5 min readKolkataJan 26, 2025 02:09 PM IST
First published on: Jan 26, 2025 at 02:09 PM IST
Among the nine Padma awardees from West Bengal is Bharat Sevashram Sangha monk Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj, who had sent a legal notice to Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee last year seeking an unconditional apology from her for “tarnishing” the image of his ashram.
Soon after his name was announced among the recipients of the Padma Shri award, the 63-year-old head of the ashram’s Beldanga branch said, “The responsibility has increased a lot. I have to be with common people more and more. I have to be involved with them in their happiness and sorrow.”
“I dedicate this honour to Pranavanandaji Maharaj and the entire Bharat Sevashram Sangha. I am very happy as a servant of Bharat Sevashram Sangha… May I crush pride and arrogance and be with people till the end of my life,” he added.
Controversy involving Mamata Banerjee
In May 2024, a row erupted after Mamata targeted a section of monks during her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The TMC supremo accused “a few monks” of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and the Ramakrishna Mission of directly working against the TMC and helping the BJP in West Bengal.
Speaking at a rally in Hooghly’s Jayrambati, the birthplace of Sarada Devi, the wife of religious leader Sri Ramakrishna, Banerjee had said, “There is a maharaj in Berhampore, I have been hearing about him for a long time. Kartik Maharaj says he will not allow any TMC agent in the poll booth. I do not consider him a saint because he is directly involved in politics and is ruining the country. I used to respect Bharat Sevashram Sangha a lot. It has been on my list of respected organisations for a long time.”
Soon after, Kartik Maharaj responded to her, saying, “We are self-sacrificing monks. All monks who entered politics were relieved of their posts… but I have no intention of joining politics in future.”
He added, “The Trinamool and BJP have repeatedly asked me to be a candidate. Trinamool made the request during the previous Assembly polls. I categorically declined that request. This year, I rejected the proposal of the BJP. Trinamool top leaders also contacted me. But I have no motivation to be a candidate.”
On Mamata Banerjee’s allegation, he said, “It hurt me a lot. This is not an insult to me as an individual, but to the long service tradition of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh.”
Within two days, he demanded an unconditional apology from Mamata over her allegations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lashed out at her remarks.
The chief minister later said her remarks were misinterpreted and that she was not “against any institution” but had only “talked about a couple of individuals”.
When did Kartik Maharaj join Bharat Sevashram Sangha?
According to sources with the Bharat Sevashram, Kartik Maharaj was drawn to the Sangha as a teenager and joined its Bankura branch. After 12 years of brahmacharya, he took initiation from Swami Pragyananda Maharaj and joined the headquarters of the Sangha in Ballygunge, Kolkata. He was later sent to Beldanga town in Murshidabad and was given the responsibility of building an ashram there.
According to a devotee close to Kartik Maharaj, “when he arrived, Beldanga Bharat Sevashram Sangha had nothing. Gradually he built an ashram and 12 schools which have more than 3,000 students. He also built hospitals across Murshidabad district. Maharaj did commendable work for the education of girls in Murshidabad and launched a drive against child marriage. He would engage in relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of floods, cyclone and even during the pandemic.”
Sources indicated that Kartik Maharaj played a vital role in the recent Gita Path programme in Murshidabad and in Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.
Relief work by Bharat Sevashram Sangha
Bharat Sevashram Sangha was established by Swami Pranabananda Maharaj in 1917 in Bangladesh’s Bajitpur to carry out social work and spread Hinduism. Soon, the organisation became known for its relief work across East and West Bengal. It carried out commendable work during the Khulna famine, cyclone in Faridpur and when cholera hit Bajitpur.
Over the years, Bharat Sevashram has become a leading institution in Bengal known for its work during calamities and epidemics. It has built guest houses for Hindu pilgrims across India, especially in places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar and Gaya.
Like the Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangha has also entered the education sector, building schools that emphasise education for those belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Recently, Kartik Maharaj participated in a rally organised in Kolkata and appealed to Hindus to stand united in the face of atrocities against them in Bangladesh.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha monk Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj. (Source: X) 
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