Sanskrit scholar Binod Behari Sinha

By RK Harilal Sinha

We know when a piece of wood catches fire it leaves behind dark ashes. Technically speaking, it occurs because of the presence of tiny fire-producing molecules the wood is made up of i.e., carbon molecules. Though, we cannot see the heat-producing molecules, its presence is felt only when it burns.

Now the question is, if wood possess the fire-producing molecules then what is the necessity the mankind have, especially here mentioning it, in explaining the whole phenomenon? It actually has, even inferences could be drawn, and could be related to our Bishnupriya Manipuri society, which is like a wood. How? Read this real story that took place decades ago in our Bishnupriya Manipuri society and you will get the answer. There were scholars like heat-producing carbon molecules who have brighten up our society with their immense knowledge.

In the year 1968, a Commissioner of Minority Commission, Government of India along with Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha dignitaries, held a meeting in the village Behara to apprise the masses about the contents of the Commission. The meeting drew a large crowd consisting of men, women, children and elders.

Before the meeting got underway, the convoy of the Commissioner was warmly greeted and garlanded by school going children and elders, they all chanted the slogans of honourable Commissioner. The elderly people greeted him by beating cymbals, DAK and sounding SHAKAS. And in this way the high-profile affair began.

The meeting organised in the village primarily school was packed with village audience, sitting calmly, eagerly waiting for the Commissioner's speech. The Commissioner delivered his speech in Sanskrit emphasising the noble purpose of the Commission to the culture, education and social life of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. He ended his speech by praising the community and the Mahasabha.

After the completion of the chief guest’s speech, Binod Behari Sinha, a Sanskrit scholar of village Bhubeneshwar Nagar, district Cachar, Assam, stood up to deliver his speech in Sanskrit. The Commissioner has never thought in his dream that in the small village of Northeast, Assam, a person would be holding the knowledge of Sanskrit and at par with his command of language. His speech worked like a window opening it to our culture, education and social life.

Of his immense knowledge, Binod Behari Sinha was honoured with the title of Kavya Tirtha Vidyalankar. Interestingly, he merely ran a Sanskrit Tool (a modern day coaching school) with only having 4-5 students of nearby villages.

In his eloquent speech, Panditji not only applauded the culture, education and social life of our society but it diligently highlighted the influence of Vaisnavism culture. The speech had a penetrable effect on the honourable guest.

At last, the Commissioner wholeheartedly praised Panditji for his immense knowledge and said the presence of Pandit Binod Behari Sinha has totally broken the perception about the community.

Persons like Binod Behari Sinha, were like the energy rich carbon molecules having its existence in the Bishnupriya Manipuri wood that had silently brighten up and contributed immensely to the advancement of the society.