From the intellectual firmament of Bengal, a star of the first magnitude has fallen. The whole of Calcutta was convulsed with grief on Monday morning at the reception of the startling news that Sir Asutosh Mookherjee, the lion of Bengal, the heroic gladiator, the fearless critic, the fore- most educationalist, has passed away at Patna on Sunday afternoon, May 25, 1924, quite unexpectedly.
He was elected life President of the Maha Bodni Society in 1916 unanimously which office he held most honourably to the satisfaction of all. When it was decided that Sir Asutosh should be the person to receive the Relic of the Buddha from the hands of the governor of Bengal at the Government House, he reminded that no person could go before the Governor with bare feet; and as a Brahman he said it would be showing disrespect to the holy Relic if he does not receive it in his Brahmanical dress with bare feet, and in official attire he declined to go. I thereupon wrote to the Private Secretary of Lord Ronaldshay that the reception of the Relic at the Government House ancient ceremonies will be observed. For the first time since the construction of the Goverment House, the ceremonial rule was relaxed, and the Buddhists entered barefooted
the Government House in a grand procession. We thought it an honour to have the foremost personality in Bengal as the President of the Maha Bodhi Society.
He was at heart almost a Buddhist, he openly confessed his love to the Lord Buddha, and was always prepared to help the cause of Buddhism. The introduction of Pali in the Calcutta University was due to his personal effort. Now that Sir Asutosh Mookherjee has left the earthly sphere we feel his loss, for we know that in all Bengal there is not a personality to fill the vacant place. When the M.B.S. elected him to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the proposed Buddhist University at Rishipatana, Benares, Sir Ashutosh said that the would accept it provided the Anagrika Dharmapala would become the Registrar thereof. He was most kind to me.
May he be born again In Bengal to revive the Dhamma of the Lord Buddha! We offer our sincere condolence to Lady Mookherjee and her children. In the midst of death we are alive. Sabbe Samkhara anicca, appamidam bhikkhave manussanam ayu, Kattabbam Kusalam caritabbam brahmacarlay, natthijatassa amaranam..
IN MEMORIUM
“He was undoubtedly the greatest of Bengal’s sons-why Bengal? In the whole of India, it is not possible to find another his equal in brain power and breadth of heart and out look of life. The sole aim and object of this Great Indian was to see India great by realising herself and he was well convinced in his heart of heart that India could only realise herself by the revival of Buddhistic Culture through Buddhist studies and research from all sources: German, French, British, Sinhalese, Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan. For the attainment of this object what has he not done through the portals of his beloved Alma Mater the Calcutta University? He was truly a patriotic son of Mother India, a veritable Karamvir an indefatigable worker for the cause dearest to his heart and that heart of his, his friends and foes must admit, always by instinct sought the goal of India’s uplift. He prided himself in being a Brahman in its true Buddhistic significance and we venerated him as such.
The Buddhists of Ceylon conferred upon him the title of “Sambuddhagama Chakravarti”. We knew that he had been away at Patna in heavy professional work and we were in expectation of his return amongst us very soon as his own part of arguing before the High Court was over. He suddenly fell ill there at Patna after his morning walk on Friday the 23rd May, and passed notwithstanding the best medical aid that could be procured, on Sunday evening of the 26th May at 6 p.m. By special train his body was brought down to Calcutta for the purpose of cremation at Keoratala Kalighat. The whole of the Calcutta world thronged the streets to do honour to the Great deceased. He was born in June 1864 and certainly it was not his time to pass away. When the general procession in doleful array turned into College street from Harrison Road all eyes were wet to see the warrior brought home dead. It was well that the bier was carried inside the Senate House in College Square his own arena of many a single-handed gladiatorial fight which he had successfully fought for upholding the honour and dignity of his beloved Alma Mater against the onslaughts of no less a foe than the Government. The courts, Schools, Colleges, Markets and shops are all closed for the day. Every home in Bengal, where the dreadful news of his passing away has penetrated is stricken with genuine, sorrow and sympathy for the bereaved lady-his strenuous life partner and his children.
Our own grief is far too acute to permit us even to give his short biography. He was so near and dear to us that we can hardly realise that such a tower of strength is no more. It would be difficult for us to select another President for our Society for the place left vacant by his demise can hardly be filled up. Our prarthana is that the deceased like the Bodhisat was may be soon reincarnated in this place of work-for completing his work in the cause of Buddhistic revival in India wherein he above all men saw the path to India’s real uplift; and we sincerely hope that his Alma Mater will for the sake of this great son of hers, carry on the Buddhists’ research and culture courses with greater earnestness, especially as in life we are ever being rudely reminded that we are in the midst of death.
Anagarika Dharmapala (MBJ-24-5-24)
