Pitambar Deva Goswami


Pitambar Deva Goswami was a spiritual leader and social reformer in the Indian state of Assam. At age six, he was accepted into the monastic order of the Garamur Satra. Goswami was schooled in Sanskrit by Nityanandadeva Bhagawati Vidyavagish in the satra. When he was 21, he was appointed Satradhikar of the Garamur Satra after the death of Jogachandra Deva Satradhikar Goswami.
In addition to studying Sanskrit grammar, literature, philosophy, religion and theology, Goswami taught himself English and modern Assamese literature. He learned Ayurveda, took lessons in vocal and instrumental classical music and invited experts from Calcutta to the satra.

Work

Goswami pursued reforms which influenced the social life of Assam. He introduced martial arts and acrobatics for physical training, discipline and self-defense, and improved agriculture with the introduction of tractors. Goswami reformed taxation, laws and duties, advocating self-reliance through agriculture. He opened Kirtanghar to the public, provided famine assistance, freed monks from celibacy, advocated for tribal society like "Keot/Kaibarta" and "Karbi" and other marginalised communities, taught swaraj and performed satyagraha in 1941. Goswami was arrested in 1943, and imprisoned for two years.
He taught Vaishnavism and helped the Karbi people in the hilly interior of present-day Karbi Anglong district after his release from prison, opening 20 primary schools and walking to visit remote areas. In 1922 Goswami established a theatre, using casts of boys and girls instead of traditional all-male casts. Yugadrashta: The Visionary is an award-winning 2013 short film on the life of the reformer.