2 Year B.A., LL. B – Semester-I (2021) 
2  -Internal Assessment – Political Science
nd

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

NAME: Madhav Jamwal, Lavanya Singh

DIVISION: D
PRN: 21010125371, 21010125971
COURSE: BA LL.B. (H) 
BATCH: 2021-2026 
Introduction
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a great man was born on May 22, 1772, into an elite Bengali Hindu
family in Radhanagar village of Hoogly district, Bengal Presidency. In the worst period of
India's history, he was born to Ramkanto Roy, his father, and Tarinidevi, his mother. The
country suffered from severe socioeconomic and political crises at the time, which confused the
name of religion.

He was educated in the village school in Sanskrit and Bengali before being sent to a Madrasa in
Patna to study Persian and Arabic. Later, he proceeded to Kashi to study Sanskrit and Hindu
classics such as the Vedas and Upanishads. He began learning English at the age of 22. He is a
remarkable historical person who made valiant efforts to change the face of India while defying
age-old Hindu beliefs. As a modernist, he undertook numerous social reforms to reshape society
and tried to improve the status of women in India. He was also a famous scholar who translated
several books, religious and philosophical works, and Vedic scriptures into Bengali and English.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a major personality of his day, was a social and educational reformer
noted for implementing social reforms and constructing a modern India. He is regarded as the
"Father of Modern India" and the "Maker of Modern India."

He was an independent thinker who influenced society during the 18th and 19th centuries. Raja
Ram Mohan Roy was a prominent figure in his era who advocated for social change and
modernization of India through educational reform. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is credited with being
one of India's most tenacious social reformers and for ushering in the nation's current era of
enlightenment and liberal modernization. He also goes by the moniker "Father of Modern India's
Renaissance." Western modernist principles, particularly their emphasis on rationalism and the
scientific method, significantly influenced Ram Mohan Roy. At the moment, Ram Mohan Roy's
most urgent concern was the sharp decrease in moral and social standards in his native Bengal.
He believed that religious orthodoxy was a contributing cause to the degeneration of social life
and a source of conflict and confusion for the general public. He believed this because religious
orthodoxy was not functioning to better society's condition. Raja Ram Mohan Roy believed that
religious reform is intrinsically tied to social reform and political modernization. To atone for
one's faults, Ram Mohan believed it was not essential to offer sacrifices or participate in
ceremonies; instead, this should be accomplished via self-purification and repentance. He was a
vehement opponent of the caste system because he believed everyone should have the same
social standing. Ram Mohan was drawn to the Islamic monotheistic religion. He asserted that the
primary lesson learned from Vedanta is monotheism. His concept of a monotheistic, Unitarian
god functioned as a reply to both traditional Hinduism's polytheism and traditional Christianity's
trinitarianism. He believed that monotheism supported the existence of a single universal
blueprint for humanity. Indian civilization will not advance unless all kinds of female tyranny,
such as illiteracy, child marriage, and the purdah, are abolished. Raja Ram Mohan Roy held this
seat. This, in Roy's view, was the situation. According to Sahib, data breaches every humanistic
and societal sentiment it purports to represent, making it a symptom of racism. He believed that
Satta violated every moral and social standard. the "Father of Modern India" and the "Maker of
Modern India." He was a free-thinking individual who contributed to society in the 18th and 19th
centuries.

Contribution: Social Reforms

In the late 18th century, Bengali culture was burdened with various evil customs and regulations
(sometimes referred to as the Dark Age). Numerous rites and stringent moral norms were
imposed, most mistranslated and borrowed from ancient cultures. Child marriage, polygamy, and
Sati were all standard societal conventions that harmed women. The Sati Partha was the most
bizarre of these rituals. As part of the tradition, the widows would self-immolate at their
husband's funeral pyre. Although women could participate in the custom in its original form, it
gradually became a required practice, particularly for higher caste families and Brahmin.
Younger girls were married to much older men in return for dowries in order for them to receive
the karmic benefits of their wives' Sati sacrifice. Because the women did not consent to be the
victims of such crimes, they were usually forced or even drugged into submission. Raja Ram
Mohan Roy opposed and denounced this cruel treatment. He openly and honestly expressed his
opinions to the East India Company's top brass. The Governor-General, Lord Bentinck,
understood Roy's intentions and feelings, and as a result, despite considerable opposition from
the orthodox religious community, the Bengal Sati Regulation, also known as Bengal Code
Regulation XVII, A. D. 1829, was passed. Anyone caught practicing Sati Daha in Bengal
Province might face legal consequences. Raja Ram Mohan Roy will be recognized as a
significant benefactor of women, not only for his contribution to the elimination of the Sati rite
but also for his advocacy for equal inheritance rights for women and his opposition to child
marriage and polygamy. He was also adamantly opposed to his era's rigid caste distinctions.

