Why In News?

The Union Home Minister paid tribute to Raja Rammohan Roy on his birth anniversary on May 22.  

About Raja Rammohan Roy (22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833)

Birth: Born into an orthodox Rarhi Kulin Brahmin family in Radhanagar, Bengal.

Titles: Mughal Emperor Akbar II conferred the title of "Raja" on him in 1830. He is widely recognized as the "Father of Indian Renaissance".

Linguistic Mastery: He mastered multiple languages, including Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, Greek, and Latin.

Death: He died of meningitis in Bristol, England, in 1833 while serving as an ambassador for the Mughal Emperor.  

Socio-Religious Reforms

Abolition of Sati: He witnessed the forced immolation of his sister-in-law, which ignited his crusade against Sati. 

• His relentless advocacy and scriptural arguments influenced Lord William Bentinck to enact the Bengal Sati Regulation Act of 1829, which outlawed the practice.

Monotheism: He promoted monotheism and the worship of "The Nameless, Eternal, Immutable Being." In 1804, he wrote Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin (A Gift to Monotheists) in Persian.

Anti-Idolatry: He campaigned against idol worship, polytheism, and meaningless religious rituals.

Caste and Social Equality: He attacked the caste system and untouchability. He advocated for women’s rights, including education for women, widow remarriage, and the right to property.

Kulinism: He fought against Kulin practices, particularly polygamy and the dowry system prevalent among Bengali Brahmins.

Educational Contributions

Integration of Knowledge: He advocated for a synthesis of Western scientific learning and traditional Indian philosophy (Vedanta).

Institutional Foundation:

• Hindu College (1817): He played a crucial role in establishing this institution in Calcutta to promote modern education.
• Anglo-Hindu School (1822): He founded this school to teach monotheistic doctrines alongside a modern Western curriculum.
• Vedanta College (1826): He established this to offer courses blending Western social and physical sciences with Indian learning.
• Scottish Church College: He assisted Rev. Alexander Duff established the General Assembly's Institution (1830) by providing the venue and initial students, which later became Scottish Church College.

Literary Contributions: He wrote Gaudiya Vyakaran, the first complete Bengali grammar book.

Contribution to Journalism

•  Major Publications:
• Sambad Kaumudi (1821): A Bengali weekly that campaigned for social reforms, including the abolition of Sati and freedom of the press.
• Mirat-ul-Akbar (1822): A Persian weekly used to discuss global events and critique colonial policies.
• Brahmanical Magazine (1821): Published in English to defend Hinduism against missionary attacks while promoting rationalism.
• Bangdoot: A unique multilingual publication utilizing Bengali, Hindi, and Persian simultaneously.
• Press Freedom Movement: He launched the first movement for freedom of the press in India.
• Resistance to Censorship: He shut down Mirat-ul-Akbar in 1823 to protest the repressive Licensing Regulations introduced by John Adam.  

The Brahmo Samaj

• Atmiya Sabha (1815): A philosophical discussion circle formed to promote monotheism and fight social ills.
• Brahmo Sabha (1828): Formed in August 1828, supported by Dwarkanath Tagore; meetings included Vedic readings and Bengali hymns.
• Trust Deed (1830): Formalized the inception of the movement; the first house of prayer was consecrated in January 1830.

Core Doctrines of Brahmoism:

• Denial of the ultimate authority of scriptures over human reason and conscience.
• Rejection of Avatars (incarnations).
• Denunciation of polytheism and idol worship.
• Opposition to the caste system.
• Focus on the adoration of the "Author and Preserver of the Universe." 

Economic and Political Views

Economic Drain: Roy was among the first to estimate the economic drain of wealth from India to England. He estimated that nearly half of India's total revenue was sent abroad.

Free Trade: He believed that the unrestricted settlement of Europeans in India under free trade would help mitigate the economic crisis.

Administrative Reform: He campaigned for the induction of Indians into high ranks of service and the separation of the executive and judiciary.

Internationalism: He supported global struggles for liberty, including revolutions in Europe and Latin America.  

Legacy and Historical Impact

Bridge Between Eras: He is regarded as the first individual of his generation to recognize the significance of the Modern Age.

Inspiration for Successors: His journalistic and reformist models inspired later leaders like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotirao Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Constitutional Influence: His advocacy for free expression laid the groundwork for Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution (Freedom of Speech and Expression). 

Source: NEWSONAIR