Draft:Mahananda Halder

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  Your current reference 1 is to https://sites.google.com/view/srisriguruchand-charit/home which is not a reliable source. It must go, please.
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  Doing this things now will speed the review process. They do not guarantee acceptance, but not doing them guarantees the reverse 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 08:52, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

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  Also see WP:HONORIFICS and eliminate 100% of those. Thay also create work for others. They may be polite im your society but Wikipedia does not want them. Not a single 'shri' or other honorific may remain
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  Do not keep resubmitting after making a tiny change. This soon becomes disruptive and tendentious 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 22:16, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Same citation concerns. See WP:REFB for assistance in referencing. Bobby Cohn (talk) 20:26, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Broadly unreferenced 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 19:44, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

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Acharya Mahananda Halder B.L., Barrister-at-Law
আচার্য্য মহানন্দ হালদার
File:Buro Baba Color 5.jpg
Born	9th June 1900 Khulna, Jessore, Undivided Bengal
Died	10th June 1972 (Aged 72)
Resting place	Thakurbari, Barachandghar, Nadia, West Bengal
Education	B.A., B.L., Bar-at-Law
Alma mater	St. Paul's Cathedral Mission College, Lincoln's Inn
Occupation(s)	Special Officer, Debt Conciliation (1941–1945) Headmaster, Mira High School (1945–1957) Member of Legislative Assembly, West Bengal (1957–1967) Parliamentary Secretary, Bangla Congress (1965–1967)
Years active	1939-1971
Organization(s)	Harichand Seva Sangha, Nadia Zila Matua Mahasangha
Notable work	Sri Sri Guruchand Charit Sonar Manush Gopal Sadhu Sri Sri Harililamrita
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Title	Member of Legislative Assembly
Term	1957-1967
Political party	Indian National Congress, Independent (Sanjukta Biplabi Parishad)
Other political affiliations	Bangla Congress
Spouse	Bindubasini Devi
Children	3 including Satchidananda Halder (eldest)
Parents	Radhakanta Halder (father) Janaki Halder (mother)
Relatives	Shyamananda Halder (Brother), Aaynamati Halder (Sister)
Family	Sourav Halder (Eldest Great-Grandson)

Mahananda Halder was a prominent Indian politician, barrister, educationist, poet, and a foundational figure in the Matua movement in West Bengal. He played a crucial role in uplifting the Matua community and providing support to East Bengal refugees in 1947 and 1971. Halder founded the Nadia Zila Matua Mahasangha and served as the President of the Teacher's Coordination Society for the Nadia North Zone. He authored Sri Sri Guruchand Charit, a significant work on the life and teachings of Guruchand Thakur. His initiatives included establishing Harichand Seva Sangha in 1970 and Mira High School in Plassey, Nadia, where he served as headmaster from 1952 to 1957. Halder was also the first Parliamentary Secretary in the West Bengal Assembly under Ajay Mukherjee's Bangla Congress and was closely associated with revolutionary figures, including Subhas Chandra Bose.

Early Life and Education

Mahananda Halder was born on 9 March 1900 to Shri Radhakanta Halder and Shrimati Janaki Devi as their eldest son. His name, "Mahananda," was given at the request of his grandfather, Shri Nilmani Halder. His siblings included his younger brother, Shyamananda Halder, and sister, Aaynamati Halder.

Demonstrating high intelligence from an early age, Halder memorized both English and Bengali alphabets by age three and was adept in writing and constructing sentences by age five. He had an extraordinary memory, often recalling things after only seeing or hearing them once. Halder received his first scholarship in 1907, ranked second in his district in 1911, and received another scholarship in 1917 after passing the entrance examination from Bagerhat High School with first-division marks.

In 1918, he passed the Indian School Certificate examination from Prafulla Chandra College, Bagerhat, earning a monthly grant of 15 rupees. However, he was disqualified from his BA (Economics) final semester examination by just two marks in 1920, which left him demotivated. Professor Kamakshyacharan Nag, who recognized his potential, recommended him to St. Paul's Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata, where he completed his BA with distinction in 1921. That same year, he enrolled in both an MA (Political Science) and Bachelor of Laws (B.L.) program. In July 1929, Halder was called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn, becoming a Barrister-at-Law. Upon his return to India, he briefly practiced as a criminal lawyer in the Bagerhat District Court but soon quit, finding the falsification of evidence incompatible with his ethical standards.

Association with Revolutionaries and Axis Power Agents

Bengal CID document on Mahananda Halder's arrest.

Bengal CID document, intercepted letter from Subhas Chandra Bose, President, INC to Mahananda Halder, Barrister-at-Law

Halder collaborated closely with Subhas Chandra Bose and various Nazi agents in Calcutta as part of the Indian freedom struggle. He communicated with high-profile figures such as Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, and Helmuth Bischoff, head of the Nazi Party in Calcutta. His connection with Bose began in 1936, and he was detained shortly after Bose's alleged plane crash on suspicion of possessing information related to Bose's disappearance. Since 1939, Halder published the Bengali monthly magazine Ananta Bijoy, which promoted pro-Axis views and war news. He served as both the founder and editor of the publication.

