Gurudeo Ranade Jamkhandi

(A portion of the letter from Prof. E.A.Wodehouse who wrote it to young Ranade to console him for his loss of 1st class at his B. A. as he offered Mathematics for his B. A. in place of Sanskrit which was his pet subject.)

'Examination is not true criterion of one's calibre. From what I have known of you, I would say, if any one deserved a first class, it is you. It is therefore, better to think that you were destined to taste the bitter fruits of your past actions and that you are now free from them by actually tasting them. Since you possess first class intellect and sterling character the class you get in the examination is of no consequence at all. I am extremely sorry, no doubt for this unfortunate result, as I entertain great love and respect for you. I won't allow this affection for you to go in vain. I assure you, that I will try my level best to do every thing possible for you. I repeat examination is an accident. It is not a real measure of one's merit or capacity. You have passed the real test long since. This is the opinion of all those who know you like myself' (Bombay 19-12-1907)