A. K. Mozumdar

A. K. Mozumdar
Portrait of A.K. Mozumdar in 1908
Born	July 15, 1881 Kolkata, India
Died	March 9, 1953 San Diego, California, US
Occupation(s)	minister and author
Known for	Universal Truth Teachings

Akhay Kumar Mozumdar(July 15, 1881 – March 9, 1953) was anIndian Americanspiritual writer and teacher associated with theNew Thought Movementin the United States. He became a naturalized American in 1913 and in 1923, followingUnited States v. Bhagat Singh Thind,Mozumdar was the first Indian afterBhagat Singh Thindto have his United States citizenship taken away.

Biography

The son of an attorney, Mozumdar was born in a small village about twenty miles north ofCalcutta, India.He was the youngest child, with eight older brothers and one sister. The Mozumdars were a highcastefamily.Mozumdar's mother was very devout and named him Akhay Kumar, meaning "Son of God." Mozumdar was a teacher, lecturer, and writer of theNew Thought Movementin the United States during the first half of 20th century. He exhibited a deep knowledge of God and taught what he called, the "Creative Principle."After leaving his family home, he spent time traveling throughout India, and said that he traveled toBethlehemto learn about Christianity. He spent several years in China and Japan and decided to teach in America.

Mozumdar immigrated to the United States, arriving inSeattle, Washington,in 1904. In 1905 Jennie and Charles Clark, leaders in Seattle's Queen CityTheosophical Society,reported in theTheosophical Quarterly Magazinethat Mozumdar, 'a Hindu Brother... has spoken for us for several weeks to full houses.' The Clarks wrote that Mozumdar "calls his teachings 'universal truth.

Mozumdar delivered lectures primarily in Washington, Oregon, and California, based on his teachings that combined Christianity, Hinduism which he referred to as "Christian yoga."

United States immigration law

In 1913, Mozumdar became a US citizen after having convinced the Spokanedistrict judgethat he was in fact Caucasian and thereby met the requirements ofnaturalizationlaw then restricting citizenship to "free white persons."On February 5, 1917, the United States Congress passed theImmigration Act of 1917also known as theAsiatic Barred Zone Act.Along with many otherundesirablesit banned Asians from immigrating to the United States.

Ten years after being granted citizenship, however, as a result of theUS Supreme Courtdecision inUnited States v. Bhagat Singh Thind,stipulating that no person of East Indian origin could become a naturalized United States citizen, Mozumdar's citizenship was revoked. A decision on his appeal to theNinth Circuit Court of Appealsupheld the revocation.TheLuce–Celler Actof 1946 provided a quota of 100 East Indians to immigrate into the US and permitted East Indians to apply for and be granted citizenship. Mozumdar reapplied under the new statute and was granted US citizenship in 1950. He remained in the United States until his death in San Diego in 1953,and he was buried atForest Lawn Memorial ParkinGlendale, California.Mozumdar was very close to several leaders in theInternational New Thought Alliance.ReverendErnest Holmes,an American spiritual writer, teacher and founder of a Spiritual movement known asReligious Science,and author of "Science of Mind"was a close friend and admirer. Holmes officiated at Mozumdar's large and well attended memorial service.

Major works

• The Triumphant Spirit
• The Conquering Man(also translated into Swedish by Eric O. G. Olson,Den segrande människan)
• The Mystery of the Kingdom
• The Commanding Life
• "Christ on the Road of Today
• Key to the New Messianic World Message
• Christ Speaketh
• Today and Tomorrow
• Open Door to Heaven
• The Life and the Way

See also

• Church of Divine Science
• Ernest Holmes
• Religious Science

External links

• A. K. Mozumdar biography and online books website
• School of the Natural Order founded by Ralph deBit, one of Mozumdar's students/acolytes
• A contemporary approach to Vitvan