Bengali Brahmos are those who adhere to Brahmoism, the philosophy of Brahmo Samaj which was founded by Raja Rammohan Roy. A recent publication describes the disproportionate influence of Brahmos on India's development post-19th Century as unparalleled in recent times.[1]
Distinction between Brahmo and Brahmo Samajist
One aspect of Brahmoism is recognition that not only explicit faith and worship makes for a Brahmo, but also genealogy, which is implicit. People with even a single Brahmo parent or a Brahmo guardian are treated as Brahmos until they absolutely renounce the Brahmo faith. This often causes tension within the Samaj, for example, when an offspring of a Brahmo follows atheism or another religious belief without renouncing Brahmoism formally. There are differing views between the Theist and Deist streams of Brahmoism on the retention of such people within the fold. Additionally, a Brahmo who opts not to subscribe to membership of a Brahmo Samaj remains a Brahmo but ceases to be a Brahmo Samajist.[2]
Anandamohan Bose (1847–1906) (brother-in-law of Sir J.C. Bose and paternal uncle of D.M. Bose), Co-founder of Indian National Association; first Indian Wrangler at Cambridge University.
Subrata Mitra, Padma Shri, Emeritus Professor, Satyajit Ray Film Studies Institute, Calcutta; cameraman of Pather Panchali, Teesri Kasam, New Delhi Times, etc.
Himangshu Bhushan Mitra, student of Imperial College, London, Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer, Bengal Nagpur Railways; also served in Sudan.
Naba Nalini Basu (nee Dey), m. Professor Satish Chandra Basu, I.E.S., Professor of Economics, Hooghly College, Chinsura, Hooghly, Bengal.
Saroj Nalini Dutt (née Dey), M.B.E., (1887–1925), Social reformer m. Gurusaday Dutta, Esq., ICS (1882-1941), Barrister-at-Law, (Gray's Inn), Secretary, Local Self-Government and Public Health, Government of Bengal.
Sarasi Nalini Datta (née Dey) m. Captain Dr. Paresh Chandra Datta (1893-1963), First Chief Medical Officer, B.R. Singh Memorial Hospital, Sealdah, Calcutta and Director, Public Health, Government of West Bengal.