Raja Ram Mohan Roy 1772-1833 | From GK Perspective

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Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy | The Father of Modern Indian Society

Raja Ram Mohan Roy: The era we are living in today is the result of great thoughts of some of the great personalities. Without remembering them we cannot evaluate the legacy of Modern Indian Society.

During the pasts years, 150/200 years back from today, our Indian society was full of social miseries. Lots of social evils existed there. One such evil was “Sati Daha Pratha” or “Sati” the burning of widowed women with her husband on the same “Chita” i.e. on the burring fireplace.

Uncountable numbers of young Indian widowed women especially in Bengal had lost their lives in this evil practice. Raja Ram Mohan Roy has crushed this evil practice with the help of the British Government. Ram Mohan Roy had done many restorations of Indian society at his time. He is called the architect of Modern Indian Society. He was the founder of Brahmo Samaj with his extraordinary talent.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy Biography From GK Perspective

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born in Radhanagar, Hooghly District, Bengal Presidency (At that time) on May 22, 1772, to the house of Ramakant Roy, a Brahmin. From the very childhood, he had faith in the presence of God but he was opposed to idol worship (Murti Puja). At an early age, he wanted to become a monk, but his mother’s love became an obstacle in this path. 

His father Ramakant, who was a believer in tradition, and wanted his son to get higher education. For this reason, Ram Mohan Roy was sent to Patna at a very early age. After going there, he got English education and pronounced to bring a wave or movement of change to society. Ram Mohan Roy was given the title of ‘Raja’ by the Mughal Emperor Akbar II.

Once Raja Ram Mohan Roy‘s sister-in-law was forced to commit Sati, he tried very hard to eradicate such evil but failed. This saddened him from the very core of his heart. The traditional society had started to raise its voice against him. Which were ultimately lead him to leave his house. Then he left for Tibet. At that time Tibet was also full of various social evils. Ram Mohan Roy tried to eliminate them also, but that led him to left Tibet sooner.

Ram Mohan Roy did not give up his trying for a change. He met Lord William Bentinck and fulfilled his resolution to end the practice of Sati by issuing a mandate of a powerful law. Now, people began to realize the pathetic condition of women after their husband’s death. People now started to recognize him as a social reformer.

After this reformation work, Raja Ram Mohan Roy started work for Women’s Education, because he realized that only education can bring change in society. It’s important to mention here that; there are very few opportunities for the women to educate herself, as because of the restriction imposed by the traditional society.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy got the British government to establish schools for the promotion of higher education for women. Keshav Chandra Sen along with another great social reformer & educationalist Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar got the Anglo-Vedic schools and colleges to be established. After such massive social reforms, there came a time that ordinary people started addressing him as Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Brahmo Samaj:

Ram Mohan Roy not only stopping the practice of Sati but also created awareness in the country towards other important social aspects like idol worship, freedom of the press. Being vehemently opposed to the evils of Hindu society, in 1828 he founded a new type of society called ‘ Brahma Samaj ‘.

Ram Mohan Roy, the founder of the Brahmo Samaj and Atmiya Sabha died on 27 September 1833 in Bristol, England. His lifetime efforts for women’s awakening and empowerment are appreciated and saluted even today.

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Who is the Father of Modern Indian Society?

Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

When did Raja Ram Mohan Roy Born?

On May 22, 1772.

Who established Brahmo Samaj?

Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

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