KUMAR GAJENDRA NARAYAN (Sr)

Madok Birodhi Divas in Cooch Behar

The Heritage Society of Cooch Behar has called upon all to observe 24 August as Prohibition Day in Cooch Behar.

Kumar Gajendra Narayan (Senior) was the great grandson of Maharaja Harendra Narayan. He had born on 24 August at Patakura in Cooch Behar. Being a barrister he came back from England and married Savitri Devi, the second daughter of the great social reformer of Bengal and a religious leader of Brahmo sect, Brahmananda Kesav Chandra Sen. The elder sister of Savitri Devi was Maharani Sunity Devi, the wife of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan.

On behalf of the HSCB, Mr Arup Jyoti Majumder said Kumar Gajendra Narayan (Senior) had initiated a movement for prohibition to keep the youths away from intoxicants 122 years ago. He was the founder of the temple of Nava Bidhan Brahmo Samaj, Keshav Ashram, Arya Naree Samaj, Brahmo Pally, Brahmo Library and Brahmo Boarding. He also established a technical school for the women.

On 20 June 1887 he established the Surapaan Nibarani Sava to save the poor people from the addiction of toxicants. It turned into a widespread movement in Cooch Behar. As the movement for prohibition has never lost its appeal the Heritage Society of Cooch Behar called upon all to observe the birthday of Kumar Gajendra Narayan (Senior) as Madok Birodhi Divas in Cooch Behar, Mr Majumder said.