Pramathalal Sen
Encyclopedia
Pramathalal Sen was a philosopher of Keshub Chunder Sen’s New Dispensation, who along with Benoyendranath Sen
and Mohit Chandra Sen, devoted himself to update the organisation and doctrine of the new religious congregation and improve relations with other Brahmo
groups.
, Sind
. However, Advani’s untimely death brought all work there to a stop. On return to Kolkata, he assisted Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
in his work.
was one of those persisting ideas among many well-intentioned Brahmo leaders that had never gained full acceptance amongst the congregation, nor was it ever institutionalised. Gour Govinda Ray
, the most outstanding intellectual luminary in Keshub’s circle of ascetics, candidly disavowed theology as greatly inferior to religious inspiration. However, there were people like Prasanna Kumar Roy
who argued that no religion has ever been sustained without a systematic theology. Charles Dall, the American Unitarian
missionary, who was member of Keshub’s Brahmo Samaj in 1870s, also argued that a theological school was urgently needed to avert “emotionalism and mysticism among Brahmos.”
Pramathalal Sen was one of the earlier members of the Brahmo Samaj to proceed to Manchester College
in England to study theology in 1897-99. It is said that the Unitarians wanted to confer on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity but he politely refused to accept the same.
In 1905, he opted to be a missionary of the Brahmo Samaj. He was inducted by Gour Govinda Ray and presented by Braja Gopal Niyogi.
In 1910, Pramathalal Sen and T.L.Vaswani represented Brahmo Samaj in the World Conference of Religions at Berlin
. Just as the 1893 conference at Chicago
had been organised by the Unitarians, this conference was also organised by the Unitarians.
and Brahmabandhab Upadhyay from a young age. In 1910, he was the first to publish English translations of Tagore’s poems in England. He was secretary of the Victoria Institution at Kolkata from 1914 to 1930. His missionary activities took him to different towns in India, at many of which he had a devoted following, who eagerly looked forward to the visits of Pramathalal, whom they called Sadhu.
Four volumes of his letters have been published under the title Naludar Chithi (Naluda’s letters). He published Keshub Chunder Sen – a Study.
Benoyendranath Sen
Benoyendranath Sen was a Brahmo activist in Kolkata and a New Dispensation leader in the post-Keshub Chunder Sen era of the Brahmo movement....
and Mohit Chandra Sen, devoted himself to update the organisation and doctrine of the new religious congregation and improve relations with other Brahmo
Brahmo
A Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of all other religions, or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his faith...
groups.
Early life
The son of Nabin Chandra Sen and nephew of Keshub Chunder Sen, he passed the Entrance (school-leaving) examination from Albert School, Kolkata. He gave up further efforts at formal education and decided to work for the Brahmo Samaj. After the death of Keshub Chunder Sen in 1884, he spent some time with Sadhu Hiranand Advani in HyderabadHyderabad, Sindh
is the second largest city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the seventh largest city in the country. The city was founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro upon the ruins of a Mauryan fishing village along the bank of the Indus known as Neroon Kot...
, Sind
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. However, Advani’s untimely death brought all work there to a stop. On return to Kolkata, he assisted Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar was a member of the Hindu reform movement the Brahmo Samaj, and a close associate of Keshub Chandra Sen. He is best known for his research into the "oriental" aspects of the teachings of Jesus....
in his work.
Theology
Brahmo theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
was one of those persisting ideas among many well-intentioned Brahmo leaders that had never gained full acceptance amongst the congregation, nor was it ever institutionalised. Gour Govinda Ray
Gour Govinda Ray
Gour Govinda Ray, Upadhyay, was a notable scholar on Hinduism and a Brahmo missionary. He had edited for forty years Dhamatattva, an official publication of the Brahmo Samaj and assisted Keshub Chunder Sen in the compilation of Slokasangraha, a collection of quotes from different religious...
, the most outstanding intellectual luminary in Keshub’s circle of ascetics, candidly disavowed theology as greatly inferior to religious inspiration. However, there were people like Prasanna Kumar Roy
Prasanna Kumar Roy
Prasanna Kumar Ray , better known as Dr. P. K. Ray, was a well-known educationist and the first Indian to be principal of Presidency College, Kolkata.-Early life:...
who argued that no religion has ever been sustained without a systematic theology. Charles Dall, the American Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
missionary, who was member of Keshub’s Brahmo Samaj in 1870s, also argued that a theological school was urgently needed to avert “emotionalism and mysticism among Brahmos.”
Pramathalal Sen was one of the earlier members of the Brahmo Samaj to proceed to Manchester College
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
in England to study theology in 1897-99. It is said that the Unitarians wanted to confer on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity but he politely refused to accept the same.
In 1905, he opted to be a missionary of the Brahmo Samaj. He was inducted by Gour Govinda Ray and presented by Braja Gopal Niyogi.
In 1910, Pramathalal Sen and T.L.Vaswani represented Brahmo Samaj in the World Conference of Religions at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Just as the 1893 conference at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
had been organised by the Unitarians, this conference was also organised by the Unitarians.
Other activities
He was associated with Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
and Brahmabandhab Upadhyay from a young age. In 1910, he was the first to publish English translations of Tagore’s poems in England. He was secretary of the Victoria Institution at Kolkata from 1914 to 1930. His missionary activities took him to different towns in India, at many of which he had a devoted following, who eagerly looked forward to the visits of Pramathalal, whom they called Sadhu.
Personal traits
He remained single and lived a simple life. In the students’ hostel he set up on Harrison Road (now Mahatma Gandhi Road) in 1902, a board was there, “Seek to be Unknown”. That summed up his attitude towards life. Those who came in close contact with him, knew what a superb letter writer he was. In later life he suffered illness for some time and subsequently succumbed to it. When his end was approaching, everybody around sang, his favourite song,- ebar dubilam, dubilam, pranaram sagare.
- now I am sinking, sinking in the sea of eternity
Works
For many years he edited The Interpreter and the Young Man, World and the New Dispensation, and Navavidhan.Four volumes of his letters have been published under the title Naludar Chithi (Naluda’s letters). He published Keshub Chunder Sen – a Study.