Kalicharan Brahma and His Education

Kalicharan Brahma and His Education

Kalicharan Brahma known as Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma was the great leader as well as one of the greatest Bodo personalities of 20th Century in Assam state, India. He was an Indian nationalist, great thinker, first preacher of Brahma Dharma among the Bodos, social reformer, and an eye opener of the tribal community in Northeast India.

Kalicharan Brahma was born as Kalicharan Mech at Kajigaon village of Tipkai under Assam state on 18th April 1860. He was the fourth and youngest son of Khoularam Mech, a timber merchant and rich person of those day in Bodo society originally from Tipkai, Goalpara district (now Kokrajhar district), and Randini Mech, a housewife.

At the age of 16, Kalicharan Brahma married 15 years-old lady Khwmshri Mech in 1876. They had two daughters namely Dondi and Nalini. After the birth of two daughters, Kalicharan Brahma married another lady named Upashi Mech in search of son. They had got three sons and two daughters. Kalicharan became active in his father’s worshipped and business of timbers. He was died of unknown causes at the age of 78th (8th May 1938).

Today he is known as the Gurudev and Mech Gandhi in the Bodo community as well as Assam in the state of India. Kalicharan Brahma Award presented by the Government of Assam in the honour of his name. The Government of Assam awarded the biennially Kalicharan Brahma Award to distinguished scholars, social worker and state leaders. The famous scholar Dr. Promod Chandra Battacherjee was the first recipient. He was awarded in 2009.

Kalicharan Brahma was not educated or highly qualified. As there was no primary school at Kajigaon village and other nearby places too. So, his father engaged one Birnarayan Mech Sarkar (an educated people) as a private tutor for Kalicharan. He has taught Kalicharan for one year. Kalicharan interested in learning education on different subjects and wanted to learn more and more. As Kalicharan grew up he became shy, intelligent, honest and thoughtful student. Then, Kalicharan studied of Tipkai Primary School. After the passing class IV, he went to Puthimari Middle English School in 1871.

According to Mahini Mohan Brahma (the first scholar among the Bodos under Gauhati University), he read upto class V. After the death of his father he could not study more.

Kalicharan Brahma was a student of Bengali medium school, but he could read and write both Bengali and Hindi very well. His memory power was very sharp and strong. By his politeness, gentility and regularity in study he was loved by teacher very much. He was also loved and followed by his friends.