19 Interesting Facts about Raja Ram Mohan- Greatest Bengali Reformer

Posted on : June 15, 2018 By
History 
  1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 22 May 1772 in Radhanagar, West Bengal to Ramakanta and Tarini Devi.

    Raja Ram Mohan
  2. Ram Mohan started his formal education in the village pathshala where he learned Bengali and some Sanskrit and Persian.
  3. Later he studied Persian and Arabic in a madrasa in Patna and after that he was sent to Benares (Kashi) to learn the intricacies of Sanskrit and Hindu scripture, including the Vedas and Upanishads.
  4. Ram Mohan Roy education in madarsa made him more tolerant towards others religion. He studied various religion including Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
  5. He worked at various places in Bengal before finally settling down in Calcutta in 1815.
  6. Ram Mohan Roy formed a association called Atmiya Sabha(Friendship Association) to translate Upanishads and discuss it. The discussion on theology led to the establishment of Brahmo Samaj.
  7. The main aim of Brahmo samaj was promote reading of Vedas and Upanishads. The preacher of Brahmo Samaj promoted worship of one God and focus on prayer.

    Statue of Ram Mohan Roy
  8. Brahmo samaj attacked ritual, rites, superstitious belief, idol worship and religious sacrifice. Brahmo samaj promoted discussions on then controversial topics like widow remarriage, casteism and untouchability.
  9. Raja Ram Mohan Roy started India’s first English medium school in 1816. He also started first Bengali language weekly newspaper, first newspaper in Indian language.

  10. Roy was pioneer in journalism and took various steps to educate Indian about various issues. His newspaper helped Indian to form an educated opinion about various issues affecting their day today life.

  11. Ram Mohan Roy brother’s wife was forced to commit sati after death of his brother. This event left a deep impact in his mind.
  12. He was close to many powerful people in British government and used his influence to get practice of sati abolished in 1829. British Government enacted law to declared Sati illegal and punishable offense.
  13. After successful campaign against practice of sati, Raja Ram Mohan Roy launched campaign against child marriage, purdah system, the dowry system and polygamy.
  14. In 1830, Mughal emperor appointed Roy  as his representative and send him to England to request British Government to increase his allowance. He visited various places in England like Manchester, Liverpool beside London. Roy fell ill in London and died due to meningitis.

    Real Life Size Statue of Ram Mohan Roy
  15. Historian consider Raja Ram Mohan Roy as one of the pioneers of renaissance in India. He fought to reform the society because he believed that social and religious reform was the very foundation of political advancement.
  16. He founded the Brahmo Samaj, advocated advocated the freedom of Press and championed women’s causes. Gopal Krishna Gokhale called him the ‘Father of modern India
  17. In 1822, Ram Mohan Roy published the journal Mirat-ul-Akbar in Persian.
  18. Mughal emperor Akbar II gave Ram Mohan Roy the title of “Raja”.
  19. Ram Mohan Roy founded the newspaper Sambad Koumudi.

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