Protap Chunder Mozoomdar Biography 
Protap Chunder Mozoomdar from Bengal was a member of Brahmo Samaj and a close follower of Keshub Chandra Sen. He interacted with the philosophies and ethics of Hinduism and Christianity and has authored the book - The Oriental Christ. Mozoomdar is the originator of the Hindu mission movement to US in the late 19th century. Protap Mozoomdar, together with Swami Vivekananda, represented Hinduism at the historical Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893 as a delegate for the Brahmo Samaj.
Sunrit Mallick’s ‘The first Hindu mission to America’ gives his detailed study in America, primary based on his research on American newspapers, periodicals, manuscripts, diaries and archival material available in American libraries. It also included Protap’s collected information. Through this book author successfully argues that Protap was the first and most well-travelled and well-connected among the religious visitors of 19th century.
In 1869, Keshub Chunder Sen chose from amongst his missionaries to study about 4 old and major religions of the world. Girish Chandra Sen was selected to study Islam, Aghore Nath Gupta for Buddhism, Gour Govinda Ray for Hinduism and finally Protap Chunder Mozoomdar for Christianity. The goal was to study and report on the relationship between Brahmo ideals and other major religions of the world. He conducted research and studies on this religion and authored the book, The oriental Christ. The book was published in the year 1869. This book was much discussed in the west and led to an important correspondence between Mozoomdar and Max Muller regarding the relationship between these two religions.
But after the publishing of the correspondence it led to controversy in both Britain and India. Muller even argued that Mozoomdar is now a Christian, though it was denied by the other. He argued that the label "Christian" did not properly articulate his own positive view of Jesus as a model of self-sacrifice. At last Muller agreed that Christians should learn from the Brahmos and should abandon the traditional Christian formulation of Atonement. The Life and Teachings of Keshub Chunder Sen (1887) and biography of Ramakrishna are other noted works.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 16, 2014
