Gobinda Prasad Singha is a Laurette, whose patriotism has left a brazing trail in Indian national movement. His active participation had added a momentum in the defiance of British Authority and has carved out a niche in the Indian Nationalist Movement. His indomitable fight against the British has made him revered to the people of Bankura, who still loves to cherish the memories of Gobinda Prasad with great awe. The people have shown gratitude to his exemplary traits by naming the village as Gobindadham, where he was born. A main road in Bankura city adorably echoes the name of the beckon. The extensive area encompassing Bankura Sammilani Medical College, along with residences for students, doctors, nurses, and other staff reverberates as Gobindanagar in the honour of the legendary son of the soil. In the year 1985, the first Higher education Institute in the arena was formed in the name of Gobinda Prasad Mahavidyalaya. The depth and sincerity of the district’s respect and love for him shine through the memorials, which keeps his exemplary traits vibrant even today.

Birth and family identity

Gobinda Prasad was born at Konemara village (now ‘Gobindadham’) of Gangajalghati police station on 9th of Jaistha 1296. His Father’s name Dibakar Singha and his mother was Mandakini Devi. Grandfather Arjuna Singha was a minorland owner of that region.Gobinda Prasad’s father Dibakar Singha was a great zamindar. The people were terrified of him. The estate, however, was not very large. He was famous for his strict rule over the people. Gobinda Prasad was his youngest son. Local people called him ‘Chhotobabu’. He was addicted to hunting and sports since childhood. He used to go hunting in the forest with a bow and arrow. From a young age, he had no interest in education.

Education life

Gobinda Prasad’s village has no school nearby on the edge of Konemara. The nearest school is in Bankura town. The distance from Konemara to Bankura is seven crosh or 22 km. Gobinda Prasad was admitted to Bankura Hindu School after persuading his mother with great difficulty. His school life started from the hostel. In a interview, he said, “I am the youngest child of my parents. It was very difficult to leave my mother at first. I was not interested in studies. I cannot say how I was as a student. I can only say this, I never disobeyed any teacher, and the teachers loved me very much. I always wanted to study in the eighth grade. But the masters of the Hindu school did not let me go. They believed that I would get a scholarship a month before the exam It happened. The palate was bleeding. After the treatment of Dr. Tarinibabu, he got betterI gave the test. But even though I passed in the first division, I did not get the scholarship. But I got the Jayanarayan scholarship for being first in Sanskrit in the university. Besides, I also got the Maxmuller medal for standing first in Sanskrit in Burdwan category.”

Hiseducation started at a slightly older age. When he was 23 years old, he passed the matriculation examination in 1911. Then he got admission in Bankura Wesleyan College and in 1914,he passed I.A. Then he enrolledB.A. in class in that college. From this time his mind began to flow in different fields. Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of service, the epitome of youth, especially influenced his mind. When Gobinda Prasad was a college student, thousands of people in this district were in dire straits due to a terrible famine. Talking about the state of mind of this time, Gobinda Prasad mentioned in an interview, “My studies were not good even in college. Then Swami Vivekananda’s ideals spread among the young society all over the country. I started reading Swamiji’s books with the Jayanarayan scholarship. I didn’t like to read any books. Meanwhile, in 1915, there was a terrible famine, which was called Manvantar. Many kinds of poor people were rushing from the south. What to eat, where to stay – nothing is right, not a drop of rain. He was the head teacher of Ranchi Brahmacharya, we both thought sadness, and we will only be with education? Even if the exam will be given after a year, we both decided that we will not give the exam this year, we will have to provide famine relief.”
He participated in famine relief with Ramakrishna Mission. He met Swami Saradananda and other Brahmacharis. After a few days Sri Sri Maa Sarada Devi herself graciously gave him the mantra.
The goal of life was set: not for eating, sleeping, marrying, or procreating, but for ‘Atmano Moksharthang Jagatdhitay Cha,’ as instructed by Swamiji. This path of sannyasin was embraced by the house monk Gobinda Prasad.
The B.A. exam results have already been published, and Gobinda Prasad did not pass. However, he felt no sadness about this outcome. He was aware of his failure. Despite studying diligently, he couldn’t pass the exam due to his dedication to famine relief work. Therefore, failing the B.A. exam didn’t sadden him.

As a Teacher

Gobinda Prasad came back home after ending his relationship with the college. There was only one ME school in the area then. There is a system of teaching up to sixth standard. The school is located at Gangajalghati. Gobinda Prasad, a young college dropout, was invited to take over as headmaster of the school in1917. Gobinda Prasad responded to this request Gangajalghati M.E. He took charge of the head teacher of the school.
With the addition of Gobindaa Prasad as Headmaster, the number of residents began to increase rapidly. That’s because the reputation of the new headmaster Mashay’s dedication, idealism, devotion to duty, compassion for students etc. was spread around. So parents started enrolling their sons in Gangajalghati School from far and wide hoping that the students would become real people by his presence and influence. As a result, new houses had to be built for residential students. A healthy, beautiful, ethical and healthy code of conduct for the daily routine of the residents has been introduced. Regular prayers in the morning and evening are characteristic of this routine.

