Brahmo Samaj
In the
late 19th century, Bengal experienced changes from conservatism to
liberalism. The Brahmo Samaj acted as
a catalyst for this liberalism. The
Brahmos had tried to relate oriental philosophy with occidental philosophy.
This idea of reform was brought to Shillong
by the Bengalee Government employees.
The Shillong Brahmo Samaj was established on 8
November 1874, soon after the formation of the Chief Commissionership of Assam
in Shillong. Initially, the Brahmos
numbered around 25, most of them well-placed government servants who hailed
from Sylhet and neighbouring districts in Bengal[1].
In 1874
the Brahmos of Shillong approached Maharshi Debendra Nath Tagore for
financial help. As a result the Mowkhar
Brahmo Samaj was established in the same year with a direct help of Rs.300
from him. The Reverand Nilmoni Chakraborty was in charge and he conducted
prayers in the Khasi language for
Khasi followers of Brahmo Mission. The liberal attitude of
the Brahmos attracted many non-Brahmos of that time. Of note is the
contribution of the Brahmos towards
improving education in general and women’s education in particular.
Raj Chandra
Choudhury and his wife Hemant Kumari Choudurani were among the early members,
and were instrumental in setting up the Mahila
Samity and a library on Jail Road. This was later shifted to the premises
of the Khasi Hills Brahmo Samaj in Laban.
It was strongly
felt that a separate wing be set up to educate and preach to the Khasi people in and around Shillong, and so a
Khasi Mission was established to
bring the Khasis into the fold of the
Brahmo Samaj. Nilmani Chakraborty was
appointed to this role, and after an initial stint in Cherrapunjee, he later
took assistance from the Shillong Brahmo
Samaj as well as two Khasi Brahmos,
Radon Sing Berry and Job Solomon to construct the Mawkhar Brahmo Samaj. Babu Jeebon Roy took an active interest too in the
building of this Samaj and provided
much needed assistance.
Dutta
Ray[2] has published a valuable paper depicting a detailed historical account of Brahmo Samaj Movement in the Khasi Hills:
“waves of Brahmo Samaj
Movement entered the Khasi Hills by the north route through Gauhati where there
were some Brahmos. Along with the shifting of the Secretariat on 20 March 1874,
the Brahmos came to Shillong. In 1876, a Mandir was built and Gangadas Sen was
appointed Secretary to the Brahmo Samaj. Raj Chandra Chaudhuri and
Brajendranath Sen subsequently came to work at Shillong by the southern route,
from Sylhet through Thariaghat and brought with them the message of Brahmo
Samaj.”
One of the most prominent citizens of
Shillong was Amjad Ali, a scholar, poet and philanthropist. His ancestors,
hailing originally from Murshidabad in Bengal, migrated to Kulaura in South
Sylhet and settled in the Amtail area. His father, Nawabzada Arjad Ali, came to
Shillong in 1874. In 1875 Nawabzada Arjad Ali built a residential house near
Sylheti Para in Laban. Amjad Ali, born in 1868 was brought here at the age of
seven. Arjad's descendants are still maintaining the pristine structure with
its contents intact. This could well be the oldest building in Shillong[3].
[2]Social Movements in North-East India, Mahendra Narain Karna. B.
Dutta Ray, ‘Brahmo Samaj Movement in Khasi Hills’, in Proceedings of NEIHA, 1st Session, 1980.
[3]Sengupta,
Sutapa. & Dhar, Bibhash. & North-East India Council for Social
Science Research. 2004, Shillong: a
tribal town in transition / editors, Sutapa Sengupta, Bibhas Dhar
Reliance Pub. House, New Delhi:Syed Zarir Subhani in his article entitled
'Amjad Ali - The Khasi Poet'.
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