Celebration of 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Rammohun Roy Organised by Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
The 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Rammohun Roy, the Founder of the Brahmo Samaj and the Father of the Indian Renaissance, was celebrated and commemorated by Sadharan Brahmo Samaj for 3 consecutive days, beginning from 22nd May 2022, his Birthday, followed by the next two days, 23rd and 24th May, 2022.
In keeping with the legacy left behind by such a personality, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj observed the Birth Anniversary in a most befitting manner.
The auspicious inaugural programme commenced on the early morning on 22nd May, 2022 with Prayers and chanting of hymns at the foot of the statue of Raja Rammohun Roy at the Kolkata Maidan in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal and Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Acharya, Dr. Sm Madhusree Ghosh, conducted the Prayer and recited Hymns on behalf of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, with children of the Montessori Section of Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya offering musical tributes to Rammohun Roy.
On the same day in the evening of 22nd May 2022, a special programme was organised at the Prayer Hall of the Samaj where Acharya Sri Sanjib Mukhopadhyay performed “Brahmopasana” followed by devotional songs rendered by Sri. Debasish Roychowdhury, Sm.Rohini Roychowdhury and Sm.Tanya Ghosh.
Lectures on the works and life of Raja Rammohun Roy were organised, where the eminent Rajya Sabha MP and retired diplomat of Prasar Bharati, Sri Jawahar Sarkar spoke at length on new dimensions on the various aspects on the life of Raja Rammohun Roy, which kept the full house inside the Samaj enthralled.
The Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, Dr. Suranjan Das was also a special invitee on the occasion but could not make it owing to a sudden last-minute assignment at New Delhi. On his behalf the Registrar of Jadavpur University, Dr Sm. Sneha Manju Basu, graced the occasion and read out the paper on Rammohun Roy, prepared by the Chancellor, Dr. Suranjan Das.
Dr Sneha Manju Basu also spoke herself on Rammohun, where she dealt upon the socio-economic conditions prevalent in India at those times, and Rammohun Roy’s contribution in the sphere of women’s emancipation, modernising education and changes in religious orthodoxy.
On the 2nd day of the 3 day Celebrations, ie on 23rd May 2022, the programme commenced in the evening at the Prayer Hall of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj with Prayer and Hymns being recited by Dr.Sm.Madhusree Ghosh followed by a rendition of Devotional songs composed by Raja Rammohun Roy and Rabindranath Tagore, by members of the renowned group
“Dakshini Shilpa Gosthi,” under the aegis of their Principal and Mentor Sri Sudeb Guhathakurta. It was a programme captivating the hearts of the audience filled to capacity and a true and fitting tribute to the Father of the Indian Renaissance on his 250th Birth Anniversary.
On the Final day on 24 May, 2022 Sadharan Brahmo Samaj organised Lectures on Raja Rammohun Roy by eminent Academics and Historians of our city. The evening commenced at the Prayer Hall of the Samaj with Sri Amit Das offering a small prayer. Professor Nikhilesh Guha spoke on the creativity of Music of Rammohun Roy, while Professor Shakti Sadhan Mukherjee and Professor Arun Bandyopadhyay dwelt upon the immense contribution of Rammohun in the field of economic reforms. Dr Arun Bandyopadhyay presided over the programme, where members of the audience also had an opportunity to share their views in front of respected intellectuals.
There is always an endeavour on the part of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj to carry on dedicatedly the legacy left behind by eminent personalities of the Samaj and will continue their work in the years and years to come.
Celebration of Raja Rammohun Roy’s 250th Birth Anniversary at Behela Brahmo Samaj
The 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Rammohun Roy was celebrated on 19th June, 2022 evening at Behela Brahmo Samaj, 80/4/A, Brahmo Samaj Road, Behela, Kolkata – 700034 (presently taken over by Bhratbarshiya Brahmo Samaj) which was organised by Bharatbarshiya Brahmo Samaj, Kolkata.
At the outset Shri Tapabrata Brahmachari offered a short prayer accompanied with a few Brahmosangeet wherein he described the rile of Raja Rammohun Roy and Brahmo Samaj during the nineteenth century. Thereafter a short speech was delivered by Shri Arunendu Bandopadhyay on the topic of life and works of Raja Rammohun Roy.
During the last part of the programme, songs written by Raja Rammohun Roy and others were rendered by the members of Bharatbarshiya Brahmo Mandir Sangeet Siksha Kendra, Kolkata led by Shri Supratim Chakraborty.
At the end of the programme, all the guests were served refreshments.