Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Rammohan Roy is the father of Indian Renaissance, credited as the maker of Modern India and a visionary thinker. He strived for equal treatment of women and people of all castes leading to criminalisation of Sati in 1829. He setup various institutions like the Vedanta college, Brahmo Samaj, Calcutta Unitarian Association & Atmiya Sabha where he promoted critical thinking and mix of traditional and western education. He was a great linguist and author writing. His notable literary works include 'Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin' (1803), challenging superstitious religious beliefs, and 'Precepts of Jesus' (1820), critiquing Christian rituals. Roy translated Upanishads and Vedas in 1809, emphasizing monotheism in Hinduism. His journals, such as Sambad Kaumudi, reflected his political views, advocating for civil rights and press freedom.

British East India Company slowly took over a fragmented India, after the decline of the Mughal Empire in late 18th Century. This period witnessed the clash and interaction of different cultures and ideas due to the presence of European colonial powers. There was a revival of interest in Indian philosophy, and the society was grappling with traditional customs, superstitions, and caste-based hierarchies.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy's upbringing in a Brahmin family in Bengal provided him with a deep understanding of classical Indian texts and religious traditions. Due to his knowledge of many languages like Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew he was able to expand his sources of study. This diverse background equipped him to critically analyze and question the prevailing religious and social norms of his time. He had a modern scientific approach.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born in 1772 and was an advanced thinker for his era which made him question old social rules and help build a new and modern India. Ram Mohan Roy received the title 'Raja' from Akbar II, the Mughal Emperor of Delhi. Rabindranath Tagore called him the 'Inaugurator of the Modern Age in India; and described Ram Mohan as a bright star in Indian history.

Religious Reform:

• Challenged Supersitition: His first book, 'Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin' (1803) challenged unreasonable superstitious religious beliefs in prophets and miracles.
• Monotheism: He believed that ancient Hindu texts supported Monotheism (i.e. belief in one god). He wrote the Gift of Monotheists and also translated Upanishads & Vedas in 1809.
• Atmiya Sabha (1814) was established in Calcutta to oppose idol worship, strict caste systems, meaningless rituals, and other social problems.
• In his book 'Precepts of Jesus,' (1820) he critiqued the rituals in Christianity and didn't believe in Christ as God. He focused on the moral and philosophical teachings which he admired, but didn't agree with the stories of miracles in it.

Social Reforms:

• Reform in Religion: He worked against the caste system, untouchability & superstitions.
• Support Women's Rights: He denounced general subjugation of women and prejudices against them. He opposed child marriage, women's illiteracy, sati, the poor conditions of widows, and demanded that women have the right to own property and inherit. His campaign led to banning sati (where a widow burns herself on her husband's funeral fire) under the Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829.
• He started Atmiya Sabha in 1814, Calcutta Unitarian Association in 1821, and Brahmo Sabha in 1828, which later became Brahmo Samaj.
• Brahmo Samaj: The first major reform movement in modern India-
  • Started in 1828, its main goal was to worship the eternal God, It focused on prayers, meditation, and reading holy texts and believed in the unity of all religions (monotheism).
  • Reform Religion: Raja Rammohan Roy did not want to setup another religion, just reform practices. He dencounced the caste system, opposed priesthood, rituals, and sacrifices.
  • Rationalism: Believed that no scripture is above human reason and conscience. It helped bring about rational thinking and enlightenment in India, which also helped the nationalist movement grow.
  • Split: In 1866, it was divided into two groups: Brahmo Samaj of India, led by Keshab Chandra Sen, and Adi Brahmo Samaj, led by Debendranath Tagore. Other key leaders included Pt. Sivnath Shastri and Rabindranath Tagore.

Educational Reforms: Raja Ram Mohan Roy saw education as a tool for social change.

• Blend Western & Indian Education: He was a strong supporter of adding Western education to Indian schooling.
• Setup Educaitonal Institutions
  • Setup Hindu College in Calcutta, 1817 with David Hare.
  • In 1822, he founded the Anglo-Hindu School.
  • In 1826, setup the Vedanta College, where he combined his teachings of monotheism with a modern Western curriculum.
  • In 1830, he helped Rev. Alexander Duff set up the General Assembly's Institution (now Scottish Church College).

Economic and Political views:

• Civil Rights: Roy really admired the British system for the civil rights it provided. He wanted Indian people to also enjoy these rights.
• Reform Governance:His most famous journal, Sambad Kaumudi, discussed topics like press freedom, putting Indians in high government positions, and separating functions of governance and judiciary.
• Press Freedom: When the British East India Company restricted the press, Raja Ram Mohan Roy wrote two objections against this in 1829 and 1830.
• Prolific Writer: When press censorship was eased in 1819, he started three journals - The Brahmanical Magazine in 1821, the Bengali weekly Samvad Kaumudi in 1821, and the Persian weekly Mirat-ul-Akbar.
• Reduce Tax Burden on Peasants: Roy criticized the harsh practices of Bengali landlords and wanted to set minimum rents. He also wanted to stop taxes on lands that should not be taxed. He suggested lowering taxes on Indian goods sold overseas and ending the East India Company's special trading rights.
• Global Thinker: Rammohan was an internationalist who viewed the world as a comity of nations. He, much before others, understood the universal character of principles of justice, equality and liberty for all. He extended support to freedom movements & people's revolutions in Latin America, Ireland and Italy.

Literary Works:

• Roy wrote many important works that had a big impact. His books like 'Tuhfatul Muwahhidin,' 'Vedanta Gantha,' and 'The Precepts of Jesus' are known for their deep religious and philosophical ideas, and for their forward-thinking views. His writings helped to spread his ideas for change and were very important in the social and religious changes of his time.
• Roy's writings weren't just about religion. For example, his 'Bengali Grammar' was an innovative study of the Bengali language. His other works like 'History of Indian Philosophy' and 'Gaudiya Vyakaran' show his strong knowledge of Indian philosophy and language skills. These books show not only how smart he was, but also his dedication to improving the culture and education of Indian society.

Raja Rammohan Roy's social reforms, like anti-sati activism and advocating for women's education, sowed the seeds for social justice movements. His embrace of Western education and rationalism laid the groundwork for a modern, enlightened society. While not directly nationalist, his emphasis on educating and imparting critical thinking reawakened nationalist pride leading to anti-colonial sentiment. His work helped change how people think, leading to a more modern India. His efforts to support liberty, equality and fraternity sowed the seeds for the later nationalist movement, inspiring leaders to strive for a progressive and united India.