Brahmo Conference Organisation

The Brahmo Conference Organisation ("Sammilan") was founded on 27 January 1881 at Mymensingh Bangladesh. It is the inter-faith organisation between the Brahmos of Adi Dharm and some from Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. The stated objectives for founding the organisation included
* to resolve the differences between the 2 existing "Brahmic" divisions of "Adi"ism and "Sadharan"ism,
* preach from every platform that the "Nabobidhan" (a dissenting sect) is not the Brahmo religion but totally opposed to Brahmoism.
By this it would achieve purity of Brahmoism.

Infobox Organization
name= Brahmo Conference Organisation


size=
formation= 1881
type= Religious Organization
headquarters= Kanpur
location= India, Bangladesh
membership= 795
language= English, Bengali
leader_title= President
leader_name= Shantanu Lahiri
key_people= Malay Sanyal, Chitra Mukherjee
num_staff= 3
budget=
website= http://groups.yahoo.com./group/brahmoconferenceorg

Brief History

In 1878 the 2nd. Brahmo Schism ensues resulting in formation of the "Sadharan Brahmo Samaj" with the support of the Adi Brahmo Samaj. The remnant "New Dispensation" ("Nabobidhan") sect creates confusion that they are also Brahmos and start a Samaj at Bhowanipore called "Sammilan Samaj".

In 1879 the Adi Brahmo Samaj at Kolkatta deputed Hemendranath Tagore and Aghore Mukhopadhyaya to resolve theological differences with Sivanath Sastri and Ananda Mohan Bose of the other Samaj.

In 1880 a famous proclamation is issued by 8 prominent Brahmos of Sylhet at Commila, calling "inter alia" for a common organisation to oppose the New Dispensation which "is totally opposed to Brahmoism".

:"Let us all, every Brahmo and Brahmo Samaj, combine to let the world know that the New Dispensation is not the Brahmo religion: That we have not the least sympathy for the creed : That the New Dispensation is totally opposed to Brahmoism." [p.513 Sivnath Sastri "History of the Brahmo Samaj" 2nd edition]

On 27 January 1881 the organisation was formed at Mymensingh. The first President was Hemendranath Tagore, the Secretary was Sivanath Sastri and the Treasurer was Raj Chandra Chaudhuri (son-in-law of Nobin Chandra Roy). [p.113 "History of the Adi Brahmo Samaj" published S.K. Lahiri, Calcutta (1903)]

On 24 March 1881 the organisation was formally registered as a Society under the "Indian Societies Act, 1860" at Mymensingh.

After the untimely death of Hemendranath Tagore in 1884, differences again arose between the Adi Brahmos and Sadharan Brahmos in 1888. A furious row resulted in the Adi Brahmos legally shifting the Society to Lahore in the Punjab where Nobin Chandra Roy was settled.

In 1890, an unofficial splinter conference was convened at Dhaka Bangladesh by Bhubanmohan Sen and Sasibhusan Datta, with the tacit support of Sadharan Samaj.

In 1891, a rival Brahmo "Sammilan" Organisation was formed in Bangladesh, with the support of the Bhowanipore Sammillan Samaj, by non-Brahmin factions of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj and "Nabobidhan" who had married inter-caste under Act III of 1872. The disagreements within the Sadharan Samaj over validity of caste in Brahmoism intensified and in 1907 the Brahmo Conference Organisation resolved that (for purpose of Census of India) "only such Brahmos who accept Trust principles of 1830 completely are entitled to the Brahmo name". Confronted with the results of the 1911 census, Sivanath Sastri was caused to dispute the census figures and retort in 1912 quoting Mr.S.Fletcher Williams "There are more Brahmos outside the Brahmo Samaj than within it" [page 546 "History of Brahmo Samaj" Sivanath Sastri.] . Till 1916 no Brahmin was openly associated with this Sammilan, however, in this year Sivnath Sastri accepted an invitation to be President of the rival "Sammilani" conclave.

In 1942 during World War II elders of the Brahmo Conference accepted an invitation from Amar Chandra Bhattacharya to participate in the rival organisation's "unity" conclave at Dhamua (West Bengal), but they were assaulted there and the police had to be called in. Ever since that fateful day, the organisation has distrusted all peace efforts to unite the Brahmin and non-Brahmin factions within Sadharan Samaj.

In 1949 after the Partition of India, the organisation was shifted to Kanpur.

Controversies

True Brahmos False Brahmos

In a recent message titled "True Brahmos False Brahmos", the President of the Organisation has explained the creed of the organisation. [ [http://www.nabble.com/True-Brahmos-False-Brahmos-p18551339.html Nabble - True Brahmos False Brahmos ] ]

* Brahmoism is the highest form of Hinduism, and is so very different from what passes for Hinduism today that Brahmos consider themselves to be "beyond the pale of Hinduism" and a separate religion altogether.

* A "True" 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.

* "False" Brahmos are those who believe that "following" the principles of Brahmoism is sufficient. These people have given Brahmoism a very bad reputation. Prominent examples of such "False" Brahmos are "Keshub Chunder Sen" and Nabobidhan "New Dispensation" who have preached and propagated Rosicrucianism and other Masonic beliefs in the guise of Brahmoism. Even today they operate secret societies to attract neophytes to their symbolic devil worship in the name of Brahmoism.

Caste

The Secretary of the organisation circulated the current Brahmo position on caste in a series of messages.

Casteism is allowed in Brahmoism

"The Trust principles refer to "all sorts and descriptions of people without distinction" This is not a prohibition against caste. It admits that people are of all sorts and description. It denies "distinction" among them. In other words people can be "sorted" into caste but the people within the "caste" cannot have distinctions. This Brahmic concept has even been incorporated into India's Constitution as a fundamental right.:"Every person is equal, but if people can be reasonably classified then some classes can be more equal than others." [ [http://www.nabble.com/-brahmoconference--Re%3A-TIES-THAT-BIND-p17670226.html Nabble - [brahmoconference Re: TIES THAT BIND ] ]

Brahmoism only for Brahmins

In another message the Secretary of the organisation clarifies that Brahmoism is only for Brahmins.:"Brahmoism then (as it is today) was a Religion for Brahmons of Brahmons by Brahmons." [ [http://www.nabble.com/-brahmoconference--Re%3A-TIES-THAT-BIND-p17665469.html Nabble - [brahmoconference Re: TIES THAT BIND ] ]

References & Notes

External Links