The Modern Review/Volume 38/Number 4/Kartabhaja and Maharaja Sects

Kartabhaja and Maharaja Sects

In the last July number, Prof. Sarkar had forecasted that “the history of Bengal” during the next few months will furnish the answer to the question whether we have acquired the one indispensable basis of popular government or whether we still retain the spirit of the Kartabhaja and Maharaja sects.” The answer has been supplied, and very promptly, by Mr. J. M. Sen Gupta, who has publicly called upon the youngmen of Bengal “to give less importance to their conscience and follow their leader unquestioningly.” (see Sept. number, p. 381.)

Conscience is the faculty of distinguishing what is morally right from what is morally reprehensible. The Maharaja sects are taught to surrender this faculty to their spiritual guide if it is to win salvation. A similar surrender of conscience and judgment is found among the Kartabhaja sect of Bengal as is indicated among other things by a corrupt interpretation of a line in its song relating to its founder Aoolchand, “এর সঙ্গে বাইশ জন, সবার একটি মন” “He has twenty-two persons with him whose mind is one.” And now we have been told authoritatively that a political party must surrender its conscience to its leader, if it is to win Swaraj. The parallel has been completely established by Mr. Sen Gupta.

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