Disciple:
Gurudev, my respects to you.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you.
Disciple:
Gurudev, today I want to hear from you about a great personality who enriched the Sanskrit language and the Shastras (philosophical scriptures) of India.
Gurudev:
Yes, certainly. His name was Gopinath Bakshi, who later became known as Gopinath Kaviraj. "Kaviraj" was a title given to him by the Nawabs, but his original surname was Bakshi. He was born on September 7, 1887, in the village of Dhamrai, near Dhaka, in present-day Bangladesh. His father, Baikuntha Nath Bakshi, was also a profound philosopher with vast knowledge. Gopinath Kaviraj passed away on June 12, 1976. He came from a very educated and cultured family.
Disciple:
Where did he receive his education?
Gurudev:
He completed his schooling at Jubilee School in Dhaka. After passing his entrance exams, he went to Jaipur, where he earned his B.A. degree. After that, he moved to Varanasi.
Disciple:
I believe he spent many years in Kolkata as well?
Gurudev:
Yes, he was associated with the University of Calcutta for about 13 or 14 years, but he eventually became the Principal of the Government Sanskrit College in Varanasi. Interestingly, at that time, the Varanasi Sanskrit College was under the administration of the University of Calcutta.
Gurudev:
He was a man of immense scholarly stature. The Government of India honored him with a D.Litt. degree, a prestigious recognition similar to the one given to Rabindranath Tagore. In his early career, he worked as a librarian (manuscript curator), but later he became deeply involved in spiritual and academic pursuits in Varanasi.
Disciple:
He is also famous for his writings on "Gyan Ganj," isn't he?
Gurudev:
Yes, his most famous book is titled Gyan Ganj. He had a profound connection to the spiritual realm of Gyan Ganj (a legendary hermitage of immortal masters). He also wrote books like Death and the Afterlife. At Banaras Hindu University (BHU), there is still a chair and a library room dedicated in his honor, where his books are preserved. No one else sits in that chair out of respect for him.
Gurudev:
During his time in Varanasi, he came into contact with many great tantriks and spiritual masters. He was constantly searching for a true Guru. Eventually, he met "Gandha Baba," a master who had come from Gyan Ganj. Gopinath Kaviraj received initiation from him.
Disciple:
Gurudev, there is a connection mentioned between these spiritual circles and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Could you shed light on that?
Gurudev:
This is a very deep and mysterious topic. After the Second World War, when Netaji "disappeared," he was in a very difficult position. The then-Indian government had labeled him a "traitor" and issued orders to arrest him on sight. Netaji was searching for a safe haven.
Gurudev:
From a young age, Netaji had a deep interest in Tantra and spiritual sciences. He used to buy many books on Tantra from College Street in Kolkata. He eventually met Barada Charan Majumdar, a great Yogi and householder saint from Lalgola, Murshidabad. Barada Charan was a powerful spiritual figure who had deep knowledge of Gyan Ganj.
Disciple:
Was Kazi Nazrul Islam involved as well?
Gurudev:
Yes. It is said that Kazi Nazrul Islam and Netaji went together to meet Barada Charan Majumdar in Lalgola. Barada Charan knew that only a place like Gyan Ganj could offer Netaji absolute safety where no government could ever touch him.
Gurudev:
According to spiritual tradition, the "Guru-Shakti" (spiritual power) of Gyan Ganj was first entrusted to Swami Vivekananda. After Vivekananda's passing in 1902, that responsibility was eventually passed to Barada Charan Majumdar.
Gurudev:
Barada Charan told Netaji, "There is a place where you can stay forever; your age will not increase, and no one in the world will be able to find or capture you." It is believed that Barada Charan used his spiritual power to guide Netaji to Gyan Ganj.
Disciple:
So, are you saying Netaji is still alive and residing in Gyan Ganj?
Gurudev:
Yes, that is the belief among those who understand these spiritual connections. Netaji reportedly said that he would return to the world only when China and Pakistan jointly attacked India to a point where the nation's existence was at stake. He promised to return in his full glory at that time.
Gurudev:
The masters of Gyan Ganj are "Mahapurushas" (great souls) who control the destiny of the world. Netaji is considered a "child" among them because of their immense age—some are 1,000 to 1,500 years old—but he has been entrusted with the duty of watching over India's future.
Disciple:
This puts Gopinath Kaviraj's life in a whole new perspective.
Gurudev:
Exactly. Gopinath Kaviraj was one of the few who had access to this knowledge. He was an extraordinary scholar and a bridge between the academic world and the deepest mysteries of Indian spirituality. He knew about the existence of these masters and the refuge they provided to souls like Netaji.
Disciple:
It is fascinating how Sanskrit, Philosophy, and the mystery of Netaji all converge through Gopinath Kaviraj.
Gurudev:
Indeed. Today, as we see the geopolitical tensions with China and Pakistan, many believe the time for that prophecy is drawing near. Whether it happens through a physical return or a spiritual intervention, the power of Gyan Ganj is said to be protecting the soul of India.
Disciple:
Thank you, Gurudev, for this enlightening discussion.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you. Focus on the truth, and the path will reveal itself. My respects to the great Gopinath Kaviraj.