Adi Brahma Sabha
As mentioned, the Adi Dharma founders were regularly tainted and scandalised by
orthodoxy as Pirali Brahmin and defamed as being officially banned from
entering temples like Jaganath Temple (Puri) by Govt regulations of
1807. Consequently the Adi Brahmos then set up their own faith called Adi Brahma Sabha in 1828/1830 by Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha and codified their religion as Adi Brahma Dharma
published from 1848. The founders of this Brahmo religion were foremost
reformers for nationalism, equality, secularism and education which now
stand enshrined in the Constitution of India as Fundamental Rights.
These founding fathers of Adi Dharma believed then that Hinduism was
thoroughly corrupted and debased and that strong Law (ie. Dharma)
of first Moslems and then English Rulers could cleanse India from these
evils. For their associations with the Rulers of the times, they were
ostracised and barred from orthodox Hindu society but were amply
compensated by "being so weighed down in honours by the British that
they forgot all the radicalism of their youth." It was Dwarkanath
Tagore alone who could publicly lambast an English Magistrate
Abercrombie Dick on the emergence of servile mai-baap (great lord) ruling culture of 19th cent. Bengal as follows:-
- " .. If Mr.Dick wishes me to specify what I deem the present
characteristic failings of the natives I answer that they are - a want
of truth, a want of integrity, a want of independence. .. arising from
being subjected to misrule of an igorant, intolerant and licentious
soldiery .. falling into abject submission, deceit and fraud".
Previously in 1829 Dwarkanath and Prasanna Coomar had founded the Landholders (Zamindars)
Association which in its variants went on to play such role in modern
India's development. The first major success of this Zamindari Sabha
was arraigning the East India Company forces against Titumir a Muslim
extortionist of zamindars (or jehadi freedom fighter) at Nadia in
November 1831. |