Only a few days back, the teacher had taken the responsibility of teaching the child at his house. Child’s nick name was Biru (full name Birendra) and his father, Surendranath Chakraborty was working in the courthouse of a Landowner named Roop Babu in Ujanchar Village (Now in Bangladesh). Teacher Ananda Master’s school was very close to this courthouse. It was in this school that one day Surendranath had taken his child Biru, and admitted him in the School.

But unlike all other children of the school, Biru was a very unusual child. Other students of the school were playful and active as children of their age would normally be expected to, but this child Biru was unusually reserved and a solemn child, as if he was engrossed in a very deep thought all the time.

Very often there would be no response from him even when his named was called. Sometimes, after a long pause, the child would respond in a half- waken state with a soft voice, “Did you call me, Teacher?”

Meanwhile, Ananda Master came to know of many remarkable incidences about this little sixyear old child. But the more Ananda Master observed this unusual child closely, the more he developed a strange attraction towards him.

Biru’s mind was not much in his studies. Although Biru came to the school regularly, one could make out by looking at him carefully that the child had very fragile link with the world outside him as if some supernatural contemplation surrounded him.

While other children of his age were naturally playful, this strange child was absorbed all in himself. Ananda Master had very friendly relation with Biru’s father Surendranath. By handing over his child’s responsibility for education to Ananda Master, Surendranath was apparently lightened. But the strange behavior of the child perplexed his teacher, Ananda Master, who one day told everything to Surendranath. Surendranath was already fully aware of his child’s strange behavior. He himself had seen Biru’s peculiar behavior and amazing incidents. So it did not take much time for Surendranath to understand what Ananda Master was telling him about his child. Surendranath thought, “Does it mean that his child will not be formally educated?” Surendranath appeared worried.

No family member of the reputed Baidik (Vedic) family of Medinimondal Village in the district of Vikrampur, Dacca had taken up a regular job. For many generations, members of the Baidik family has been serving the Society as priests and preachers, and managed their living expenses from whatever contributions they received from their clients. But times had changed. There was a visible change in the social framework.

With the increasing influence of western education on certain sections of the society, a new perception of humanism was growing, as a result of which the old values and ideals were under severe blow. Questions were arising in the minds of many about the rationale of our different accepted social customs, religious rites, rituals and practices. The time-honored social and religious doctrines that had kept the Bengal’s Palli Society bonded for so long were now viewed with skepticism by certain modern educated class of people who were seeking logical explanations for time-honored theories and practices. Due to this change of social framework, the occupation of priests was no longer profitable as before.

Few years back when Bhagwati Thakur, the elder brother of Biru’s father, Surendranath, was forced to go Gayalimandar Bazaar to sell a dress that he had received for his work to get some money, the local people at the Bazaar were surprised as no priest would dare to do this. The news spread of this incident; few senior Brahmin priests from Munshiganj came rushing to Baidik Bari at Medinimondal to ascertain the fact because if this trend would continue then no body would revere the Brahmin priests who have so long been placed at the uppermost hierarchy of the society.

But a humble and forthright person like Bhagwati Thakur did this without any feeling of guilt which no other priest would possibly do fearing criticism from the people. In the same way, under unusual circumstances, Biru’s father, Surendranath had to take up a regular job and come to this far off place for work. It was difficult for the Brahmins, who had not learnt anything except working as priest and living on offerings, to find a regular job. Those who knew English language, finding a job was somewhat easier. But nobody in the generation of Surendranath has had anything to do with
English language as they spoke only their own local language.

Although Surendranath got a few ordinary job offers near Vikrampur, fearing serious social criticism of a priest taking up a job, he was forced to come to this far off place in Tripura District for the work. Due to these changing social conditions, Surendranath had fully realized the importance of imparting formal education to his children. Hence it wasn’t surprising that he was very anxious about Biru’s formal education.

Surendranath pleaded to Ananda Master to accept the responsibility of giving formal education to Biru at home considering his helplessness in the matter.

He told Ananda Master that perhaps in the school Biru is not comfortable studying with other children, and may change his behavior if he is coached at home. Surendranath did not have to say much, as Ananda Master was himself feeling very much attracted to the child.

So, arrangements were made to teach Biru at home. But even after this, there was no change in the Biru’s behavior. The child was quiet and self-absorbed as before. The amazed teacher eventually asked the child, “What are you thinking day and night, Biru? Biru replied in broken Bengali, “I am continually searching myself in this vast universe, and wherever I look, I only see myself.” Teacher was taken aback and asked, “In this small age what do you know of the vast universal world?”

Biru replied, “I know all the truths about this universe. I find absence of suitable words in your language, and so I am unable to express completely my realization of these eternal truths. So if you do not follow or understand what I am saying, please do ask me again and again. I will try my best to enlighten and express these infinite and eternal truths in your language.”

This child Biru is none other than the famous Sri Thakur Balak Brahmachari. Those few important words that were told to Ananda Master in Thakur’s childhood – “I know all the truths about this universe” – were testimony of Thakur’s great identity.