Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma as a student leader
Wikipedia states, “A student leader is any student who takes on the responsibility of spreading knowledge through inspiration, tutoring, camping, etc. A student leader strives to change the world by starting with their own community. ” Once, Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma was a student and he became an active student leader in the future. He had the qualities of an able student leader.
Every student is the greatest asset of a community, society and nation. They are always guided by the society that one day they will move forward to do good work for the community, society and country by showing their heart to be thoughtful. Having a quality education and being proficient is not only good for a country but for the entire world.
Boro students are the future of Boro community, society and nation first. One day, the heavy responsibility of leading the community and the country towards a higher and better path will fall on their hands. Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma was the first to realize that the development of the society, the purity of the society and the moral integrity of every person living in the society should be achieved through the sincere efforts of the students of the society.
Thus, he proceeded with the idea that good students should be well advised, well guided, and integrated. In 1912, he organised the Goalpara District Borosatra Sanmilan, with the intention of gathering educated Boro students to form a union. It was later enlarged and renamed as the Borosatra Sanmilan in 1919. Later, it was again made the All Assam Boro Students’ Union in 1921, according to the writings of some research scholars.
Both the living and the dead of the Boro community are in the hands of Boro students. To keep the Boro community alive, the Boro Students’ Union has a lot of work to do over time if it wants to be recognized as a free community in the world. Therefore, Gurudev did not sit idle by giving donations to the Bara Student Association, nor did he give directions that only the Bara Student Association should work. He thought better, and taught the borough student body how to work with purpose. The leaders of the Boro Students’ Union held discussions with literate students like Satish Chandra Basumatary, Rupnath Brahma, Sabharam Brahma, Kagendranath Brahma, Jai Chandra Brahma, Mangal Chandra Brahma, Madaram Brahma, respectively. He said in conferences – “Without education, an individual cannot progress and society will not progress.”
The Boro students have a lot of work to do if the Boro community is to be promoted or developed in every field. It was Gurudev’s desire that every student should be well-educated and well-rounded. For the survival and upliftment of the community, students must create literature in their own language, improve their oral culture, sustain themselves, reform the society, and use the economy effectively. Gurudev discussed with the Boro students that the Boro students should concentrate on politics, trade and commerce and thus encouraged the Boro students to work for social reform and community development.
It was on Gurudev’s advice and encouragement that the Boro students rebelled with renewed spirit and vigour. They willingly created literature in their own language, began to rewrite the legends, songs, and history of the vanished Boro, advised to love with the study of their original religion.
For example, the Khontai Methai(1923) composed by Rupnath Brahma and Madaram Brahma jointly, the first magazine Bibar (1924) compiled by Satish Chandra Basumatary of the Boro Satra Sanmilanni, Boroni Gudi Sibsa Arw Aroj (1926) written by Madaram Brahma, these books tell us clearly. Notable among these are the valuable periodicals Jentokha (1925), Sansri Arw Mushri (1937), Alongbar (1938) and Hathorkhi Hala (1940). With the advice and encouragement of Gurudev, many student writers of the time edited and composed these books with the aim of reforming and uplifting the society. These will continue to be the intangible assets and everlasting spirit of the Bodos.
It was on Gurudev’s advice and undying inspiration that the future generations of many elders of the area and the region, who had nothing to do with education, took an interest in education. In many places, meetings and conferences were held where literate Boro students appealed to the younger generation of the community to study. Each parent sent their children, both boys and girls, to school. Those who did not send their children to school were fined.
Gurudev believed that the growth and development of the masses depended on pure education and thus encouraged them to study well. Those who read well and wrote well were rewarded, encouraged to read as best as they could. If the person is illiterate, he will be respected, if he is illiterate, he will be rejected. It takes a branch to climb a tree, it takes education to uplift a community. Being illiterate is not a bad thing. He addressed the meeting on such valuable issues.
Thus, the Boro students were able to pursue higher education under the guidance of Gurudev and progress on the grid to work for the development of the community. Many students focused on commerce, social reform, cultural revival, literary creation, sports, politics, or nation-building, and secularism, with a view to the future of the community and the nation. It was in this unending spirit of Gurudev that many students joined the World War and India’s freedom struggle with the thought that they would either die or live, having lost the fear and determination in their hearts. Many also became martyrs for the community and the country.
Gurudev secured the rights of the Boro community by meeting many great personalities, discussing and presenting the message, without getting tired of walking through the remote forest area on his feet in the absence of a car. Important committees for the Boro community were formed and institutions for community development were established. Meeting Lat Saheb, who led the Gorkha Regiment (which Gurudev wanted to be renamed the Boro Regiment) during World War I, with several proposals for the survival of the Bara community.
Our present students must recall the meeting with A.J. Laine, the then Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara district, the memorandum to Archdale Earle, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, and the memorandum to Sir John A. Simon known as Simon Commission, who visited Shillong on 4 January 1929, and read what is there. They are a source of constant remembrance and inspiration not only for the Boro community but also for the downtrodden communities across India.
Gurudev organised meetings to unite the Boro community by walking hundreds of miles through the forested dark forests. He participated in the meetings of the Boro community movement and gave advice. He brought a new revolution, a new light and a new movement among the Boros.
If today’s students forget Gurudev as they grow up, they will miss him and his contribution. The current Boro Students’ Union must remember and honour him as a student leader. The student body should know that Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma is sleeping on the same ground where we are standing today. He wants us to keep on walking on the path of truth and righteousness. He always wanted the unity of the community and happiness in every family to be his biggest goal. What a great sin it would be for us if we were to sacrifice Gurudev or follow his example by standing on this earth and praying for his salvation.
It must always be remembered by every Boro that the language we speak today, the language we read and write in, the identity with which we call ourselves Boro community are all due to the patronage and service of Gurudev. At the core of our identity and rights is Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma. It is difficult to find a student leader like Gurudev in the world. No leader in the world is known in history to have formed and led a student organisation like Gurudev. We must remember Gurudev and respect him as a great student leader.
(This essay was published under the 3rd Issue 'Swithw Giyan', a triennial mouthpiece of All Brahma Dharma Youth Forum published in the year 2025)
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