Now, Shri Mairang Singh is in the charge of Radha Gobinda Mandir at Nabadwip

We live in a fuzzy world, words like Nabadwip, Sri Sri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur, no doubt are in our conscious vocabulary. But ask someone what the importance Nabadwip has to our community or what the teachings of Sadhu Thakur are, it would be troubling for many. Here is an attempt by Rebati Mohan Sinha to clear the image.

Mr.Ranjit’s comment, “Who will spread the message of Sri Sri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur”, on an article ‘Are we aware of the issues related to Bishnupriya Manipuri ’.

For information, the message has already been spread not only in Indian metro cities: Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Ahmedabad but also in Sydney, Adelaide in Australia and New Jersey, USA. They celebrate the birth anniversary of Sadhu Thakur every year.

The founder of Radha Gobinda Mandir at Nabadwip, Sri Sri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur took birth in 1871, 26th October in a very poor family from a remote village, named Baropua (Bhubaneswar Nagar). He left for heavenly abode on 17th July 1940. Late Tanu Babu Sinha, the first graduate of Bishnupriya Manipuri took over the charge as 2nd sevait of the Radha Gobinda Mandir in the same year. 

Then on his demise (after 3 yrs) late Krishna Kumar Debabarmana became the 3rd sevait in the year 1943 untill up to his death in 1966 (23yrs).Then came his younger brother late Haridas Debabarmana in the same year and stayed up to 1986 (20yrs).

On his death no one from Krishna Kumar Debabarmana’s family was willing to take over, then his disciple(Krishna Kumar’s) Sri Rakhal Das Babaji,(who is at present, the chief adviser) took over the charge and stayed up to 1997 (11yrs) till the member from his family, his nephew, late Jogendra Lal Debabarmana retired and took over the charge. He brought his cousin late Chandi Sinha to assist him.

Late Chandi Sinha became the Mandir administrator to look after day to day work. In those days, a local member of the Mandir Paridarshan Committee, one Kanak Saha was showing his muscle power to these two brothers and they could not do anything to him. And another version was, the cousin of sevait befriended with Kanak Saha and dwindled with the Mandir funds, such as taking out money from Pranami box without giving any account.

Later on, sevait’s cousin Chandi died, sevait became alone, top of that, it was heard that he was suffering from kidney related desease and was always bed ridden in Guwahati. Shri Rakhaldas Babaji and his disciple, the present sevait Shri Mairang Singh temporarily hold the charge of Mandir administration in his absence.

Sevait late Jogendralal Debabarmana was in his death bed, one day he called the present sevait at his bed side and told that his designated successors nominated by his predecessors (all his uncles), were not willing to take over the charge, hence his (Mairang) services were urgently required and with out any delay he should proceed to take charge of Mandir Administration at Nabadwip, which he did and he is continuing now.

Initially he was struggling his way in to the administration encroached by locals, headed by Kanak Saha. He very tactfully tackled the situation, not even caring his very life. He was about to be attacked with acid bottle; but the enemies` attempt was foiled in time. He escaped unhurt. Really his courage was appreciable then. He made sure, the local goon resigned from the Paridarshan Committee.

Whenever we sat for discussion on matters pertaining to Gobindabari, he used to feel very upset for gossip mongers who spread the baseless rumours : “Mandirgo miyange neelaga” across the Bishnupriya Manipuri Parganas.

To prove, ‘the gossip mongers are wrong’, he arranged for a Shishya-Proshishya Mahamilan in year 2005, the first of it’s kind in Gobindabari`s 85 years history. The who-and-who of the Bishnupriya Manipuri Community attended the Sammelan not only from the states of India: Assam, Tripura, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune; but also from Bangladesh. There were minister, IAS, IFS, IRS officers, doctors, engineers, professors and others from our community, along with the local Bengalee Shishya Proshishya attended the Sammelan.

It was a very remarkable gathering, where we could hear the local speakers narrating the never heard stories, related to Sadhu Thakur.

Certain proposals were made in the meeting of Mahamilan at presence of President, Mandir Paridarshan Committee and he had agreed to place in the forthcoming meeting, for approval. One of the approved proposals was the three member Prachaar subcommittee for spreading the Sadhu Thakur`s Vanee, headed by ex – minister Srimati Vijay Lakshmi Sinha, from Tripura.

During last few years, how far is the progress made by the subcommittee in spreading the message of Sadhu Thakur, I may not be able to give an account; but I belong to Sadhu Thaku`s family, and under the guidance of my father, who is a disciple (and nephew) of Sadhu Thakur, spreading the message not only to the metro cities across the country; but also to the few cities of Australia and the USA. And at our home turfs in Assam and Tripura, people are also gradually gearing up for the celebration.

Before I could conclude, I would like to dwell upon some points for the benefit of the present generation. My perception may be wrong; anyway it can be left to the readers. As Sri Ranjit Sinha asked, who will be the guiding force to spread the message, as he could see, nobody is working in that direction?

Still today most of the Bishnupriya Manipuri people residing in villages of Assam Tripura are ignorant of Sadhu Thakur. “WHY”is a big question mark?

As I mentioned at the beginning, the names and their tenure as sevait, also mentioned some of their status. I did not understand why didn’t they try to propagate the teaching of Sri Sri Bhubaneswar Sadhu Thakur beyond Nabadwip?

Some people may not be agreeing with me; but I must say, spade is spade as far as spreading the teaching of Sadhu Thakur is concerned. Anyway let me come to the point, once I had been to Gabinda Mandir in 1973 in an auspicious occasion and asked some people whether they knew the founder’s name, and the reply came in negative. They knew only Gobindabari Mandir, not as Sadhu Thakur’s Mandir. I may be wrong in saying so; but I was bit upset.

Another point I want to put forward: Once we - wife and myself, been to ISKCON Mandir at Juhu, Mumbai in 1974, at that time the present building was not there. There were plenty of photographs of Nabadwip, displayed there and out of which one photograph, my wife could identify as her late brother Krishna Kumar Debabarma, then sevait of Gabindo Mandir.

Now my question is whose photograph should have been there? Sadhu Thakur’s or the sevait’s? There were three sevaits from a village; but they never celebrated birth anniversary of Sadhu Thakur in their village during their tenure. What it meant? Can we say, they were conscious about Prachaar of Sadhu Thakur’s vanee? I have plenty of examples to put forward; but it is not necessary now.

Can we compare Sadhu Thakur with other sevaits? If ‘not’ then, it is my view, his statue shouldn’t be in line with others. His statue should be just opposite, at far end, of the ‘Leifaam’ i.e. near east wall of Naat Mandir.

‘I would like to invite people to join in discussion.’

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