Early Career and Founding of Thakurnagar Colony

In 1941, Halder joined the Debt Conciliation Department at the Writer's Building in Calcutta as a Special Officer. However, he resigned in October 1945 following his detention related to Bose's alleged death. From 1944 to 1945, Halder and Pramatha Ranjan Thakur (the grandson of Guruchand Thakur) acquired land in Thakurnagar for the rehabilitation of East Bengal refugees, particularly the Matua community. Over time, Halder grew concerned that Thakur was exploiting company land and the refugees for personal gain, using forced and unpaid labor, and displacing local Muslims. Due to tensions with Thakur's supporters, he eventually left Thakurnagar in late 1949. He recorded these events in his personal notes titled A Short Pen-Picture of P.R. Thakur.

Teaching and Political Career

In 1945, Halder founded Mira High School in Plassey, Nadia, where he served as president and headmaster. In 1943, he published Sri Sri Guruchand Charit, a poetic text detailing the life of Guruchand Thakur. In 1956, encouraged by Shri Tarak Das Bandopadhyay, Halder entered politics. Supported by Bandopadhyay, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Bijoy Singh Nahar, and Atulya Ghosh, he won a seat in the Legislative Assembly for the Nakashipara constituency in 1957.

Letter from Mehr Chand Khanna, Minister for Rehabilitation in 1958

In 1958, Halder was assigned responsibility for refugee rehabilitation in the Dandakaranya Forest, Madhya Pradesh, by Rehabilitation Minister Shri Mehr Chand Khanna. He also joined the Indian Red Cross Society and remained closely associated with Chief Minister Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. During his tenure, Halder worked on improving schools in Nadia, rehabilitating refugees from East Bengal, and other social welfare activities.

Conflict with the Congress (1960–1962)

Halder's popularity caused friction with the Nadia District Congress Committee (NDCC), particularly with members Atulya Ghosh, SM Fazlur Rehman, and others, who falsely implicated him in a milk powder theft case. Suspended by the Congress in 1961, Halder resigned, despite the support of Dr. B.C. Roy and even Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's request that he remain with the party.

Independent Political Career (1962–1967)

Halder contested the 1962 elections independently from the Chapra constituency in Nadia, winning by approximately 28,000 votes with support from Bijoy Singh Nahar. He focused on school welfare and aiding refugees, the poor, and displaced persons.

M.Halder Thakurnagar Letterhead

Opposing the Lokur Committee

In 1965, Mahananda Halder traveled to Delhi to oppose and protest the recommendations of the Lokur Committee' alongside two other MLAs. The Lokur Committee, established in 1965 by the Government of India, was tasked with revising the lists of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), headed by B.N. Lokur, the Law Secretary. Halder met with the then Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri', to voice his concerns and objections, emphasizing the potential negative impact the revisions could have on marginalized communities. His protest highlighted his continued commitment to social justice and advocacy for the rights of disadvantaged communities.

Involvement with Bangla Congress (1967)

In 1966, Halder joined the newly formed Bangla Congress, which represented the left-wing split from the Indian National Congress. Led by Ajoy Mukherjee, this faction focused on rural development and opposed the central government's Calcutta-focused policies. Halder served as the first Parliamentary Secretary in the West Bengal Assembly for Bangla Congress but resigned before the 1967 elections due to disagreements over nominations. He later contested the election independently with support from the United Left Front, but he lost with around 8,000 votes.

1971 Activities During the Bangladesh War

During the Bangladesh War, Halder continued his social work by assisting East Pakistan refugees with shelter and citizenship in India. Minister Charumihir Sarkar, who regarded Halder as an elder brother, supported these initiatives.

Spiritual Alignment and Activities

Halder was spiritually aligned with the Matua community under Sri Guruchand Thakur. As a child, he visited Guruchand Thakur's ashram and received his blessing. Later, he became a disciple of Sri Gopal Chand Sadhu Thakur and wrote Sonar Manush Gopal Sadhu. Halder published Sri Sri Guruchand Charit in 1943, which remains a vital resource on Thakur's ideology. He also published Sri Sri Harililamrita by Tarak Chandra Sarkar in 1941.

Mahananda Halder (1939)

In 1960, Halder established the Sri Sri Hari Mandir in his residence, where he initiated the Mahabaruni Mela for the Matua community. His residence, Plassey Thakurbari, became a prominent gathering place for devotees. In 1969, he founded Harichand Seva Sangha in Calcutta and Rangamati, Medinipur, for the welfare of the Matua community, appointing Shri Jagadish Chandra Pade as the first secretary of the Rangamati branch. He also founded and chaired the Nadia Zila Matua Mahasangha.

Death, Legacy, and Aftermath

Mahananda Halder died on 14 June 1972 after a prolonged illness. A memorial assembly was held on 10 September 1972 at Student's Hall, College Square, Kolkata, presided over by Shri Khitish Chandra Roy and Shri Mahendranath Mondal.

On 27 March 2021, Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, publicly acknowledged Mahananda Halder's contributions and writings in a speech delivered in Orakandi, Bangladesh. This recognition underscored Halder's lasting impact and his dedication to social and spiritual upliftment, as well as his influence within the Matua community.

Despite his contributions, Halder's legacy was often suppressed by opponents, particularly members of the Thakur family from Thakurnagar. However, his works continue to be studied, with researchers such as Dr. Milan Mandal from Seacom Skills University, Bolpur & Mr. Jyoti Biswas from Tamil Nadu University acknowledging his influence. In 2023, the Centre for Studies in Social Studies, West Bengal scanned his documents for research, under a government-sponsored project. These materials, along with Halder's photographs, are preserved by Shri Sourav Halder, his eldest great-grandson.