RELEVANCE OF BRAHMO SAMAJ TODAY

One hundred and thirty two years ago an annual event named BRAHMO CONFERENCE was initiated and the 132nd session of this event, leaving apart a couple of breaks in between, will commence on 27th December, 2023 at Guwahati. The remarkably sustained sessions of Brahmo Conference testify the fact that the torch of Brahmo thought is still alive.

BRAHMO SAMAJ: HISTORIC BACKGROUND
Recently there has been a year-long global celebration of the 250th birth anniversary of Raja Rammohun Roy, the Father of Modern India. Two characteristics of the modern reformed world today are impact of Science & Technology, and Globalization, both of which appear to be the target areas of the work of Raja Rammohun Roy. Communication and commuting have become so easy in the modern world that communities no longer remain isolated from each other today, unlike they used to be two centuries ago. Raja Rammohun Roy was the first Indian in that period known to take steps to lead the country comprising isolated communities in the 18 & 19th century to the path of progress resulting from open and focused interaction with communities in other countries in the world in general and European continent in particular. He pleaded with the British Government for introducing modern science education in India. He coupled the modern knowledge systems based on rational thinking with the glorious past of India and founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828. Tenets of Brahmo Samaj are based on the Vedic philosophy which describes the all pervading principle called Brahma as the Supreme Soul, the cause of the Universe and also human race. Raja Rammohun Roy envisioned that monotheism as put forth in the original Vedic scriptures would be able to provide Hindus a platform which other religions can also share and this would ultimately lead to a seamlessly homogeneous society in this country.

From a free and flourishing society of the glorious past, India reduced to a wretched state in the medieval period as she succumbed to foreign invasions. Yet, because of the strong resistance exerted by some rulers and warriors, Maharana Pratap, Bappa Rawal, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to name a few, India could remain as a Hindu majority multi-religious country as against Islamisation of the western, north-western, eastern and south-eastern territories around. However the overall state of insecurity of the people resulted in transforming Hinduism into a highly ritualistic system divided by polytheism into mutually exclusive small sects, all following their own strict religious customs of which one common was to put women in darkness of ignorance in a vulnerable state. The Brahmo movement initiated by Raja Rammohun Roy stood for religious and social reforms hand in hand. Abolition of Sati tradition, female education, widow remarriage, upliftment of the downtrodden with a humanitarian approach, adoption of the principle of equality as an offshoot of the principle “brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God” to break open all the barriers among different sects in the society, were the methods upheld and practised by the Brahmo movement. In the following years a sound foundation of Upanishads was given to the Brahmo philosophy by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore. The movement was carried forward by the leaders of the subsequent generations and spread across the country. In Maharashtra and some other parts of India the movement was named as Prarthana Samaj. Since 1890 the Brahmo and Prarthana Samajes in India and Bangladesh (erstwhile East Bengal) have been meeting annually in Brahmo Conference sessions and strengthening the fellowship.

PRESENT INDIAN SCENARIO
In the post-independence era, the Indian scenario has changed enormously. The world wide impact of galloping progress in Science and Technology is also felt in India vividly. In fact India is at par with many developed countries in the world, as seen from her contribution in many areas of Science and Technology such as Software Industry, Pharma Industry, Space Technology, and so on. Green Revolution and White Revolution, the offshoots of the progress in Science and Technology, taken place in India have elevated the overall living conditions of the citizens compared to those in the pre-independence era. The Indian youth today is already contributing or aspiring to contribute in the field of Science and Technology substantially.

In spite of such a progress attained by means of Science and Technology, the youth is lacking the scientific temper in their approach to many facets of life in general, and religious faith in particular. Scientific temper is something that needs to be practised in all the walks of life. Keeping day-to-day work and religious faith in separate compartments of mind often becomes a source of mental conflict and confusion. Due to lack of clarity of thought on these issues, youth today are often found to get indulged in activities which do not pass the test of REASON. They are often found to ignore the Duties of Indian Citizens spelled out in the Constitution of India.

DUTIES OF CITIZENS OF INDIA AND BRAHMO PRINCIPLES
The article 51 A of the Constitution of India clearly mentions the Duties of the Citizens of India. The article 51 A(e) states “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. As per 51A(f) the duty of every citizen of India is to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. According to 51A(g) the duty of every citizen of India is to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. The article 51A (h) states that it is the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

While Raja Rammohun Roy is recognised as the Father of Modern India, it is but natural to have the contents of article 51A (e,f,g,h) of the Constitution as the duties of every citizen of India. These are the goals for which Raja Rammohun Roy strived throughout his lifetime and which became the cardinal principles of Brahmo and Prarthana Samajes.

Spiritually Brahmo Samaj has monotheistic philosophy. Brahmo Samaj believes in ONE GOD Who is the all pervading principle named as BRAHMA in Vedas, the OLDEST SCRIPTURES OF WORLD. Upanishads, which follow the Vedas, and serve as another resource material for Brahmo philosophy, describe Brahma or God as the principle from Whom all the creatures or beings originate, because of Whom these sustain during their life period and finally(when departed from the earthly mortal world) they enter and become part of this all pervading principle.

