Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha
Encyclopedia
The modern religious philosophy of Brahmoism
is based in part on the foundations of reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy
's humanitarian philosophy, as exemplified by the Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha, known to Brahmo
s as the 1830 Brahmo Trust Deed.
(Calcutta), India
. This Sabha was convened by religious reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy
for his family and friends settled there. These were essentially informal meetings of Bengali Brahmins, open to all Brahmins, and there was no formal organisation or theology as such. On January 8, 1830 influential members of the closely related Kulin clan of Tagore
(Thakur) and Roy (Vandopādhyāya) zumeendar family mutually executed the Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha for the first Adi Brahmo Samaj place of worship on Chitpore Road (now Rabindra Sarani), Kolkata, India with Ram Chandra Vidyabagish
as first resident superintendent. In November 1830, Ram Mohan Roy left for England, leaving the Trust Deed as legacy for his successors.
In addition to being a legal document, the (Banian) Trust Deed of 1830 settles some basic principles of Brahmo Samaj
or,
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and,
and,
and,
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and,
and,
Brahmoism
Brahmoism is a religious movement from the late 18th century Bengal originating the Bengali Renaissance, the nascent Indian independence movement and the wider Hindu reform movements of the period...
is based in part on the foundations of reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
's humanitarian philosophy, as exemplified by the Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha, known to 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...
s as the 1830 Brahmo Trust Deed.
Brief history
On August 20, 1828 the first assembly of the Brahmo Sabha was held at KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(Calcutta), 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...
. This Sabha was convened by religious reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
for his family and friends settled there. These were essentially informal meetings of Bengali Brahmins, open to all Brahmins, and there was no formal organisation or theology as such. On January 8, 1830 influential members of the closely related Kulin clan of Tagore
Tagore family
The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Kolkata, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance...
(Thakur) and Roy (Vandopādhyāya) zumeendar family mutually executed the Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha for the first Adi Brahmo Samaj place of worship on Chitpore Road (now Rabindra Sarani), Kolkata, India with Ram Chandra Vidyabagish
Ram Chandra Vidyabagish
Ramchandra Vidyabagish was an Indian lexicographer and Sanskrit scholar. He is known for his Bangabhashabhidhan, the first monolingual Bengali dictionary, published in 1817. He taught at the Vedanta College established by Raja Rammohun Roy, and later at Sanskrit College from 1827-37...
as first resident superintendent. In November 1830, Ram Mohan Roy left for England, leaving the Trust Deed as legacy for his successors.
In addition to being a legal document, the (Banian) Trust Deed of 1830 settles some basic principles of 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...
- a place of public meeting of all sorts and descriptions of people without distinction as shall behave and conduct themselves in an orderly sober religious and devout manner,
or,
- the worship and adoration of the Eternal Unsearchable and Immutable Being who is the Author and Preserver of the Universe, but not under or by any other name designation or title peculiarly used for and applied, to any particular being or beings by any man or set of men whatsoever,
and,
- that no graven image statue or sculpture, carving, painting, picture, portrait or the likeness of anything shall be admitted within the said messages building, land, tenements, hereditaments and premise,
and,
- that no sacrifice, offering, oblation of any kind or thing shall ever be permitted therein, and that no animal or living creature shall within or on the said message building, land, tenements, hereditaments and premises be deprived of life either for religious purposes or for food,
and,
- that no eating or drinking (except such as shall be necessary by any accident for the preservation of life) feasting or rioting be permitted therein, or thereon,
and,
- that in conducting the said worship and adoration, no object, animate or inanimate, that has been, or is, or shall hereafter become or be recognized as an object of worship by any man or set of men shall be reviled or slightingly or contemptuously spoken of or alluded to, either in preaching, prayer or in the hymns or other mode of worship that may be delivered or used in the said message or building,
and,
- that no sermon, preaching, discourse, prayer or hymn be delivered, made or used in such worship but such as have a tendency to the promotion of the contemplation of the Author and Preserver of the Universe, to the promotion of charity, morality, piety, benevolence, virtue and the strengthening the bonds of union between men of all religious persuasions and creeds,
and,
- also that a person of good repute and well known for his knowledge, piety and morality be employed by the said Trustees or the survivors or survivors of them or the heirs of such survivor or their or his assigns as a resident superintendent and for the purpose of superintending the worship so to be performed as in hereinbefore stated and expressed,
and,
- that such worship be performed daily or least as often as once in seven days.
