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Case Studies | Social Science | Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026 | Pages: 232 - 237 | India
Vivekananda Byam Samiti and Community Identity in Colonial Bengal (1772-1946)
Abstract: This study examines the historical and socio-cultural role of the Vivekananda Byam Samiti in shaping physical culture and nationalist consciousness in colonial Bengal. Drawing on primary archival sources, oral histories, and secondary literature, it analyzes how the Samiti translated Swami Vivekananda's "man making" philosophy into institutional practice. The findings demonstrate that the Samiti functioned not only as a center for physical training but also as a site of youth mobilization, social service, and anti colonial engagement. By integrating indigenous martial traditions with modern organizational forms, it contributed to redefining the Indian body as a symbol of strength, discipline, and national identity. The study highlights the significance of Murshidabad as a regional site of cultural revival and underscores the broader role of physical culture in processes of nation building. Drawing upon primary sources, including institutional records, local archives, and oral histories, alongside relevant secondary literature, the paper analyzes the dual role of the Samiti as both a center for physical training and a site of nationalist mobilization during the Indian freedom struggle. It argues that the Vivekananda Byam Samiti functioned not merely as a gymnasium but as a significant space for youth formation, anti-colonial consciousness, and community solidarity. Situating the Samiti within the broader akhara and physical culture movement in Bengal, the paper further highlights how regions such as Murshidabad-politically marginalized since the late eighteenth century- rearticulated their historical identity and cultural pride through initiatives of physical and spiritual regeneration.
Keywords: Physical Culture, Somatic Nationalism, Murshidabad, and Colonial Masculinity
How to Cite?: Swarup Mal, Prasenjit Deb, "Vivekananda Byam Samiti and Community Identity in Colonial Bengal (1772-1946)", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 232-237, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26402165244, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26402165244