(यतो वा इमानि भूतानि जायन्ते |
येन जातानि जीवन्ति ||
यत्प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति |
तद्वीजिज्ञासस्व तद् ब्रह्म ||
~ तैत्तरीय उपनिषद -३-१)

This is the concept of God accepted by Brahmo Samaj. Practical interpretation of this concept of God is spelt out in one of the cardinal principles of Brahmo Samaj, which upholds “Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God“. The followers of Brahmo Samaj observe this Brahmo Principle which is in consonance with the Constitution of India.

Vedas are known as the oldest scriptures of the world. Vedas stand as the rich heritage of India. Vedas and Upanishads describe and offer salutations to the all pervading God or Brahma Who dwells in fire, water, herbs, and the entire universe.

(ॐ यो देवोऽग्नौ योऽप्सु |
यो विश्वं भुवनमाविवेश ||
य ओषधीषु यो वनस्पतिषु |
तस्मै देवाय नमो नमः ||
~श्वेताश्वतर उपनिषद-२-१७ )

Working for protection and improvement, or conservation of the natural environment is implicit in offering salutations to God dwelling in the elements of the universe. Brahmo philosophy is, thus, in tune with the constitutional duties of citizens of India.

Religion is usually equated to rituals and customs, some of which have some historic, geographic, cultural or climatic origin. Some others, however, are imposed on the followers out of vested interests of some system. In most cases critical analysis of rituals is strictly prohibited in the name of religion itself. It is here, in analyzing the origin of rituals, where scientific temper has a role to play. Brahmo Samaj has a scientific and rational approach in performance of religious rites; with importance given to the essence rather than the paraphernalia. Approach of Brahmo Samaj towards all the aspects of religion is rational and incorporates scientific temper; and thus is in consonance with the Constitution of India.

Brahmo Samaj does not prohibit non-Brahmos attending the Brahmo prayer services, celebration of Brahmo festivals, or occasions of performing rites in Brahmo way. In fact, Brahmo Samaj is a platform on which the followers of all religions can come together and pray One God. The Brahmo thought gives a rational and scientific perspective to look at one’s own religion and to take a new approach needed for co-existence of different religions without any ill feelings for each other, that is to say for creating a homogeneous society.

INTER-COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDIG
What our country needs today is harmony among all the religious sects and inter-community understanding. This can be achieved through action oriented programmes based on common principles acceptable to all the religions, a sort of least common multiple of doctrines of all the religions. The five point formula “Humanize, Equalize, Spiritualize, Do righteous deeds and Adopt scientific temper” can fulfill this requirement and philanthropic programmes for the entire society, based on this formula may be planned and carried out. Many Brahmo Samajes across the country have already been conducting such programmes for the benefit of the entire society irrespective of caste, creed and religion, running educational institutions, orphanages, children camps, providing specific aid such as science laboratory equipment to needy schools, women empowerment programmes, running libraries and medical consultancy centres, meditation camps, to name a few. With availablity of more funds such programmes can be expanded for the benefit of larger part of the society in general.

CHARACTER BUILDING
Brahmo Samaj believes in ONE GOD Who is All pervading and Formless BRAHMA. At the same time the Samaj believes that God is epitome of the attributes such as Truth, Knowledge, Bliss, Eternal nature, Peacefulness, Purity, Infinity and is Unblemished by any kind of evil. Maharshi Devendranath Tagore compiled these attributes of One God, described in Vedas and Upanishads, in a small verse as follows :

ॐ सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म |
आनन्दरूपममृतं यद् विभाति ||
शान्तं शिवमद्वैतम् |
शुद्धमपापविद्धम् ||

Brahmo Samaj preaches that one has to strive for acquiring these devine attributes in oneself. Thus, Brahmo Samaj doctrine is to follow the path of truth, always strive for knowledge ( to be used in righteous way), carry out deeds to spread happiness, work so as to lead to peacefulness, adopt purity in behaviour ( by keeping lust, anger, greed, temptation, ego and jaelousy away). In other words, Brahmo Samaj preaches character building. Today our country is facing character crisis. Violating rules and regulations, indulging in corruption for small gains is coming in a big way. Not following traffic rules and cleanliness norms has become a common practice of people. India is looked upon as a characterless country with poor sanitization by the world. Under such circumstances, observance of Brahmo Doctrine by all is a way out which will help India build its character. Following the Brahmo principles by all will create an atmosphere where all the communities in India will intermingle with each other happily.

THOUGHT TO PONDER
The main source of inter-community conflicts is exhibition of ritualistic religion on streets and in public places. If all such public exibitions could be prevented and such activities could be restricted to enclosed private places, the inter-community conflicts would altogether get eliminated. If all the citizens of India follow their religious rituals only inside four walls and adopt the above mentioned five point formula, namely , Humanize – Equalize – Spiritualize – Do Righteous Deeds – Adopt Scientific Temper, in the public activities, India would be a seamlessly homogeneous country. This would be the Nation envisioned by the Father of Modern India.

About the authors :

Dr. Dilip Joag is Professor and Head (Retired), Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune and
Trustee, Pune Prarthana Samaj.

Dr. Sushama Joag is Associate Professor and Head (Retired), Department of Chemistry, Modern College, Pune, and
Trustee, Pune Prarthana Samaj,