Why is Raja Ram Mohan Roy famous ?

His passionate reasoning and calm perseverance filtered through the ranks and ultimately reached the Governor General Lord William Bentinck. Lord Bentinck sympathised with Roy’s sentiments and intentions and amid much outcry from the orthodox religious community, the Bengal Sati Regulation or Regulation XVII, A. D.

He established the Anglo-Hindu school in the year 1822

1829 of the Bengal Code was passed. The act prohibited the practice of Sati Daha in Bengal Province, and any individual caught practicing it would face prosecution.

In 1829, he visited England as the unofficial representative of the titular king of Delhi. The king of Delhi granted him the title of 'Raja'

Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s name is thus etched forever as a true benefactor of women not just for helping abolish the custom of Sati, but also raising his voice against child marriage and polygamy, while demanding equal inheritance rights for women. He was also a great opponent of the rigid caste divisions of his time

He was the first Indian to apply to the Indian environment the fundamental social and political ideas of the French and American revolutions.

Ram Mohan Roy was educated in traditional languages like Sanskrit and Persian. He came across English much later in life and learned the language to get better employment with the British.

But a voracious reader, he devoured English literature and journals, extracting as much knowledge as he could.

He realised that while traditional texts like Vedas, Upanishads and Quran provided him with much reverence for philosophy, his knowledge was lacking in scientific and rational education.

He advocated the introduction of an English Education System in the country teaching scientific subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and even Botany.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 22 May 1772 in Radhanagar, West Bengal to Ramakanta and Tarini Devi.

He paved the way to revolutionizing education system in India by establishing Hindu College in 1817 along with David Hare which later went on to become one of the best educational institutions in the country producing some of the best minds in India.

Ram Mohan started his formal education in the village pathshala where he learned Bengali and some Sanskrit and Persian.

His efforts to combine true to the roots theological doctrines along with modern rational lessons saw him establish the Anglo-Vedic School in 1822 followed by the Vedanta College in 1826.

Later he studied Persian and Arabic in a madrasa in Patna and after that he was sent to Benares (Kashi) to learn the intricacies of Sanskrit and Hindu scripture, including the Vedas and Upanishads.

Ram Mohan Roy education in madarsa made him more tolerant towards others religion. He studied various religion including Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

Ram Mohan Roy vehemently opposed the unnecessary ceremonialism and the idolatry advocate by priests. He had studied religious scriptures of different religions and advocated the fact that Hindu Scriptures like Upanishads upheld the concept of monotheism.

He worked at various places in Bengal before finally settling down in Calcutta in 1815.

Ram Mohan Roy formed a association called Atmiya Sabha(Friendship Association) to translate Upanishads and discuss it. The discussion on theology led to the establishment of Brahmo Samaj.

This began his quest for a religious revolution to introduce the doctrines of ancient Vedic scriptures true to their essence. He founded the Atmiya Sabha in 1928, nd the first meeting of this new-found religion as held on August 20 that year.

The main aim of Brahmo samaj was promote reading of Vedas and Upanishads. The preacher of Brahmo Samaj promoted worship of one God and focus on prayer.

The Atmiya Sabha reorganised itself into the Brahma Sabha, a precursor organisation of the Brahmo Samaj.

Brahmo samaj attacked ritual, rites, superstitious belief, idol worship and religious sacrifice. Brahmo samaj promoted discussions on then controversial topics like widow remarriage, casteism and untouchability.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy started India’s first English medium school in 1816. He also started first Bengali language weekly newspaper, first newspaper in Indian language.

The primary facets of this new movement were monotheism, independence from the scriptures and renouncing the caste system.