Gour Govinda Ray

Gour Govinda Ray Biography

Gour Govinda Ray was a notable scholar on Hinduism and a Brahmo missionary. He served as the editor of Dhamatattva, an official publication of the Brahmo Samaj for 40 years. He has also assisted Keshub Chunder Sen in the compilation of Slokasangraha, a collection of quotes from different religious texts. Sribhagavadgitasmanyabhasya, Srimadbhagavadgita Prapurti, Vedantasamanyabhasyang, Sri Krishner Jibon O Dharma, Acharya Keshub Chandra (11 volumes), Vivek O Buddhir Kathopakathan, Aryadharma O Tadbyakhyatrigana and Gayatrimulak Shachakrer Vyakhayan O Sadhan are his noted Bengali works. He has also done a few translation works among which, his translation of Bengali works to Sanskrit - Nava Samhita, Yog, Jibonved and Brahmagitoponishad are noted most. According to David Kopf, Gour Govinda was a confirmed cultural nationalist.

He was born in the year 1841 in Ghorachoba, Pabna (now in Bangladesh) as the son of Gour Mohan Ray. He was brought up by his uncle. His schooling was done at Rangpur High School and later he studied Persian and Sanskrit languages. He studied ‘Daras’ under a Muslim fakir for a short period. Later he worked as sub-inspector of police during the period, 1863 – 1866. After that he resigned the job to join Brahmo samoj. He was appointed as a missionary by Keshub Chandra Sen.

In 1869, Keshab Chandra Sen selected from his missionaries four persons to study 4 major religions of the world and to observe its connection with Brahmoism. Gour Govinda Ray was assigned to research on Hinduism. The other chosen missionaries were Protap Chunder Mozoomdar for Christianity, Aghore Nath Gupta for Buddhism and Girish Chandra Sen for Islam. Ray did significant research works on Geeta. This scholar led a perfectly ascetic life and devoted his entire time to studies. He gave less importance to money. As a missionary, he visited many parts of the country and helped the establishment of Brahmo Samaj in Mangalore.

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Updated: March 12, 2014