|
During those days,
Princep was a renowned researcher in India. He was a real prodigy
in his field. He was the secretary of 'The Asiatic Society' from
1832-1838. His life was a prolonged, tenacious research on meteorology,
chemistry, Indian scriptures, numismatics, archaeology, mineral
resources etc. His greatest achievement in life has been to decipher
the doctrines of Emperor Ashoka, from the inscriptions in rocks
and boulders. He was also the acting Asst. Master of the mint at Calcutta.
This rare genius passed away on 22nd April, 1840 at a mere age
of 41. He had probably been the victim of excessive mental tormentation
and overstrain.
After his demise, the Calcuttans collected fund and built the 'Princep Ghat' on the south of Chandpal Ghat to commemorate their
beloved man. It was constructed in 1843. The Viceroy Lord Attenborough
aboarded the ship from Princep Ghat in 1844 before abandoning
this country. Before this, Chandpal Ghat was used by the British
to aboard on ships. However, all the princes and the royal emissaries
who came to Calcutta after Lord Attenborough, used the Princep
Ghat and not Chandpal Ghat.
|
