Mahesh Chandra Ghosh
Encyclopedia
Mahesh Chandra Ghosh (1868-1930) was a Bengali
India
n philosopher. He was conferred the title of Vednataratna for his immense knowledge of the religious scriptures and philosophy.
(now in Bangladesh
), he initially studied first arts and then graduated from City College, Kolkata
. He joined New School at Barddhaman as a teacher and then moved on to Hazaribagh
. He became head master of Hazaribagh Zilla School, a position he held till retirement.
When his elder brother, Radhacharan Ghosh, joined the Brahmo Samaj
, he became his follower. In those days, it meant social ostracism but the spirited brothers did not worry about that. However, the environment at Hazaribagh was more mahesh and the local Bengali community extended support to the Brahmo Samaj irrespective of their personal beliefs and attachment to creeds. He succeeded Sashi Bhusan Ghosh as Secretary of Hazaribagh Brahmo Samaj and served for a long period from 1916 to 1930. It was during his term as Secretary that the small Brahmo community at Hazaribagh split and a separate Nava Bidhan Mandir (affiliated to the group led by Keshub Chunder Sen and his followers) was established. It was a fall-out of the bitter feelings then prevailing amongst Brahmos owing allegiance to different units.
A life-long bachelor, he used to practice homeopathy
and distribute free medicines to the poor.
and Christianity
. He wrote extensively in newspapers and magazines. Some these were collected and published in book form as Buddhaprasanga.
He had a large collection of books in his personal library. The noted Bengali author Subodh Ghosh
, then a young man in search of knowledge, was a regular visitor to the library. During the period, Hazaribagh was a place of regular visit for learned people from Kolkata. They used to go there for change of climate. Many of them gathered at his house or rather library for exchange of ideas. Even amongst the local population there were great scholars such as the poet Kamini Roy
and Kharga Singha Ghosh, a learned professor in St. Columba’s College. It was not only the climate that attracted people from outside but also the warmth of hospitality of the local population and the environment of learning and devotion.
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n philosopher. He was conferred the title of Vednataratna for his immense knowledge of the religious scriptures and philosophy.
Life
He was the son of Ramjay Ghosh of PabnaPabna
Pabna is a town in Rajshahi Division ofBangladesh and the administrative capital of eponymous Pabna District. It is located on the north bank of Padma river and has a population of about 138,000.-Name:...
(now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), he initially studied first arts and then graduated from City College, Kolkata
City College, Kolkata
City College is a constituent undergraduate college of the University of Calcutta. Established in 1881, it is one of the heritage institutions of Calcutta which played a prominent social role in the wake of the Bengal Renaissance of the nineteenth century. The college is located at 102/1, Raja...
. He joined New School at Barddhaman as a teacher and then moved on to Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
. He became head master of Hazaribagh Zilla School, a position he held till retirement.
When his elder brother, Radhacharan Ghosh, joined the Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
, he became his follower. In those days, it meant social ostracism but the spirited brothers did not worry about that. However, the environment at Hazaribagh was more mahesh and the local Bengali community extended support to the Brahmo Samaj irrespective of their personal beliefs and attachment to creeds. He succeeded Sashi Bhusan Ghosh as Secretary of Hazaribagh Brahmo Samaj and served for a long period from 1916 to 1930. It was during his term as Secretary that the small Brahmo community at Hazaribagh split and a separate Nava Bidhan Mandir (affiliated to the group led by Keshub Chunder Sen and his followers) was established. It was a fall-out of the bitter feelings then prevailing amongst Brahmos owing allegiance to different units.
A life-long bachelor, he used to practice homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
and distribute free medicines to the poor.
Erudition
He was vastly learned in history, oriental and occidental philosophy, religion and scriptures, and knew several languages. He had deep knowledge of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. He wrote extensively in newspapers and magazines. Some these were collected and published in book form as Buddhaprasanga.
He had a large collection of books in his personal library. The noted Bengali author Subodh Ghosh
Subodh Ghosh
Subodh Ghosh was a noted Bengali author and journalist, with Kolkata-based daily newspaper Ananda Bazar Patrika. His best known work Bharat Premkatha, about the romances of epic Indian characters, has remained a sensation in bengali literature world...
, then a young man in search of knowledge, was a regular visitor to the library. During the period, Hazaribagh was a place of regular visit for learned people from Kolkata. They used to go there for change of climate. Many of them gathered at his house or rather library for exchange of ideas. Even amongst the local population there were great scholars such as the poet Kamini Roy
Kamini Roy
Kamini Roy was a leading Bengali poet, social worker and feminist from India. She was the first woman honours graduate in India.-Early life:...
and Kharga Singha Ghosh, a learned professor in St. Columba’s College. It was not only the climate that attracted people from outside but also the warmth of hospitality of the local population and the environment of learning and devotion.