3. INTRODUCTION
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on May
22,1772 in Radhanagar village of Hoogly
district, Bengal Presidency.His father’s name
was Ramakanto Roy and his mother’s name
was Tarini Devi. His father was a wealthy
Brahmin and was an orthodox individual
who strictly followed religious duties. At the
age of 14 Ram Mohan roy expressed his
desire to become a monk but as his mother
opposed it he dropped the idea.
4. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was known as the
pioneer of modern Indian Renaissance for the
reforms he brought in India in the 18th and
19th century. Among his efforts, the abolition
of the Sati Pratha was the most prominent. His
efforts were also directed in eradicating the
purdah system and child marriage. In 1828,
Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj,
uniting the Bhramos in Calcutta, a group of
people, having no faith in idol-worship and
were also against the caste restrictions. The
title 'Raja' was bestowed upon him by the
mughal emperor Akbar II in 1831.
5. His father though was an orthodox brahmin but
he wanted him to pursue higher education. He
received Bengali and Sanskrit education from
the village school. He was sent to Patna to study
Persian and Arabic in a Madrasa. Persian and
Arabic were considered very important at that
time as it was the court language of the Mughal
Emperors.
His Education
6. He went through the Quran and and also the
other Islamic scriptures. After completing
his studies in Patna, he went to Benares to
learn Sanskrit. He began studying scriptures,
including the Vedas and Upanishads. He
learnt English at the age of 22. He read the
works of philosophers like Euclid and
Aristotle which shaped his spiritual and
religious conscience.
7. Roy visited England as an ambassador of the
Mughal King in order to request the Imperial
Government to increase the royalty, received by
the Mughal Emperor and also to ensure that Lord
Bentick's Sati Act would not be overturned. He
died of meningitis in 1833 while residing in
Bristol, England.
8. Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidinor A Gift to Monotheists (1905),
Vedanta (1815), Ishopanishad (1816), Kathopanishad
(1817), Moonduk Upanishad (1819), The Precepts of
Jesus - Guide to Peace and Happiness (1820), Sambad
Kaumudi - a Bengali newspaper (1821), Mirat-ul-Akbar
- Persian journal (1822), Brahmapasona (1828),
Brahmasangeet (1829) and The Universal Religion
(1829).
Publications:
9. Social Reforms
During the late 18th century in the society in
Bengal there were lot of evil customs and
regulations. Rituals and strict moral codes were
enforced which were largely modified, and badly
interpreted ancient traditions. Practices like child
marriage, polygamy and Sati were prevalent in
the society
10. Raja Ram Mohan Roy raised his voice against this cruel
practice of sati.He took his views to the higher ups in the
East India Company. The Governor General Lord
William Bentinck sympathised with Roy’s sentiments
and amid much outcry from the orthodox religious
community, the Bengal Sati Regulation or Regulation
XVII, A. D. 1829 of the Bengal Code was pass. Raja Ram
Mohan Roy is thus known as a true benefactor of
women not just for helping abolish the custom of Sati,
but also raising his voice against child marriag and
polygamy, while demanding equal inheritance rights for
women. He also opposed the rigid caste division.
11. Educational Reforms
Ram Mohan Roy realised that while traditional texts like
Vedas, Upanishads and Quran provided him with much
reverence for philosophy, he lacked knowledge in scientific
and rational education. He was in favour of and advocated
the introduction of an English Education System in the
country teaching scientific subjects like Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry and even Botany. He paved the way to
revolutionizing education system in India by establishing
Hindu College in 1817 along with David Hare. His efforts
to combine theological doctrines along with modern
rational lessons led him to establish the Anglo-Vedic
School in 1822 and Vedanta College in 1826.
12. Ram Mohan raised his voice against idolatry
and advocated Monotheism. He criticized idol-
worship by the Hindus. He also opposed the
principle of Trinitariasm’ (God, Son Jesus and
the holy spirit) of the Christianity. He rejected
polytheism, idol-worship and rituals of
different religions. He advocated monotheism
or unity among gods. He also advised people to
be guided by the conscience.He appealed to
observe the principle of unity of God.
Religious Reforms
13. • The caste system was practiced in
Indian society from the later
Vedic age. Ram Mohan opposed
this system of the Indian society.
To him, there was no difference
among men and also held that
everybody is equal before God.
Against Caste System
14. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated the liberty of
Women. He wanted women to get proper place
in the society. Besides abolishing Sati, he
advocated in favor of widow remarriage. He
also told that like the sons, daughters have also
their right over parental property. Thus he was
in favour of female right of inheritance. He
influenced the British government to bring
necessary modification in the existing law. He
raised voice against child-marriage and
polygamy. He was the advocate of women
education.
Champion of Women Liberty:
15. On Rights of the Individual
The Brahmo Samaj helped in developing
confidence among Indians in their own
religion. Roy believed in the freedom of man
and opposed the racial superiority of
Europeans He did not demand independence
for India but he fought for the civil liberties of
the people.
16. • Roy created an awareness for civil
rights amongst the Indians. He was
grateful to the British because they
made available to Indians all those
civil rights which were enjoyed by the
Queen's subjects in England.
17. o Raja Ram Mohan Roy also known as the ‘Father
of Indian Journalism’, believed in the freedom
of press. He edited a newspaper in Bengali
named ‘Sampad Kaumudi’ and was also the
editor of Mirat- ul-Akbar. When restrictions
were imposed on the publications of
newspapers, he reacted sharply and criticized
the British authorities.
o In his editorials, he reflected important social,
political, economic, religious and other
problems which the Indians were facing.
Father of Indian Journalism:
18. He gave the greatest importance to the
right to freedom of opinion and expression.
To him it included the freedom of creativity
of mind and intellect, as well as the
freedom of expressing one's opinions and
thoughts through different media.
According to Roy, freedom of expression
was equally useful to the rulers and the
ruled. A free and independent press alone
could-bring forth the best in the
government as well as the people.
19. Even though he hailed from a Zamindar
background, he fought for the liberation of
the poor tenants exploited by Zamindars.
He fought against the fixed revenue for
the cultivators in Bengal and also opposed
heavy export duties.
Economic Reforms
20. • Thus truly known as the “Maker of Modern India” and
“Father of Modern India”, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social
and educational reformer, was an idealist who contributed
immensely in eradicating social evils prevalent in the
society during the 18th century. He made every possible
effort to make his motherland a better place for the future
generations to come.
• He is a great historical figure, who put immense efforts to
transform India and defied the age-old Hindu traditions. A
modernist by virtue, he undertook a lot of social, religious,
educational and economic reforms to change the society
and worked for the upliftment of the status of women in
India.
Conclusion
