Swami Maheshwarananda Giri

Swami Maheshwarananda Giri
Swami Maheshwarananda Giri
Personal life
Born	Jatindra Mohan Sanyal 1884 Natore District, Bengal, British India
Died	21 July 1967 Varanasi, Independent India
Known for	participation in Indian independence movement
Religious life
Religion	Hinduism
Philosophy	Hindu philosophy
Religious career
Guru	Swami Bholananda Giri

Swami Maheshwarananda Giri (Bengali: যতীন্দ্রমোহন সান্যাল) (1883 – 21 July 1967), born Jatindra Mohan Sanyal, was an Indian revolutionary associated with the Anushilan Samiti and later a renunciate monk of the Bhola Giri Monastic Order in Haridwar. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College Calcutta. He was a close associate of prominent revolutionaries such as Bagha Jatin, Bhupati Majumdar, and Bipin Behari Ganguli, and in later life became known for his spiritual teachings, humility, and refusal to record his contributions to India's independence struggle.

Early Life and Revolutionary Activity

Jatindra Mohan Sanyal was born in 1883 into a zamindar family in Natore, Bengal. He was related to several prominent Bengali intellectuals, including Ashutosh Chaudhuri, a barrister and friend of Rabindranath Tagore, and Pramatha Chaudhuri, the noted author. Sanyal joined the Anushilan Samiti at a young age and soon became a trusted associate of revolutionary leaders including Bagha Jatin.

Known for his sturdy physique and boldness, he was reputed to have confronted European miscreants in Kolkata’s Maidan, earning a reputation as a worthy disciple of Bagha Jatin. It has been speculated that he played a role in Bagha Jatin’s Indo-German Conspiracy, though details remain scarce. During this period, he was also reportedly connected with other underground revolutionaries like Hrishikesh Kanjilal, Paresh Sanyal, and Somesh Chandra Bose, several of whom later joined the Bhola Giri Order.

Sanyal also worked briefly with Jugantar Patrika, functioning as a printer during its underground activities. He claimed to have known Sister Nivedita and recounted that she had once guided him and others to visit Sri Sarada Devi, remarking, “When we went to see Shri Maa, who showed us the way? It was Nivedita.”

Turn Toward Monastic Life

After retiring from government service in 1945, Sanyal turned definitively toward spiritual life and was initiated by Swami Bholananda Giri, the founder of the Bholananda Monastic Order. He adopted the name Swami Maheshwarananda Giri and joined the Order's headquarters in Haridwar. In his later years, he served as the secretary of the Bholananda Vidyabhavan in Varanasi.

He was known for his approachable demeanour and deep spiritual conviction. Described as radiant, humorous, and warm, Swami Maheshwarananda stood out among other monks of the order for his friendliness, particularly toward the young. One devotee recalled: “His radiant smile and affable personality were magnetic… He mingled effortlessly with everyone, young and old, joking and laughing.”

During a 1967 gathering in Jamshedpur, Swami Maheshwarananda humorously compared a little girl’s lipstick to a bulbul: “Your lips look just like a bulbul’s back!” The incident left a lasting impression on attendees, highlighting his charm and sense of humour.

Views on Indian Independence

Swami Maheshwarananda remained critical of Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent movement, stating:

“Gandhi came to destroy our armed struggle. When the British realised they couldn’t get Indians to fight on their side, they wanted to bring Gandhi to India, and they did. Has any country ever gained independence through non-violence? It’s doubtful whether India truly has.”

He believed that India had not yet achieved true freedom and predicted a future upheaval:

“We became independent, but we haven’t gained true freedom. This so-called independence will achieve nothing. We may not live to see it, but a bloody revolution is coming soon.”

Refusal to Document His Life

Despite repeated requests, Swami Maheshwarananda refused to write or speak extensively about his revolutionary past. When asked to contribute to an official government compilation of revolutionary activities led by notable historian Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, he refused to do so under his own name:

“I said I won’t write anything in my name. Give me yours, and I’ll write it. So I did. But then Nehru’s party saw that it would give Bengal prominence, so they removed Ramesh Majumdar and brought in Gopi Chand Bhargava. That invaluable history was all destroyed!”

He emphasized his renunciation, pointing to his saffron robes and saying:

“Don’t you see this? If I wanted that, why did I leave everything behind?”

Philosophical Interests

Swamiji was interested in the ancient Atharvaveda, which he associated with advanced scientific knowledge. Speaking to a young devotee, he said:

“The Atharvaveda is no longer available, but I know it exists in one place… It contains everything—about airplanes, atoms, and science. Those books went to Germany.”

He also encouraged future research:

“My wish is that when you grow up, you will research and prove that there are even smaller particles within the atom.”

Death and Legacy

Swami Maheshwarananda Giri passed away on 21 July 1967 in Kashi (Varanasi). He left behind a legacy marked by quiet dedication, spiritual renunciation, and an enduring memory among those who encountered him. Despite his reluctance to document his life, those who met him were deeply influenced by his presence and his life story, which intertwined revolution and renunciation.

See also

• Swami Bholananda Giri
• Bagha Jatin
• Swami Prajnananda
• Prajnanananda Saraswati
• Bipin Behari Ganguli

Bibliography

• Jagaran o Bishforon, by Kalicharan Ghosh;
• Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
• First spark of revolution by Arun Chandra Guha.
• Abishmaraniya by Ganganarayan Chandra
• Amar dekhe biplab o biplabi by Motilal Roy
• Swarane Barane Biplabacharya Master Jyotish Ghosh by Meghnath Chandra