The Ministry of Culture recently marked the 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the trailblazer who ignited the age of enlightenment and modernisation in India. This inaugural ceremony took place at the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Salt Lake, Kolkata, and at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata. The year-long celebration will continue until 22nd May next year.
This event also coincides with the 50th foundation day of the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation. As part of commemorations, the Ministry of Culture unveiled an iconic statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy at the Library Foundation.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy: A Brief Biography
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 22nd May 1772 in Bengal. His early education spanned across regions, where he studied Persian and Arabic in Patna, reading the Quran, works of Sufi mystic poets and the Arabic translations of Plato and Aristotle’s works. He later studied Sanskrit, Vedas, and Upanishads in Benaras. Between 1803 to 1814, he worked for the East India Company as a personal diwan, first for Woodforde, then for Digby.
In 1814, he resigned from his position to devote his life to religious, social, and political reforms. In 1830, he visited England to lobby against any possible repeal of the Act banning Sati. The Mughal Emperor of Delhi, Akbar II, bestowed him with the title ‘Raja’. Notably, Rabindranath Tagore referred to him as ‘a luminous star in the firmament of Indian history’.
Roy’s Ideological Perspective
Roy’s thinking was heavily influenced by western modern thought, emphasising rationalism and scientific approach. He identified that the religious and social degeneration of his native Bengal was a significant problem. Thus, he concluded that religious reform equates to both social reform and political modernisation.
He believed in social equality, strongly opposing the caste system. Inclined towards Islamic monotheism, Roy highlighted that it is also the fundamental message of Vedanta. His idea of a unitarian god offered a corrective to the polytheism of orthodox Hinduism and Christian trinitarianism.
Advocating for Women’s Rights
Roy strongly believed in freeing women from oppressive practices such as illiteracy, child marriage, sati, and purdah. He viewed these practices as key barriers hindering Hindu society’s progress. His characterisation of sati as ‘the violation of every humane and social feeling and symptomatic of the moral debasement of a race’ is particularly notable.
Religious Reforms: Key Contributions
Roy’s first published work, Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhiddin, criticised irrational religious beliefs and corrupt practices. In 1814, he founded Atmiya Sabha to campaign against idolatry, caste rigidities, meaningless rituals and other social ills.
Social Reforms: Breaking the Barriers
Roy utilised reformist religious associations as instruments of social and political transformation. His campaigns against caste system, untouchability, superstitions, and use of intoxicants are well-documented. His work on the emancipation of women, particularly regarding abolition of sati and widow remarriage, is widely recognised.
Educational Reforms: Spreading Modern Education
Roy played a crucial role in disseminating the benefits of modern education across the country. His support for David Hare’s efforts to establish the Hindu College in 1817 is a significant example. Furthermore, he set up Vedanta College in 1825, offering courses on both Indian learning and Western sciences.
Economic and Political Reforms: Advocating Civil Liberties
Highly impressed by the British system of constitutional government, Roy sought to extend its benefits to Indian people. He backed the movement for a free press in India and condemned oppressive practices of Zamindars. He demanded minimum rents and abolition of taxes on tax-free lands. He further called for a reduction of export duties on Indian goods abroad and the end of East India Company’s trading rights. His demand for Indianisation of superior services, separation of the executive from judiciary, and equality between Indians and Europeans highlights his vision for a modern India.
