Indore. (Central India.) Estd. 6th May 1883.
The Madhya Bharat-Varshiya ( Central India ) Brahma Samaj, Near Edward Town Hall, Indore city
Secretary-—Mr. Ramchandra Gopal Mitbawkar.
Members.— 30 Men.
10 Women. = 106.
66 Children
Sympathisers—About 10 strictly speaking—but 75, if sympathisers only mean men appreciating the ideal and no farther,
Meetings.—Two Meetings in the week, in Marathi, oneforser- viceand the other for discussion on religions subjects, &c. These are generally conducted in Marathi,
Mandir.—The Samaj possesses a Mandir consecrated on a Chaitra Sudha Pouranima day.
Lay Preachers.—Messrs. P. R. Bhandarkar, R. G. Mitbawkar, B. N. Deo, Y. G. Bhandarkar, Dr. A. R. Jadhav.
Institutions.— (1) A Free Reading Room.
(2) Ladies’ Gathering.
(3) Sangat Sabha.
(4) Night School and Drawing Class.
History—In the beginning of 1880 Mr. Balkrishna Rao Jadhav Patkar, member of the Bombay Prarthana Samaj, R. B. N. G. Kirtane, Dr. Ganapataing, R. S. Shriniwas Rao, Judge, and Mr. Ekanathpant, Engineer, used to sing songs from Prarthana Sangit and discuss religions subjects now and then at Dr. Ganpatsing’s house. This continued for some time till Babu Shivchandra Sen came on 6th May 1883 on mission work from Lahore, and with the help of Mr. B. R. Jadhav, Mr. A. Shriniwasrao and others called a meeting, conducted divine service at Lala Bhagwan Sahai’s place and then delivered some lectures. The following were elected on the 1st Managing Committee on the 7th Jane 1883:—
A Shrinivas Rao, President; Lala Bhagwan Sahai, VicePresident; Babu Shamacharan Dutt, Secretary; Babu Rasiklaldas, Treasurer; Mr. B.R. Jadhav, Minister; and Messrs. R.G. Mitbawkar, Dattaram Pilgaumkar, Venkatesh Madhav, Atmaram R. Jadhav, Bhavan Rao and Dr. Ganpatsing as members. The Samaj was called the Indore Prarthana Samaj and the principles were taken from the Bombay Prarthana Samaj.
In April 1892 the Mandir was built and on the 17th April 1892 the Samaj was called the Madhya Bharatwarshiya (Central India) Brahma samaj; some changes were made in the confession for dikshit and adikahit members, viz., those who took the vow of strictly adhering to the principles in their conduct of life and those who did not take that vow. Formerly the anniversaries of the Samaj were celebrated in May but since the opening of the Mandir, they are being celebrated on the fall moon day of ‘Chaitra.
The late Mr. S. P. Kelkar came to settle here in 1895 and always took prominent part in the work of the Samaj; he was also appointed for some time Minister but in 1906 he went to Bombay where he died. There are eight Brahma families here in the station at present.
(The above account was received from Mr. R. G. Mitbawkar, Secretary of the C. I. Brahma Samaj, on the 23rd Jan. 1912.)
Karachi. (Sind) Estd. 1882.
The Karachi Brahma Samaj, Karachi. Sind.
Secretary—Mr. Jogumal Bogumal, Karachi,
Members—40. Out of this 12 persons are initiated.
Meetings—Divine service is held at 9 a. m. every Sunday, in Sindhi.
Mandir—The Samaj has its own Mandir.
History—The Samaj first existed under the name of Prarthana Samaj, Karachi, when its meetings were bqing held in rented houses till about 23 years ago. It was through Sadhu Hiranand that a plot of land was bought and a Mandir erected thereon by public subscriptions. Although a Prarthana Samaj existed before, Sadhu Hiranand and Diwan Navalrai may be considered as the founders of this Samaj here. In 1894 the name was changed from Prarthana Samaj to Brahma Samaj. Since that time it has initiated into Brahma—Dharma about 12 persons.
Two inter-racial marriages were celebrated here ons in 1893, the other in 1903, the former between Mr. Motiram Adwani, Bar-at-Law, and Miss Annie Voysey. These Marriages were celebrated according to Brahmaic rites and registered under the Civil Marriage Act III of 1872.
Kirkee. Dist. Poona. Estd- 6th January 1905.
The East Kirkee Prarthana Samaj, Kirkee (Poona).
Secretary.—Mr. Rajaram Ellapa, Clerk, Office of Supdt. of Instruction, 3rd Sappers and Miners, Kirkee.
Members.—20—only 3 of this are anusthanic.
Sympathisers.—15.
Meetings.—One devotional meeting in a week either in Hindi or Marathi.
Mandir—No Mandlr. This is a great want.
Lay Preachers.—Messrs. G.R. Anjerlekar and L.M. Sattoor.
Kolhapur. S. M. Country. Estd. Nov; 1909.
The Kolhapur Prarthana Samaj, Kolhapur.
Secretary.—Mr. G.K, Kadam, Publio Prosecutor, Kolhapur State.
Members.—17 of whom 7 belgng to the Depressed Classes.
Meetings. Divine Service in Marathi, every Sunday morning in the house of Mr. Abasaheb Sawant, President.
Institutions.—There is a Postal Mission centre maqpged by Mr. B. K. Pisal. There are two Bhajan Samajes consisting of members of tbe Depressed Classes residing in two different places in the suburbs of the town which meet every Sunday for devotional purposes and are attended by members of this Prarthana Samaj.
History.—Under the auspices of the Brahma Postal Mission of Bombay, a party of Brahma lecturers consisting of Prof. L. T. Waswani, M.A., and Dr. Reuben of Karachi, Rev. Promotholal Sen of Calcutta, Prof. N. G. Welinkar, M. A., and Mr. Y. R. Shindy of Bombay went to Kolhapur in November 1909 and delivered lectures in English, a sermon in Hindi and a Kirtan in Marathi. The Samaj was started as a result of this tour during which the message of the Brahma Samaj was effectively delivered in this State for tfce first time. A centre of the Postal Mission was also started for the spread of the Theistic Literature. The Samaj held its first Anniversary in June 1911 in which a party of the members of the Bombay -and Poona Samajes took active part.