Raja Ram Mohan Roy-1.pptx

RAM MOHAN ROY

1. RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY

2. INTRODUCTION Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on May 22,1772 in Radhanagar village of Hoogly district, Bengal Presidency.His father’s name was Ramakanto Roy and his mother’s name was Tarini Devi. His father was a wealthy Brahmin and was an orthodox individual who strictly followed religious duties. At the age of 14 Ram Mohan roy expressed his desire to become a monk but as his mother opposed it he dropped the idea .

3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was known as the pioneer of modern Indian Renaissance for th e reforms he brought in India in the 18th and 19th century. Among his efforts, the abolition of the Sati Pratha was the most prominent. His efforts were also directed in eradicating the purdah system and child marriage. In 1828, Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj , uniting the Bhramos in Calcutta, a group of people, having no faith in idol-worship and were also against the caste restrictions. The title 'Raja' was bestowed upon him by the mughal emperor Akbar II in 1831.

4. His father though was an orthodox brahmin but he wanted him to pursue higher education. He received Bengali and Sanskrit education from the village school. H e was sent to Patna to study Persian and Arabic in a Madrasa. Persian and Arabic were considered very important at that time as it was the court language of the Mughal Emperors. His Education

5. He went through the Quran and and also the other Islamic scriptures . After completing his studies in Patna, he went to Benares to learn Sanskrit. He began studying scriptures, including the Vedas and Upanishads. He learnt English at the age of 22. He read the works of philosophers like Euclid and Aristotle which shaped his spiritual and religious conscience.

6. Roy visited England as an ambassador of the Mughal King in order to request the Imperial Government to increase the royalty, received by the Mughal Emperor and also to ensure that Lord Bentick's Sati Act would not be overturned. He died of meningitis in 1833 while residing in Bristol, England.

7. Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidinor A Gift to Monotheists (1905), Vedanta (1815), Ishopanishad (1816), Kathopanishad (1817), Moonduk Upanishad (1819), The Precepts of Jesus - Guide to Peace and Happiness (1820), Sambad Kaumudi - a Bengali newspaper (1821), Mirat - ul -Akbar - Persian journal (1822), Brahmapasona (1828), Brahmasangeet (1829) and The Universal Religion (1829). Publications:

8. Social Reforms During the late 18th century in the society in Bengal there were lot of evil customs and regulations . Ri tuals and strict moral codes were enforced which were largely modified, and badly interpreted ancient traditions. Practices like child marriage, polygamy and Sati were prevalent in the society

9. Raja Ram Mohan Roy raised his voice against this cruel practice of sati. He took his views to the higher ups in the East India Company. The Governor General Lord William Bentinck sympathised with Roy’s sentiments and amid much outcry from the orthodox religious community, the Bengal Sati Regulation or Regulation XVII, A. D. 1829 of the Bengal Code was pass. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is thus known as a true benefactor of women not just for helping abolish the custom of Sati, but also raising his voice against child marriag and polygamy, while demanding equal inheritance rights for women . He also opposed the rigid caste division.

10. Educational Reforms Ram Mohan Roy realised that while traditional texts like Vedas, Upanishads and Quran provided him with much reverence for philosophy, he lacked knowledge in scientific and rational education. He was in favour of and advocated the introduction of an English Education System in the country teaching scientific subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and even Botany. He paved the way to revolutionizing education system in India by establishing Hindu College in 1817 along with David Hare . His efforts to combine theological doctrines along with modern rational lessons led him to establish the Anglo-Vedic School in 1822 and Vedanta College in 1826.

11. Ram Mohan raised his voice against idolatry and advocated Monotheism. He criticized idol-worship by the Hindus. He also opposed the principle of Trinitariasm ’ (God, Son Jesus and the holy spirit) of the Christianity. He rejected polytheism, idol-worship and rituals of different religions. He advocated monotheism or unity among gods. He also advised people to be guided by the conscience. H e appealed to observe the principle of unity of God . Religious Reforms

12. The caste system was practiced in Indian society from the later Vedic age. Ram Mohan opposed this system of the Indian society. To him, there was no difference among men and also held that everybody is equal before God. Against Caste System

13. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated the liberty of Women. He wanted women to get proper place in the society. Besides abolishing Sati, he advocated in favor of widow remarriage. He also told that like the sons, daughters have also their right over parental property. Thus he was in favour of female right of inheritance. He influenced the British government to bring necessary modification in the existing law. He raised voice against child-marriage and polygamy. He was the advocate of women education. Champion of Women Liberty:

14. On Rights of the Individual T he Brahmo Samaj helped in developing confidence among Indians in their own religion. Roy believed in the freedom of man and opposed the racial superiority of Europeans H e did not demand independence for India but he fought for the civil liberties of the people.

15. Roy create d an awareness for civil rights amongst the Indians. He was grateful to the British because they made available to Indians all those civil rights which were enjoyed by the Queen's subjects in England.

16. Raja Ram Mohan Roy also known as the ‘Father of Indian Journalism’, believed in the freedom of press. He edited a newspaper in Bengali named ‘Samp a d Kaumudi ’ and was also the editor of Mirat - ul -Akbar. When restrictions were imposed on the publications of newspapers, he reacted sharply and criticized the British authorities . In his editorials, he reflected important social, political, economic, religious and other problems which the Indians were facing. Father of Indian Journalism:

17. He gave the greatest importance to the right to freedom of opinion and expression. To him it included the freedom of creativity of mind and intellect, as well as the freedom of expressing one's opinions and thoughts through different media. According to Roy, freedom of expression was equally useful to the rulers and the ruled. A free and independent press alone could-bring forth the best in the government as well as the people.

18. Even though he hailed from a Zamindar background, he fought for the liberation of the poor tenants exploited by Zamindars . H e fought against the fixed revenue for the cultivators in Bengal and also opposed heavy export duties. Economic Reforms

19. Thus truly known as the “Maker of Modern India” and “Father of Modern India”, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social and educational reformer, was an idealist who contributed immensely in eradicating social evils prevalent in the society during the 18th century. He made every possible effort to make his motherland a better place for the future generations to come. He is a great historical figure, who put immense efforts to transform India and defied the age-old Hindu traditions. A modernist by virtue, he undertook a lot of social , religious , educational and economic reforms to change the society and worked for the upliftment of the status of women in India. Conclusion