Who was Raja Ram Mohan Roy? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: Ram Mohan Roy

Died At Age: 61

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Uma Devi

father: Ramkanto Roy

mother: Tarinidevi

Born Country: India

Philosophers Social Reformers

Died on: September 27, 1833

place of death: Bristol, England

Founder/Co-Founder: Brahmo Samaj

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Childhood & Early Life

Ram Mohan Roy was born into a high-ranking Brahmin family in West Bengal. His father Ramkanto Roy was a Vaishnavite, while his mother Tarinidevi was a Shaivite—this was very unusual during those times where marriages between different religious sub sects were uncommon. His family had been serving the imperial Mughals for three generations.

He was born in an era which marked the darkest period in the history of India. The country was plagued by numerous socio-economic and political problems, the chaos created in the name of religions was aplenty.

He received his basic education in Sanskrit and Bengali in the village school after which he was sent to Patna to study in a Madrasa where he learnt Persian and Arabic.

Furthering his education, he moved to Kashi to learn the intricacies of Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads. He learnt the English language only when he was 22 years old.

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Later Life

After completing his education he found a job in the East India Company where he served for several years and became a revenue officer in 1809.

He was a socially responsible citizen and was troubled by the increasing number of malpractices practiced by the common man in the society. He also voiced his dissent against the unjust actions of the British in India.

Ram Mohan had a strong belief in Lord Vishnu and in fact he is credited with coining the term “Hinduism”. However, he was dead against the malpractices forced upon the masses in the name of religion.

In 1812, his brother died and his widow was forced to burn herself too at his lit pyre. Young Ram Mohan tried his best to stop the evil from occurring but failed miserably. This incident left a deep impact on his mind.

He personally used to visit crematoriums to keep an eye on the people who forced the womenfolk to commit sati at their husbands’ pyre. He struggled a lot to make people realize that not only was sati a meaningless ritual, it was also very cruel and evil.

He supported the freedom of press as he believed that only a press that operated without any outer pressures could fulfill its duties in disseminating important information among the masses.

He believed that education played a vital role in the enlightenment of the common man and set up an English school in Calcutta in 1816 using his own funds. Such was his dedication towards upliftment of mankind.

During his time the government used to open only Sanskrit schools. He wanted to change this practice as he felt that education in other subjects like Mathematics, Geography and Latin was also necessary to make Indians keep pace with the rest of the world.

In 1828, he founded one of the most significant socio-religious institutions of modern day India—the Brahmo Samaj. It was a very influential movement that did not discriminate between people belonging to different religions, castes or communities.

Following years of his hard work in fighting against sati, the governor of the Bengal Presidency lands, Lord William Bentinck formally banned the practice on 4 December 1829.

He was also a journalist who published journals in different languages like English, Hindi, Persian and Bengali. ‘Sambad Kaumudi’, his most popular journal covered socio-political topics of interest to the Indians which helped them rise above their current state.

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Major Works

His biggest achievement was the abolishment of “sati pratha”, a practice in the India of his times, where a widow was made to immolate herself at the funeral pyre of her deceased husband. He struggled for years to get this evil legally eradicated.

He founded the Brahmo Samaj along with other enlightened Bengalis. The samaj was a highly influential socio-religious reform movement which fought against evils like caste system, dowry, ill treatment of women, etc.

Awards & Achievements

The Mughal Emperor Akbar II conferred the title “Raja” to him in 1831 when the reformer went to England as an ambassador of the Mughal Emperor to submit a representation to the King of England to increase the allowances granted by the British to the Mughal Emperor.

Personal Life & Legacy

As was the custom during those days he was first married as a child. When his child-bride died, he was married again. His second wife too predeceased him. His third marriage was to Uma Devi who outlived him. He had two sons.

He contracted meningitis while on a trip to England and died on 27 September 1833. He was buried in Bristol.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy Biography