"Mandir'go miyange nilaaga"

Rebati Mohan Sinha

During the period between 2000-2004, there was a rumour spread among Bishnupriya Manipuris of Barak Valley and Bangladesh: "Nabadwipor Bhubaneswar Sadhu Thakur'r Mandir'go miyange nilaaga".

Year 2004, the present Sevait, Mairang Singh Debabarma from Guwahati took charge of administration of Radha Gobindo Mandir at Guntola road, Nabadwip, on the demise of Jogendra Lal Debabarma. The frequent absence of Sevait from mandir premises during his illness, the mandir administration became vulnerable and as a result, a local mandir parichalan committee member became active in collecting money from donation box. There used to be complain from local devotees that they could not do their daily prayer regularly, due to unholy behaviour of the administrative staffs. During the period, Theerth-Yatri from our BM Community also being harassed regularly.

Having heard this, 'miyange mandir'go nilaga', I couldn't stay idle there in Mumbai and 2005 I had to rush for Nabadwip, with my wife  to find the truth behind the rumour. On reaching there, a meeting had been arranged with both Sevait and administrator, late DSP Dhansena Sinha from Guwahati. Both of them had already thought of having a Sammelan among disciples of Bhubaneswar Sadhu Thakur. I assured  of my whole hearted support for celebration in the following year ie. 2006 on Magh Purnima, the day of Mandir inaugural for devotees. It is to mention here that there was no contribution from the BM community for building Radha Gabindo mandir at Nabadwip.

On the day of first "Shishya-Prashishya Sammelan 2006" people  from various parts of  India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata ,Guwahati, Gujrat, Tripura, Barak valley and there was a large contingent of 22 members from Bangladesh headed by Mr. Padmasen Sinha, an engineer and Working President of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha arrived at Yatri Nivas in  the premises of Radha Gabinda Mandir. The Tripura was represented by a Minister, Srimati Bijay Lakshmi Sinha and Sri Banamali Sinha an IAS. Delhi was represented by Sri Manindra Sinha IRS,and Srimati KukKum Sinha, Dy Director of Education, State of Assam. Entire Barak Valley was represented by Prof. Barindra Sinha, Dr. Babul Sinha , Mr. Prasanna Sinha DSP and many more. My entire reception Committee  members from "Bishnupriya Manipuri Kalyan Samiti ( Mumbai ) and members from Kolkata were already working on guests' lodging . I could meet lot of my old friends who personally congratulated for the arrangement.

In the evening, there was a murmuring going on among the Yatri Nivas , seeing no sign of depicting   "Bishnupriya Manipuri"  around them. At the same time the Sammelan was the first of  its kind in  85 years of Mandir's history. Sevait Sri Mairang Singh Debabarma was requested to send a message across the devotees at Yatri Nivas to assemble in the premises of Library to discuss the next day's program as per agenda. People leisurely came and assembled there. On completion of briefing, Sevait had introduced me to the devotees, gathered there, and asked me to address them on the purpose of The Shishya-Prashishya Sammelan. 

My first question to sitting lot to raise hands, whether  any one or his/her ancestors,  a member of Gabindo mandir, by paying monthly / yearly membership subscription?  None  had raised his/her hand. Then I opened up the issue of belongingness. I simply told them, when a person doesn't spend a pie for an article how could it  be his/her? Therefore, we can't say ' Amar BM'r Mandir'go'. And at the same time one could see, the mandir is entirely in our hands. There was a pin drop silence among the people gathered there.The meeting was ended on a silent mode. Devotees dispersed . 

On the following day's meeting, chaired by the president, Inspection Committee of the mandir, I had raised the following questions...

As the mandir was 85 Years old then , a structural survey need be initiated, for which a subcommittee be formed.

A subcommittee be formed to spread the Vani of Bhubaneswar Sadhu Thakur among the masses,   " Onyayer pratikar kore nuarleu, pratbad te jesadeu korani".

As the mandir income is gradually increasing, the Inspection committee should monetarily help poor intelligent students.

Henceforth Shishya prashishya Sammelan be organised at a frequent interval of 3 or 5 years. Except serial 3, the rest of my proposals were accepted on that day.

Since then, we have been celebrating Shishya Prashishya Sammelan every after 5 years. We had celebrated in 2011 and 2016.