“A Modern Saint of India”. A Sketch of the Religious Life of Sevabrata Brahmarshi Sasipada Banerjee

In consquence of his work for the spread of female education and education of the masses he was looked upon as an enemy of the country and of the current religion. [...] The educated men of the locality maliciously resolved to put all possible obstacles in the way of his good work."14 A MODERN SAINT OF INDIA They called a meeting at Baranagar ( in the house of the late Babu Kishori Mohan Ganguli ) during the absence of Sevabrata in England with the object of adversely criticising his acts. [...] He endured all these in the name of the Lord and did not leave his native village though several of his friends urged him to leave Baranagar ; on the contrary he devoted his time and energy to the welfare of the locality and to the betterment of the condition of the people of Baranagar even those who persecuted him. [...] He had practised Sadhana in the family in the Samaj in the midst of tumult and sorrow in the public street and in the corner of his room ; in broad daylight and at dead of night in his room and on the terrace in dark night and in the full moon ; in bowers and in the cremation ground in the"WORSHIP OF THE LORD 33 Prayer hall of the Brahmo Samaj and in Mosques in Hindu temples and Christ [...] As Honorary Secretary of the Municipality of the town your labours and influence have successfully contributed to the construction of roads where there were none to improve those which were impassable to construct culverts and provide for the drainage of the town and thus Sir you have grealy improved the sanitary condition of Baranagar and the adjoining places.""38 A MODERN SAINT OF INDI