Educational Reforms:
Ram Mohan Roy studied traditional languages such as Sanskrit and Persian. Later in life, he
became acquainted with the English language and decided to learn it fluently in order to improve
his career with the British. However, because of his writing aptitude, he consumed works of
English literature and magazines to absorb as much information as possible. Although ancient
literature like the Vedas, Upanishads and the Quran instilled a deep respect for philosophy, he
realized that his education lacked a scientific grasp and logical reasoning. Although ancient
writings instilled a deep respect for philosophy, he arrived at this conclusion. He pushed for
creating an English Education System in the region, which would include scientific subjects like
mathematics, physics, chemistry, and even botany. Certain subjects, he particularly requested, be
taught in English. He and David Hare created Hindu College in 1817, which grew to become one
of the world's most distinguished educational institutions. Hindu College was also responsible
for developing some of India's most innovative minds. His efforts resulted in a revolutionary
restructuring of India's educational system.

Journalistic Contributions:
He was a passionate proponent of free expression and the right to speak. Mr. Ram Mohan Roy
advocated for the vernacular press's right to free expression. He also published the Bengali
monthly "Sambad Kaumudi" and the Persian newspaper "Mirat Ul- Akhbar," which translates to
"the Mirror of News" (the Moon of Intelligence). News articles and stories could not be
distributed until the government granted permission. Ram Mohan contends that there should not
be any limits on the media and that the government cannot obfuscate the truth only because it
does not want it to be made public. Raja Ram Mohan Roy traveled to England in 1830 to
persuade the Imperial Government to increase the royalty payment provided to the Mughal
Emperor and to prevent the repeal of Lord Bentick's Sati Act. Raja Ram Mohan Roy died at
Stapleton, Bristol, in 1833 from meningitis, which he contracted while traveling to the UK. On
September 27th of this year, he passed away. It was decided that he would be buried in Bristol's
Arnos Vale Cemetery, within Bristol's city limits.

Religious Contributions:
He was explicitly seeking this. He laid the foundation for what is now known as the Atmiya
Sabha in 1928, and on August 20 of the same year, the newly-born religion hosted its first
gathering. Once known as the Atmiya Sabha, the assembly was renamed the Brahma Sabha after
some internal reorganization. This group was active before the Brahmo Samaj and accomplished
a similar goal. The ideas of monotheism, independence from the scriptures, and opposition to the
caste system served as the foundation for this emerging religious movement. These three ideas
were essential to the movement. Brahmo worship traditions were developed by Christian or
Islamic prayer practices and were cleansed of Hindu ceremonialism. This was done to bring
them in line with Christian or Islamic prayer practices. The Brahma Samaj became an essential
progressive group that pushed for social reforms in Bengal, particularly educational opportunities
for women. This happened under the reign of the British Raj.

Today’s Relevance of the Ram Mohan’s Endeavours towards Women's Rights

and Education:

Raja Ram Mohan Roy planted the seeds of nationalism and self-assurance in the Indian people,
which appear to have grown into a banyan tree. Raja Ram Mohan Roy's proposal established the
'Hindu College,' currently known as the 'Presidency University.' Kolkata, West Bengal, is the
location of the university. Students from the Fine Arts, Commerce, and Science Departments can
study here. Here's some up-to-date information for university students:
 Students 3,045

Undergraduates 1,770
Postgraduates 998
Doctoral Students 277

Conclusion :
Raja Ram Mohan Roy planted the seeds of nationalism and self-assurance in the Indian people,
which appear to have grown into a banyan tree. The 'Hindu College,' founded on Raja Ram
Mohan Roy's idea, is today recognized as Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the few people in his
era who completely comprehended the significance of the modern era. He recognized that the
goal of human civilization is a brotherhood of interdependence between persons and nations, not
independence. In the spirit of empathetic cooperation, he aimed to awaken Indians to their
cultural identities fully and educate them on the realities unique to their civilizations. Roy was up
in an era of revolutionaries and freedom fighters. He never explicitly advocated for the
independence of India, but he did battle for Indians' civil rights and denounced the notion that
Europeans were a superior race. After Roy's passing, Dwaraka Nath Tagore managed Brahmo
Samaj for a while. Roy's motivational remarks are still cherished and remembered by Indians.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an inventive and integrative thinker who brought light to the dull
Indian civilization of the nineteenth century. He was a strong and logical thinker. Bengal is thus
regarded as the founding father of the Renaissance. In the spirit of empathetic cooperation, he
aimed to awaken Indians to their cultural identities fully and educate them on the realities unique
to their civilizations. Roy was up in an era of revolutionaries and freedom fighters. He never
explicitly advocated for the independence of India, but he did battle for Indians' civil rights and
denounced the notion that Europeans were a superior race. After Roy's passing, Dwaraka Nath
Tagore managed Brahmo Samaj for a while. Roy's motivational remarks are still cherished and
remembered by Indians. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an inventive and integrative thinker who
brought light to the dull Indian civilization of the nineteenth century. He was a strong and logical
thinker. Bengal is thus regarded as one of the founders of the Renaissance.