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The religious reformation initiated by Raja Rammohan Ray had lapsed for want of proper guidance after the death of the latter. The Brahmo Somaj or the Theistic Society founded by him, also fell under orthodox influences. A central force was necessary in order to carry on the work begun by the Raja; and in Devendranath the Brahmo Samaj found a worthy and capable leader.

Debendranath was born in 1818 in the illustrious Tagore family of Calcutta. He was the eldest son of the famous Dwarkanath Tagore, a rich and highly cultured merchant, and a public man who played an important part in Calcutta society in his days. He was one of the chief supporters of Raja Rammohan Ray in his theistic movement; and Debendranath inherited from him his religious instinct. During his student life at the Hindu College, he showed no strong spiritual tendencies; but be began his religious career from the close of his early manhood, when he formally joined the Brahmo Somaj in 1842. He worked hard for its improvement, and succeeded to some extent. In 1845 difference of opinion arose among his followers, some holding that the Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, were infallible, others holding the contrary view. To solve the problem, four energetic Brahmins were sent in 1845 to Benares, the seat of Vedic culture, to study the Vedas. They returned to Calcutta a few years later, when they gave out that the Vedas were not infallible. This departure from orthodoxy was an important step in the history of the Brahmo Somaj, and to supply the place of the Vedas, Debendranath compiled the "Brahmo Dharma" (Brahmo religion)—a treatise for the guidance of his followers, which embodied the teachings of the Hindu Rishis consistent with reason and science.

In 1849 he founded the Tattwa Bodhini Sabha (a society for the knowledge of truth) and started a journal as the organ of the society. The paper dealt with various subjects—religious, philosophical, antiquarian and scientific. It marks an