president secretary Dispensation leader
The son of Madhusudan Senator, and nephew (sister"s son) of Keshub Chunder Senator, he was born on 25 September 1868 at Kolkata. Senator received Western education, supported by his father, who had been initiated into the by Debendranath Tagore.
University of Calcutta. Scottish Church College.
Senator 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.
He started working in Baharampur College and worked in Tej Narayan Jubilee College at Bhagalpur for a short period before joining Presidency College in 1893.
His lectures outside the college premises drew in large number of listeners. In 1898, when plague struck Kolkata, the residents of ‘Fraternal Home’ participated in the relief activities.
Many persons attended his classes on Bhagavad Gita held at Albert Hall. He took the lead to act parts of it and enlivened the entire environment.
Many persons attended his prayer-meeings.
Among them was Brajendra Nath Seal. He was elected president of “Youngmen & Interpretation” and “Theistic Endeavour Society”. At the conference his paper dealt with the problem of religion in modern India.
He organised a school for the moral education of Brahmo children.
Senator was actively involved in the functioning of Victoria Institution. He presided over the Indian Theistic Conference held at Lahore in 1909.
He was secretary of Calcutta University Institute. Upadhyay Gour Govinda Ray used to say, “Benoyendranath is a rose in bloom.” At the time of Titanic disaster in 1912, Senator presided over a memorial service.
His prayer service evoked the tragic dimension of the disaster and touched all present.
He died at a comparatively young age after being ill for some time.
While arguing the need for more theology, he warned against ‘dry rationalism’ that would stifle the spiritual impulse.
Senator was a member of Calcutta University for many years, and was inspector of colleges.
