Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born in Radhanagar, situated in the Hooghly district of Bengal presidency on May 22, 1772. He belonged to an orthodox well to do family. He is the greatest reformer of his time and one of the notable fellows of FRAS (Fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland). Ram Mohan Roy is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Renaissance’, due to his significant contributions to the societal upliftment, abolishment of inhuman evil customs and practices. He’s the person behind the Brahmo Samaj. Furthermore, he also had his contributions in the fields of politics, public administration, educational agendas and religious affairs.

Who Was Raja Ram Mohan Roy?

Following are the details that throw light upon his life, ideology, education and contributions for the upliftment of society.

Ideology and Thoughts

  • According to Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the evil customs prevailing in the society needed to be shunned, thereby he crusaded for the abolishment of several orthodox practices.
  • He condemned polygamy, the Sati system, the purdah system, women’s illiteracy, child marriage and idolatry irrespective of the strong backlashes for his views.

Education and Career

  • Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a polyglot. He was well versed with languages such as English, Greek Hebrew, French and Latin. 
  • He contributed to the literature by his number of books written in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian and English.
  • He acquired wisdom in ancient Vedantic literature.
  • Dwelled deep in studying the Tantric works in supervision and assistance by Hariharananda Tirthaswami.

Contributions Towards Society

Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s contribution to society can be classified in five aspects as follows: educational, societal, religious reforms, taxation reform, economic and political reforms and administration reforms.

Societal Reforms

  • Foundations laid by Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
  • Atmiya Sabha- in the year 1815
  • Calcutta Unitarian association- the association was founded in the year 1821
  • Brahmo Samaj (earlier referred to as Brahmo sabha)- in the year 1828. It was also called as One God Society. 
  • Abatement of evil practices:
  • He was known to fight for unjust practices towards women in society. 
  • Abolishment of the evil practice of It is a Hindu practise where the woman ought to set herself burn on her husband’s funeral pyre.
  • Put halt to practices of polygamy, child marriages, the prevalence of caste system and encouraged right to inheritance of property by the women.
  • He let his pioneering thought on women illiteracy and demanded women’s educational rights.

The Process Of Educational Reforms

  • Establishment of Vedanta college. The college offered education in both western and Indian learning.
  • In collaboration with David Hare, founded the Hindu college in the year 1817. The aim was to disseminate western learning to the people.

Administrative Reforms

  • He put forth the demand to give an essence of Indianisation to higher services.
  • Demanded equal treatment of Indians and Europeans 
  • Raised voice to segregate the executive from the judiciary.

Political and Economic Reforms

  • He joined hands in the Free Press in India movement.
  • Lord Hasting’s laxation on press censorship was the time when Roy published his three journals on the titles:
  • The Brahmanical Magazine (The Bengali weekly)- In 1821
  • Samvad Kaumudiin 1821
  • Mirat-ul-Akbar (The Persian weekly)
  • Roy wanted the citizens of India to enjoy civil liberties offered by the British to their people.

Taxation Related Reforms

  • Raja Ram Mohan Roy reprimanded the unjust practices of Bengali zamindars.
  • He demanded to seize imposition of tax on otherwise tax-free lands.
  • Alleviation of export duties on Indian articles abroad was another ask from him.

Religious Reforms

  • After the demise of Roy’s father in 1803, he went to Murshidabad. Further, he published his first Persian treatise, Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin or A Gift to Monotheism. The book had an Arabic preface.
  • The Atmiya Sabha, found in Calcutta fought for an aim to dissolve meaningless practices and customs, rigid caste system and idolatry practice.

Who Conferred The Title Raja To Ram Mohan Roy?

The title of Raja was granted to Ram Mohan Roy, by the Mughal emperor Akbar II. The Mughal emperor sent him to England to represent him on his behalf.

Conclusion

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, quoted as ‘the apostle of a religious revival’ by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his book ‘The Indian Struggle’ was a phenomenal contribution to Indian society. His work and contributions brought various changes in different fields. He was the reformer admired by many across the world. His ideology and pioneering thoughts on women’s upliftment makes him an ideal scholar of his time. Roy took his last breath in Bristol in 1833. Ram Mohan Roy’s endeavour to eradicate idolatry, sati practice and every reform that would bring advancement in India’s glory are revered across the globe.