MAHENDRANATH GUPTA
When prophets of founders of religions pass away, they leave their message in the hands of their disciples and followers who become torchbearers of that to the world. Of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, if Swami Vivekananda has done most in the matter of broadcasting his message far and wide, among the lay disciples of the Master, Mahendranath Gupta, better known by the pen-name of ‘M’, or as Master Mahashay, ranks first as being the greatest instrument of spreading his teaching to the spiritually hungry world. His Kathamritanotes on conversations with Sri Ramakrishna, though the original in Bengali and translations in various languages, Indian and foreign, has served as veritable ambrosia to innumerable souls thirsting for religion, and it has also become, as it were, an explosive to social life inasmuch as by reading it many have given up the world in quest of Truth. The book alone was sufficient to immortalize him; for as at present so also in future it is bound to be a ceaseless source of inspiration to thousands of persons. The spoken words of ‘M’ were no less important than his printed record. He was vista through which one could get a glimpse into the life of Sri Ramakrishna as it was lived in Dakshineswar in the last few years of his earthly existence. With his imaginative mind and a most tenacious