Analysis
The Trust Deed of 1830 is a complex legal document in archaic legal drafting for transfer of the property at Chitpur Road to the Trustees. This section will guide you through it.Trustors
- Dwarkanath TagoreDwarkanath TagoreDwarkanath Tagore , was one of the first Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs, was the founder of the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family, and is notable for making substantial contributions to the Bengal Renaissance.-Childhood:...
of Jorasankoe in the Town of Calcutta, Zumeendar, - Kalleenath Roy Choudhury of Burranugar in the Zillah of Havelly in the suburbs of Calcutta, Zumeendar
- Prasanna Coomar TagorePrasanna Coomar TagoreSee Tagore for disambiguationPrasanna Coomar Tagore was son of Gopi Mohan Tagore, one of the founders of Hindu College. He belonged to the Pathuriaghata branch of the Tagore family and was one of the leaders of the conservative branch of Hindu society...
of Pattoriaghatta in Calcutta, Zumeendar, - Ram Chandra VidyabagishRam Chandra VidyabagishRamchandra Vidyabagish was an Indian lexicographer and Sanskrit scholar. He is known for his Bangabhashabhidhan, the first monolingual Bengali dictionary, published in 1817. He taught at the Vedanta College established by Raja Rammohun Roy, and later at Sanskrit College from 1827-37...
of Simlah in Calcutta, Pundit, and - Ram Mohan RoyRam Mohan RoyRaja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
of Manicktullah in Calcutta, aforesaid Zumeendar.
Trustees
- Boykontonath Roy of Burranugur in the Zillah of Havelly in the Suburbs of the Town of Calcutta, Zumeendar,
- Radapersaud Roy of Manicktullah in Calcutta, Zumeendar and
- Ramnath Tagore of Jorasankoe Calcutta.
Explanation of the parties
- Zumendeer = Zamindar = Large Landlords
- Names are listed in alphabetical order in the Deed so that there is no "distinction" between them.
See also
- Adi Brahmo Samaj (Redirects to Brahmo)
- Bengali renaissance
- BrahmoBrahmoA 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...
- for adherents - BrahmoismBrahmoismBrahmoism is a religious movement from the late 18th century Bengal originating the Bengali Renaissance, the nascent Indian independence movement and the wider Hindu reform movements of the period...
- for Brahmo religion - Brahmo SamajBrahmo SamajBrahmo 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...
- for community of Brahmoism - History of BengalHistory of BengalThe history of Bengal includes modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal, dates back four millennia. To some extent, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers separated it from the mainland of India, though at times, Bengal has played an important role in the history of India.- Etymology :The exact origin...
- Prarthana SamajPrarthana SamajPrarthana Samaj, or "Prayer Society" in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Maharashtra based on earlier reform movements and traditions of Maharashtra formed in 1849 by Ram Balkrishna Jaykar and others in Mumbai. It was secret in order to avoid the wrath of the powerful...
- Sadharan Brahmo SamajSadharan Brahmo SamajThe Sadharan Brahmo Samaj is a religious division of Brahmoism formed as a result of 2 schisms in the Brahmo Samaj in 1866 and 1878 respectively.-The Brahmo Samaj:...
(Stub) - Tattwabodhini PatrikaTattwabodhini PatrikaTattwabodhini Patrika [Tattwabodhini Patrika ] was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore on 16 th August, 1843, as a journal of the Tattwabodhini Sabha, and continued publication until 1883...