsomely for the institute. It was much after the death of the Maharaja that Bose came out with this fact.
This incident was highlighted in the speech given by Jagadish Chandra Bose at the inauguration of his institute; reported in The Englishman -12th March, 1918.
“When his first experiments brought vividly before him the universal sensitiveness of matter and the outcome of this generalization in different realms of thought, he had a visit from late Maharaja of Tipperah Radhakishore Manikya. The Maharaja was a great scholar in the Vernacular, though he was totally unacquainted with English language. According to the prevailing standard, the cultural value of his acquirements would be questioned. But the Maharaja’s ignorance of English did not stand in the way of his instantly realizing the significance of the lecturer’s experiments. Indeed his(J.C. Bose) own mind was put to its fullest activity in answering the Maharaja’s most intelligent questionings as regards the trend of his work in clearing up many difficult problems. The reference to this subject may be opportune in view of the controversy whether the Great Akbar was literate or illiterate and whether the University Commission should recommend the Vernacular as suitable vehicle for scientific instruction.
The Government of India sent him (Bose) on his second scientific deputation to the West to announce his discovery and he experimentally demonstrated before the meeting of Royal Society, the sensitiveness of ordinary pl plants. The discovery was refused publication to reach the scientific world. The period of his deputation was then nearing its end, he had to make his choice of returning to India discredited or overstay in England risking his appointment or the chance of convincing some unbiased scientific men. While in this dilemma he received a communication from the Maharaja assuring him of his firm belief and also a large remittance towards the possibility of continuation of his researches. He was thus enabled to prolong his stay and thus secure many true friends among scientific men in England who stood for fair play, resulting finally in the acceptance of his work. It was the special request of the late Maharaja that he wished to remain unknown in this connection. He has now passed away and it is permissible to speak now of one who stood by him at a time when such friendship was much needed”.
It was only after his death that Bose was able to publicly thank his benefactor; to whom Tagore referred to as a ‘silent donor’–a man who shunned exhibitionism and self- publicity.”
( An Excerpt from the author’s unpublished book “ Master of Time)
