Formative Years
The son of Madhusudan Sen, and nephew (sister's son) of Keshub Chunder Sen, he was born on 25 September 1868 at Kolkata. Sen received Western education, supported by his father, who had been initiated into the Brahmo Samaj by Debendranath Tagore. Sen topped his class throughout his academic career. He mastered the intricacies of Western philosophy. After his graduation with honours in English and philosophy from the General Assembly’s Institution (now Scottish Church College) in 1888, he did his Master of Arts in history and philosophy from Calcutta University.
In the Brahmo Samaj Benoyendra Nath allied himself with two other famous New Dispensation philosophers, Pramathalal Sen and Mohit Chandra Sen, to update the church’s organisation and doctrine as well as to promote unity with other Brahmo groups. Benoyendranath’s generation saw no conflict between science and reason on one side and faith on the other… Rather than reject Vedanta, Benoyendranath chose it as the most perfect Indian embodiment of the intellectual ideal… Brahmoism was not a philosophy or theology but a faith that conformed to reason.
David KopfRead more about this topic: Benoyendranath Sen
Famous quotes related to formative years:
“The social forces that operate on a family during the daughter’s formative years continue to shape her experience. Thus the families, schools, and jobs that involve poor women are likely to be very hierarchically arranged, demanding conformity, passivity, and obedience—all unsupportive of continued intellectual growth.”
—Mary Field Belenky (20th century)