Baburam Babu of Baidyabati was a man of great worldly ambition. He became famous through his many dealings in the civil and criminal courts. In those days, it was hardly an ancient custom to work diligently without taking bribes—Baburam followed that very custom. Skilled in his profession, he also managed to win over the English officials with flattery and obsequiousness. As a result, he amassed a great fortune in a short time.

In this country, wealth or position brings respect; learning and character do not command the same honor. Baburam Babu’s circumstances had once been quite poor—at that time, only one or two people in the village cared about him. But later, when he acquired a handsome mansion, gardens, estates, and other riches, the number of his followers, servants, and friends became countless. Whenever he had leisure and came home, his drawing room would be crowded with people, just as a sweet shop, when filled with sweets, is swarmed by flies—so too, when wealth arrives, people flock in. Whenever you went to Baburam Babu’s house, you would find him surrounded by people—great and small, all sitting around, speaking pleasing words; the clever ones would flatter him with practiced gestures, while the more boorish ones would babble on without restraint. In this manner, after some years, Baburam Babu retired on a pension and began managing his estates and trading from his own house.

No one is blessed with happiness in every way, nor is anyone wise in all matters. Baburam Babu devoted himself solely to amassing wealth. How might his property increase? How might ten people come to know his name? How might the villagers stand before him with folded hands? How might his ceremonies be the grandest?—these were his constant concerns. He had one son and two daughters. Being a descendant of Balaram Thakur, Baburam Babu, for the sake of preserving his caste, married off his two daughters as soon as they were born, spending lavishly on their weddings and ornaments. But the sons-in-law were Kulin Brahmins, who, having taken wives in many places, would not even glance at their father-in-law’s house in Baidyabati unless given a special reward.

His son, Motilal, was pampered from childhood and always indulged...

Sometimes he would say, “Father, catch the moon for me!”—sometimes, “Father, let’s fire the cannon!” When he began to wail and shriek, the people nearby would mutter, “Oh, that brat from the Bancks’ house is making it impossible to sleep!” The boy, pampered by his parents, would not even utter the name of the school. The household steward was entrusted with his education. When he was first taken to the tutor, Matilal would bawl and howl, scratching and biting the poor man. The tutor would go to the master and complain, “Sir, teaching your son is not my job.” The master would reply, “He is the apple of my eye, my precious Nilmoni—coax him, cajole him, stroke his back and teach him.”

Eventually, after much scheming, Matilal began to attend school.