View source for Biswas, Reginald Nolendra Kumar (1895-1975)

 Reginald Nolendra Kumar Biswas was born 24 August 1895 at Gorakpur, Uttar Pradesh, [[India|India]], the second of four sons born to Chunilal and Kamolini (Ganguli) Biswas. After his family moved to Itarsi, [[Madhya Pradesh State (India)|Madhya Pradesh]], R. N. K. Biswas was able to complete his education through college there (BA and BT degrees). He joined the British Quakers and was sponsored to study in England for a year. He returned in 1919 to work for the [[Mennonite Church in India|American Mennonite Mission]] in [[Dhamtari (Chhattisgarh State, India)|Dhamtari]], Madhya Pradesh, as headmaster of the mission's English school.

R. N. K. was a daring visionary. He purchased the village of Maradev to become the first Mennonite landlord. In 1929 he retired from his headmaster position to devote himself entirely to his farm. In 1938 he had a life-transforming experience through the preaching of Sadhu Bhakt Singh, a converted Sikh. Biswas now was committed to tithing, to a deep devotional life, to renewal among other Indian Christians, and to lifting living standards among his neighbors. Through his efforts, the Economic Service Council was formed in 1952. He challenged Indian Christians to maturity and made missionaries aware of the perils of paternalism. He died at Dhamtari on 4 December 1975.


= Bibliography =
Lapp, John Allen. <em class="gameo_bibliography">The Mennonite Church in India, 1897-1962,</em> Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, vol. 14. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1972: chapter 18.

American Mennonite Mission Annual Report (1919).

Biographical information supplied by Mrs. Kamolini (Biswas) Martin.


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