Yukteswar Giri, Shyamacharan, the Dutch and the Missionaries of Serampore...25th Sep 2015

This was infact a second visit to Serampore. My main intention was visiting and discovering the original charter of the Royal Govt. of Denmark which accredited the present college with the status of University in 1827. In the previous trip, I could see the Danish Church which was being reconstructed mostly by the funds of Govt. of Denmark and could see the old Missionary Church. However, I could not lay hands on the William Carrey Museum as that was inside the Serampore College which was closed on a Sunday.
As planned, the day was a holiday; infact this was a second Saturday which was a holiday for every banker in India. We made the most of it by arriving at Serampore by a local train and then took a tuk-tuk (battery operated auto-rickshaw) to the college. I was asked to wait as the approval for entering the museum has to be necessarily be given by the Principal. I met Prof. (Dr.) Laltluangliana Khiangte who was more than eager to allow us. I had a little chat with him about my escapedes in Kolkata and I also discovered that he is a Padma Shree awardee.

Enjoying the lanes in a tuk-tuk

The museum was a secluded place within the campus of the college. While going through the same, I found the William Carrey residence. Having read little about the Trio, I was filled with awe while I passed through the same building. Afterall William Carey, Joshua Marshman and William Ward have such an important contribution to West Bengal's history and they set in motion many things which would later be considered too modern be it in the world of printing, Theology, translation and education. 

The entrance to the Carrey Museum

William Carey was a master of 35 languages; some of his writings by hand in many of these languages are present. Other items present are:

• A copy of the Pentateuch (five books of Moses) printed at Mission Press in 1822 is present.
• The New Testament, Bible and Gospel of Mattew
• Original emblem of the College
• Photograph of Members of Baptist Missionary Society founded in 1792
• Gift of the BMS in honour of William Carrey. He is awarded as Missionary in India and the translator of Bible.
• Linguistic map of India
• Photograph of Carrey with a Pandey
• Photograph of William Ward
• Photograph of Rev. John Mack
• Bengali Grammar by Nathaniel BrassseyHalhead
• Photograph of 9^th Principal Rev. Dr. G H C Angus (1929-1944)
• Photograph of HortusGramineusWoburnesis grasses and other plants (1816)
• Photograph of 10^th Principal Rev. Dr. C E Abraham (First Indian Principal) of 1949
• Convocation gown of Rev. Dr. William Stewart
• Some personal writings of Carrey
• Marriage agreement of William Ward
• Photograph of Baptist Missionary premises of Serampore (1819)
• Photograph of Rev. Dr. William Stewart (11^th Principal, 1959-1966)
• Draft copy of the Royal Charter; infact this was the one for which I was desperate (The eleven pages that follow are the Diploma or Charter of Serampore College granted by King Fredrick VI of Denmark on 23 Feb. 1827; these were the starting lines)
• Carrey’s medicine box
• Carrey’s clock (Royal Exchange, London 1086 was embossed on the same)
• Diagrammatic representation of Dr. Joshua Marshman’s family tree
• Bicentary stamp on William Carrey (1993)
• A rare photograph of the great-great-great-granddaughter of William Carrey with her daughter and grandchildren.
• Diagrammatic representation of William Carrey’s family tree.
• Dr. Carrey’s collection of shells and minerals
• Another clock of Brinkman, London
• Letter of Col. Ole Bie, the Governor of Serampore (1797)
• Letter of John Clark Marshman (1837)
• Family account book of the Serampore Missionaries (1799-1801); details out expenses.
• Riverside of Serampore in the Early Danish period presented by the Director Archives, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Appeal of the Serampore Missionaries to the King of Denmark for the Royal Charter (1826).
• 3 gold medals presented to Carrey, Marshman& Ward appreciating their philanthropic activities in 1820.
• Chairs of Marshman, Ward and Carrey.
• Scientific apparatus to introduce science education in India (1921)
• Steam engine model of 1821

 I was simply awestruck. But after that we made way to the graveyard where we have the burial tombs of these three gentlemen. It is also located in a secluded place; people of today may not get attracted to these personalities but nevertheless it is essential that once in a while we should all pause and revisit our own past to atleast acknowledge the deeds of few men who have shaped the present for us. What impressed us was the beauty that is there in teh secluded place. The three tombs are intact along with few of their family members. Each of the tomb has a story to tell; be it in the form of the handwriting, the architecture or for that matter the personality of the individuals which forced their known ones to place them in the fashion they lie today. Surprisingly, the same is maintained by the Serampore College.

William Carrey's grave

Marshman's grave

William Ward's grave

  

Serampore is the birthplace of a great soul of India i.e. Shri Yukteswar Giri. For the unitiated, he is a Kriya Yogi; a disciple of Sri Lahiri Mahasaya and the guru of Paramhansa Yogananda. Born Priya Nath Karar, he was born in the house just next to the present prayer site. The same is maintained by the Yogoda Satsang Society (YSS). The place is nicely maintained and we discovered that the present caretaker is also an Odia.

The birthplace of Yukteswar Giri

Inside the memorial

We came to know that still some relatives stay at the building next to this memorial. There was a distinct serentiny and fresh breath in teh air. I am sure the effect of flowers that were tastefully grown and maintained had its contribution in the freshness but yes, that alone could not be the only reason. As they say, the places touched by the great souls bring in a special aura.
Next in line was the place where his most famous disciple Paramhansa Yogananda lived while pursuing his BA (then it was called A.B.) at the Serampore College. The same building and the exact room in which he used to stay is very cleand and has been mainatined well. From the remoteness of the location and the number of enquires that we had to make to locate the same, I am sure the number of visitors would be very low. My doubts got cleared when I signed on the visitors register.

Inside the room of Paramhansa Yogananda

The Danish Church is under construction; it was not at all safe to enter. Belonging to the 17th century, this also has a history of its own. Interesting thing is that we have so much in store from the non-British part of history that it baffles one at times.

The St. Ola Church

At the end, we were shown the point (supposed to be the place) where it is believed that Babaji Mahasaya, the founder of Kriya Yoga had shown himself to Paramhansa Yogananda. We left Serampore but the memories shall remain etched for many years for sure. 

The majestic view of the college entrance; my accomplices