Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Life and Role in Reforms

Syllabus: Modern History (UPSC Prelims)

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833) is widely known as the “Father of Modern India” and the “Father of Indian Renaissance.” He was a major socio-religious reformer who challenged regressive practices and laid the foundations of modern Indian society. He also founded Brahmo Samaj¹ (1828).

Early Life

• Born on 22 May 1772 at Radhanagar in Bengal.
• Came from a traditional Brahmin family.
• Studied Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic and English.
• Worked with the East India Company till 1814, which exposed him to Western ideas and strengthened his reformist outlook.

Major Social Reforms

• Campaign against Sati → His efforts led to official abolition of Sati in 1829 (Regulation XVII) under Lord Bentinck.
• Opposed child marriage and polygamy.
• Supported women’s rights and female education.
• Founded Atmiya Sabha (1814) to discuss social issues and end blind ritualism.

Religious Reforms

• Advocated monotheism and rational religion.
• Criticised idol worship and superstition.
• Published Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin (1803) supporting monotheistic ideas.
• Published Precepts of Jesus (1820) highlighting ethical teachings.
• Founded Brahmo Samaj (1828) – against idol worship, promoting reason, morality and humanism.

Educational Initiatives

• Set up Anglo-Hindu School (1822) to teach Western sciences.
• Founded Vedanta College (1826) to blend Vedanta with modern learning.
• Strongly argued for English education to modernise Indian intellect.

Political Contributions

• Opposed arbitrary colonial policies.
• Demanded civil rights and freedom of press.
• Started journals like Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali), Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Persian).
• Criticised exploitative taxation by zamindars.

Ideology – Key Points

• Monotheism
• Social equality
• Women’s rights
• Modern education
• Rationalism
• Religious tolerance

Death

• Travelled to England in 1830 as representative of the Mughal Emperor.
• Died in Bristol in 1833 and was buried there.

1. Question Reference
   (HPAS PYQ 2025) ↩︎