(Online Course) Essay Writing Skills Improvement Programme: Essays on Cultural issues & Personalities - Raja Rammohan Roy
Part F - Essays on Cultural issues & Personalities
Raja Rammohan Roy
Raja Rammohan Roy was born in 1777 in the British ruled Bengal. He belonged to a prosperous but orthodox Brahmin family. Roy developed unorthodox religious ideas at an early age. As a youth, he travelled widely outside Bengal. Roy studied different languages and religions. He developed a liberal attitude towards different religions. He opposed idol worship. This attitude forced him to leave his home.
Roy supported himself by lending money. He managed his small estates. He also worked for the British East India Company. In 1805, he was employed by John Digby, a Company official as his assistant. Through Digby, he was introduced to the western culture and literature.
Roy studied Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, French, Latin, Hebrew and Greek. He studied the Upanishads and translated them into Bengali. He believed in the doctrine- of one God. In 1815, he founded the short-lived Atmiya Sabha (Friendly Society) to propagate his doctrine and ideas. He read the Bible, especially the Old and the New Testaments. In 1820, he published the ethical teachings of Christ under the title, Precepts of Jesus, the Guide to Peace and Happiness.
Roy was a religious as well as social reformer. He sought to eradicate the prevalent social evils. He sought to introduce what was good for the society and the people. In 1816, Roy founded the Vedanta College in order to teach his Hindu monotheistic doctrines. He opined that classical Indian literature would not prepare the youth for a modem life. He proposed for a modern, western educational curriculum. He was a pioneer` in the introduction of western education in India. With the support of Justice Sir Hyde East, he founded the Hindu College in 1817. Later, it was renamed as Presidency College. In 1822, Roy founded the Anglo Hindu School. Rammohan was a great pioneer of English education. Not only did he himself found institutions for that purpose, but he always lent a helping hand to others who endeavoured to do so.
Roy believed in the freedom of the press. The press became a vehicle for his campaign for reforms. Roy established two papers named Mirat-Akbar and Jame-Jahmm-Nurma in Persian. His journal Saimbad Kaunmdi expressed his liberal ideas powerfully. Roy is often considered the Father of Indian Journalism.
Roy founded the 'Brahmo Samaj' in 1828. It aimed at removing the evil practices of the Indian society. Rammohan's reforming activity was directed against the social abuses of Hindu society, notably the rigours of caste and the degrading position of women. He endeavoured to ameliorate the condition of helpless widows in various ways, notably by changing the Hindu laws of inheritance about women and giving them proper education. Roy denounced the practice of sati. Through his sustained efforts, sati was banned by Lord William Bentinck (Governor-General) in 1829. It was declared a legal offence. He also stood against polygamy, child marriage, purdah system, etc. He defended the cause of widow-remarriage and women's education.
In 1829, Roy went to England as the unofficial representative of the titular king of Delhi. The king granted him the title of Raja.
Roy wanted political freedom for India. But he knew the weaknesses of the Indian society. So, he was not in favour of an immediate demand for freedom. He was a keen observer of the British methods of political agitation. He advised the Indians to follow the same.
Roy defended the peasants. He blamed the British as well as the Zamtimdars, for the condition of the peasants. He advocated reduction of rent for the tenants. Roy suggested that the loss in revenue should be made up by levying" tax on luxury goods. He also suggested that low salaried Indian Collectors be appointed in place of highly-paid Europeans. The Raja favoured the Permanent Settlement but he rightly urged that the government should fix the maximum rent to be paid by each cultivator.
Roy advocated Indianisation of the British Indian Army and separation of the judiciary from the executive. He suggested codification of criminal and civil laws. He also suggested the British to consult Indians before initiating any law for India. He also urged for the substitution of English in place of Persian as the official language of the Courts of Law.
Thus, Raja Rammohan Roy succeeded in reforming the Indian society to some extent. He pioneered the cause for western education in India. He died in 1833. He had a charismatic personality and became a model for several generations of social reformers and modernizers all over India. Raja Rammohan Roy has been rightly called the `Father of modern India'. His English biographer truly remarks that Raja Rammohan Roy "presents a most instructive and inspiring study for the new India of which he is the type and pioneer... He embodies the new spirit..." He laid the foundation of all the principal movements for the elevation of the Indians.
