Principles, Ideology and Evolution of Bratachari Movement

Bratachari training camp in Kishore Bharati Vidyalaya,DumDum(picture taken by Rajarshi Mukhopadhay)

The elucidation of 'Bratachari' is observer of some certain duties and oath to serve towards mankind. GuraSaday Dutt believed that Bratachari ideologies should be observed by a Bratachari Disciple in his everyday life.Not only in his life but also in all Physiological and mental attitudes,in his body,soul,nature,character and behaviour. By following these discipline he may succeed in his life. So, to achieve a certain goal a Bratachari would have to to honest and devote himself for the principle and ideology. These ideology is for love, affinity, inclusiveness,discipline, peace and widespread. Gurusaday Dutt first emphasised on Friendship and Unity.He formed a slogan in Bengali.

"স-খ্য ডোরে সকল ব্রতচারী জীবন গাঁথব,স-ঙ্ঘ গড়ে সবাই মিলে কৃত্য নৃত্য সাধব"
 Batachari Movement (from vrata, vow) a movement for spiritual and social improvement.Each and every Bratachari was aimed at creating a sense of universalality as well as national awareness among people, irrespective of caste, religion, sex and age. The movement aimed to nurturing the mind and the body and to encourage people to work for national and individual improvement through encouraging traditional and folk culture, especially folk dance and folk song. The Bangla Bratachari Samiti, set up by Gurusaday, helped to spread the ideology of the movement to Europe.

The bratacharis, or followers of the movement, pledged themselves to build their moral fibre and serve the country on the five principles of knowledge: labour, truth, unity and joy. They also undertook to perform good deeds and strengthen fellowship and to develop the mind and body through dance. Each bratachari had to take the following oath:

"ব্রত লয়ে সাধব মোরা বাংলা সেবার কাজ
তরুনতার সজীব ধারা আনব জীবন মাঝ
চাই আমাদের শক্ত দেহ,মুক্ত উদার মন।রীতিমতো অনুশীলন করব প্রতি পণ"

(We vow to serve the cause of the land of Bengal;

We'll bring the vivacity of youth back to life;

We'll build our bodies, open our minds;

We'll stick to our pledges till we die.)

Kishore Bratachari Dal of Kishore Bharati Vidyalaya(framed by Rajarshi Mukhopadhay)

There were three other pledges a bratachari had to make:
I will love Bengal;

I will serve Bengal;

I will be a bratachari of Bengal.

Bratachari societies were established in many places of undivided Bengal; especially noteworthy were the Hooghli District Bratachari Samiti and Kalighat High English School Bratachari Sangha (Calcutta) in west bengal. There were also a South India Bratachari Society and a Sarbabharatiya Bratachari Samaj (All-India Bratachari Society).

There were also a number of societies set up in East Bengal, among which the most famous was the Faridpur Bratachari Samiti. Other societies in the region were Comilla Bratachari Samiti, Madaripur High English Bratachari Sangha, Pangsha Bratachari Sangha, Khulna District Bratachari, Dhaka District Bratachari, Gopalganj Mathuralay High English School Bratachari Sangha, Shibchar Nandakumar High English School Bratachari Sangha, Mymensingh District Bratachari Upasana Shibir, Sirajganj Subdivision Bratachari etc. The members of the societies took part in workshops and had to prove their standard through examinations. The bratachari movement faded out shortly after the death of Gurusaday Dutt in 1941.

Character building is a pivotal point that are mentioned in Bratachari order if a Bratachari would not construct his firm character he cannot serve nation. So, character building comes first.Gurusaday Dutt mentioned it in his book  'Bratachari Sakha'.He said at first character, second work, third unity, fourth dance.

GuruSaday Dutt felt the pulse of the nation he observed communal barriers, religious orthodoxy and fundamentalists would nations backbone. During his bureaucratic career he saw the vibration of our inherent culture laid in our own soil and it is being neglected for our ignorance and addiction of western culture.That is why he took initiative from his passion and persuasion to our tradition.