Transition to National Schools

Meanwhile, there was a tide in the national liberation movement across the country. Gandhi called for non-violent liberation struggle. The British government issued the infamous ‘Rowlat Act’ to suppress this nationwide movement. Protests against this law were observed across the country.

The following year 1920, Gandhi ordered schools and colleges following the British government’s curriculum to be boycotted, calling them ‘English slaves’. Already Gobinda Prasad was particularly influenced by Gandhiji’s ideals of non-violent movement. He began to believe that this was the right approach to the national liberation movement. He soon realized that students are never well-rounded in a text-based education. The education system needs to be such that the students get to know the country and nation and through effective education they become self-reliant. According to theGandhi’s National Education plan, national schools are being built all over the country. In 1921 Gangajalghati M.E. The school was also converted into a national school. Gobinda Prasad left the post of headmaster but took over all the responsibilities of this newly formed national school. He was careful to instill respect in the students. He believed that respect is the best way to gain knowledge. But he did not teach in the national school He used to meet with them at least once a week to convey his ideas. He narrated many stories from the Puranas, Ramayana and history to instill respect, faith and courage in his natural language “Many people remember the words.

Inaugurated the Sriramakrishna Temple

Gobinda Prasad was the disciple of Sri Sri Maa Saradamani. He was initiated into the philosophies of Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. Moreover, most of Amarkanan’s workers were devotees of the Ramakrishna Mission. So a ‘Thakur’ Temple was built for all of them to worship. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated this temple. Gobindaaprasad said in an interview given to Hon’ble Sukhmoy Sarkar, “Mahatmaji came to Bankura in 1925. Then Anilbaran Roy was the Congress leader in Bankura. Now he is in Pondicherry Ashram. I brought Mahatmaji to Amarkanan Ashram. I requested him to inaugurate the Ramakrishna Temple. Mahatmaji said – Here is the Dev-Mandir.” Why? I told him that Ramakrishna-Vivekananda’s divine life is the inspiration of Swamiji’s patriotism. He has shown it in his own life not for, but for self-purification. Then Gandhiji was very happy and inaugurated the temple.”

Kazi Nazrul Islam came here on the invitation of Amarkanan National School. At least twice he came to Amarkanan. First came in 1925, 8th July with Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote the song for Amarkanan “Amarkanan Moder Amarkanan’ in Bengali.
In 1933, the British Government confiscated Amarkanan Ashram. Gobinda Prasad was released in 1934 after a long imprisonment. Amarkanan thus created a history in freedom struggle.

The vanguard of the national liberation movement

Gobindaa Prasad’s direct participation in the freedom struggle began during Mahatma Gandhi’s first non-cooperation movement in 1921. From 1926 until the First Law Movement of 1930, Gobinda Prasad led the call for the boycott of Union Boards constituted under British law. He also played a leading role in the First Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 and was subsequently imprisoned.
In 1940 and 1941, two national leaders visited Amarkann. Subhash Chandra Bose visited on April 28, 1940. He was impressed by his conversation with Gobind Prasad and the dedication of the ashram staff. During their conversation, Bose said to Gobinda Prasad, “If you agree, I will turn Amarkanan into Nandankanan.”
When Hon’ble Sukhmoy Sarkar asked Gobinda Prasad about Subhash Chandra Bose during the interview, he replied, “When he came to Bankura, I accompanied him throughout the district. I went with him to the Kotulpur conference, and on the way back, the motor broke down. It was nighttime, and Subhash Babu slept with his head on a mound in the field. We also followed suit. He said, ‘Our life is like this, sometimes Amir, sometimes Fakir.'”
In 1941, 1st February Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyay came to Amarkanan. He was also impressed by the hermitage of Amarkanan.

Sad Demise

Gobindaa Prasad passed away on the first day of Poush in the year 1361 of the Bengali calendar in the independent India at his own Amarkanan Ashrama leaving an unprecedented scale of followers who still fondly cherish and heartily follow his enigmatic ideas and deeds.

References:
1. Atmomedhi Gobindaprasad, edited by Mantu Das
2. Gobinda Darpan, written by Dipak Kumar Agnihotri
3. Bankurar Panch Kingbadanti Swadhinata Sangrami by Lilamoy Mukhopadhyay
4. Gobinda Prasad An Unassuming Personality by Arun Kumar Singha
5. Rishikalpa Gobinda Prasad by Nripen Akuli.