Brahmabandhab was starting a Math along with Rebachand and another student. But because of the opposition of the authorities of the Catholic Mission the Math could not function. Brahmabandhab lived in a rented house at Beadon Street, Calcutta. Within a short distance was Bethune Row, where he had established his office to run his weekly magazine Sophia. Rebachand was a born teacher. In Sophia, Brahmabandha wrote an essay, namely, "The world Poet of Bengal", where he acknowledged the poetry of Rabindtanath, and thus Rabindranath came to know him.
Rabindranath was thinking of opening a residential school at Santiniketan for some time. Three years earlier Balendranath had constructed a building for opening a 'Brahma Vidyalaya' there. Now the residential school was established at this place. Viswabharati Library had its office in the building for a long time. Three rooms and an attached verandah were its earlier shape.
Maharshi Debendranath established in Shantiniketan a temple and an Ashram. But at that time there were no activity there. The school was opened formally on 7th Paush with only 5 students. Rabindranath appointed Brahmabandhab Upadhyaya as an organiser. He was contemporary to Rabindranath. His original name was Bhabani Charan Bandyopadyay. He was the son of Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay's brother. Kalicharan was a follower of Jesus Christ .
Rabindranath wrote in Bangadarshan that he gradually grew close to Brahmabandhab who came to understand that Rabindranath ran the school with his father's consent.
Brahmabandhab joined the school along with some of his disciples. Brahmabandhab began to address Rabindranath as "Gurudev" and the name stuck. In such an address, there was much respect but not unmixed with fear. Brahmabandhab was looked upon as a close relative, but he could never influence the Thakur family.
The residential school was oriented as a "Brahmaacharyashram" by Brahmabandhab. Rabindranath always tried to explain, in his written letters and essays, the importance of the methods of teaching in the preceptor's house in ancient India. But it was not possible for him to stay in Shantiniketan regularly and conduct the school. That was done by Brahmabandhab. He stayed there for four months. It was impossible for him also to stay in a fixed place for a long time because he was a patriot who was called by the people of his country.
Brahmabandhab could not take classes regularly. He frequently came from Calcutta and advised Rabindranath about the rules and regulations to be introduced in the school. Rabindranath remembered later that during the formation of the school, Brahmabandhab was with him. Brahmabandhab and he discussed many things while walking through the lanes of the villages. He had tremendous strength in his body and once he defeated a Punjabi wrestler. In the book 'Ashramer roop o bikash' Rabindranath spoke at length of his association with Brahmabandhab.
