The Maharaja’s marriage to Keshab Chandra Sen’s 13-year-old daughter, Sunity Devi, brought a breach in the institution of Brahmo Samaj in 1866. This resulted in its division. While the Maharaja and his family became a part of Keshab Chandra Sen’s Nava Bidhan Brahmo Samaj, (formed as a result of the divide), Dewanji remained in the other faction – the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. It is obvious the relation between the two factions was not very cordial yet did not create much chaos either. Dewanji continued to pursue his ideology as a member of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. Earlier in his life along with Braja Sundar Mitra, he was associated with the establishment of the Brahmo Samaj. This was later joined by eminent personalities like Bipin Chandra Pal, Raj Chandra Chaudhuri, Brajendranath Sen and so on. Dewanji remained the secretary of the Cooch Behar Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.
Unveiling the Enigma of Mrs. Kalika Das
It is interesting to note that not much is known about Dewanji’s wife, the nostalgia portrayed in Charu Chandra Dutta’s book is one of the few evidences. Born into the Zamindar family of Rayena district in Burdwan, Dewanji’s wife grew up in an influential and powerful family. Despite her influential family and renowned husband, she lived a life largely unaffected by their status. She continued to live a mundane life as any other spiritual Hindu lady. Surrounded by people of monotheistic Brahmo ideologies and western thoughts, she continued to practice her beliefs silently.
As Charu Chandra Dutta recalls, she would interact and mingle with all the foreign guests whom Dewanji invited over. She would later take a bath after they left without anyone noticing. Neither did she discuss about her beliefs nor did she ever ask her children to follow them. A lady who took care of her family and maintained her beliefs and principles. Her warmth and welcoming behavior made her popular not only among the family and house helps but also among Kalika Das Dutta’s professional acquaintances including the foreigners.
Kalika Das: A Father
As a strict father, Kalika Das tried to inculcate his ideas and thoughts among his sons. However, his pro-British attitude and apathy towards the Indian Independence struggle were evident from the writings of Charu Chandra Dutta. Kalika Das went to the extent of forcing English attires on him and sending him off to London to keep him away from the fever of the freedom struggle. Charu Chandra Duta narrates how his father wanted him to sit for the ICS examination and join the administrative services under the British government. Dewanji was against caste discrimination and racism. He had rebuked his son for refusing to eat dinner cooked by a Muslim chef. However, even though he was not an atheist, he neither actively encouraged nor strongly condemned any religious activities. For instance, he strictly prohibited his children from listening to kirtans and bhajans, while allowing them to attend the theatre.
Despite his strict parenting style, he ensured his children’s well-being. He devoted himself equally to their upbringing, career, and family life. From taking his three sons, Charu Chandr, Atul Chandr and Nirmal Chandra for weekend camps to guiding them with their career he did his duties as a father. His warm behavior towards the house-help, made them worship him. He was certainly a kind man who was loyal to his work and to his people. Dewanji had stark differences in opinion with his son Charu Chandra. While Dewanji remained loyal to the British government, Charu Chandra Dutta joined Aurobindo Ghose. Thus associating himself directly to the freedom struggle against the British. Yet, people observed the sweet fatherly affection throughout. He went on protecting Charu Chandra throughout his anti-governmental endeavors without supporting him directly. Additionally, he looked after his family in Charu Chandra’s absence.
A Memory Forgotten
Yet, the massive personality disappeared into oblivion. A man who ruled over the hearts of people for almost half a century vanished with the end of his term. Despite leading such a significant life and achieving such heights of success, Dewanji remained overshadowed behind the royal grandeur. His people were only to forget him. It is disheartening to witness how Bengal erased him from History, and Cooch Behar fails to recognize his name anymore. Today, Dewanji’s name exists only through ‘Kalika Das Road’ and ‘Kalika Bazaar’ of Cooch Behar. Despite his descendants being strewn all over the country, unidentified and anonymous, it is a historical disgrace to see a self-made man with such a phenomenal life—a treasure that Bengal should have boasted about—lay buried in the sands of time, erased from the memories and histories of Bengal. Probably as Tagore puts it,
“..Somoe Karo je noye, ora chole dole-dole,
Gaan haye dube jaye kon kolahole…
KALIKA DAS DUTTA
