STRUCTURE

Introduction – A short introduction to Raja Ram Mohan Roy (15 words)                     

Body – Explain the cultural contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy (120 words)

Conclusion – Mention a short conclusion  (15 words)

ANSWER

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the few people in his day who really understood the importance of the new era. He believed that the goal of human society should not reside in the isolation of independence, but in the brotherhood of interdependence of persons and nations. His attempt was to establish Indian people in the full consciousness of their own cultural personality, to make them comprehend the reality that was unique in their civilizations in the spirit of sympathetic cooperation. In this blog, we will read about his inspiring life and Raja Ram Mohan Roy Contributions to the country.

• SOCIAL REFORMS
  • During the late 18th century (known as the Dark Age), Bengali society was burdened with several wicked rituals and regulations. Extensive rituals and rigid moral codes were imposed, which were mostly adapted and translated wrongly from ancient cultures. Child marriage, polygamy, and Sati were common practices that harmed women in society.
  • Roy opposed this barbaric practice and spoke out against it. He spoke frankly and presented his ideas to the East India Company’s higher-ups.
  • Lord Bentinck, the Governor-General, sympathized with Roy’s feelings and intentions, and the Bengal Sati Regulation, or Regulation XVII, A. D. 1829 of the Bengal Code, was passed despite much outrage from the orthodox religious community. The act prohibited the art of Sati Daha in Bengal Province, and anybody caught doing so would face punishment.
  • Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s name will be remembered as a great benefactor of women, not only for helping to end the tradition of Sati but also for speaking out against child marriage and polygamy, as well as for urging equal inheritance rights for women. He was also a fierce opponent of his generation’s rigid caste distinctions.
• CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION
  • Ram Mohan Roy received his education in traditional languages such as Sanskrit and Persian. He came across English sometime later in life and decided to master it in order to get a better job with the British. But, being a great writer, he gobbled up English literature and magazines, soaking in as much information as he could.
  • Though ancient texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Quran presented him with a deep respect for philosophy, he realized that his knowledge was lacking in science and logical education. He called for the introduction of an English Education System in the region, which would teach scientific subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and even Botany.
  • He paved the way for India’s education system to be revolutionized by co-founding Hindu College with David Hare in 1817, which went on to become one of the finest educational institutions in the world, creating some of the best minds in the country. In order to mix traditional philosophical teachings with modern rational classes, he founded the Anglo-Vedic School in 1822, followed by the Vedanta College in 1826.
• BRAHMO SAMAJ
  • Another major contribution was when he founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in Calcutta as a reformist movement. It was the first reform movement in India with the main aim to reform the Indian community and introduce the true teachings of Vedas, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures to the common man. Many prominent leaders like Debendranath Tagore and Keshub Chunder Sen were active members of the Samaj in the 1840s.
  • The movement played a significant role in modernising Indian society by challenging the oppressive caste system, dowry system and by introducing educational reforms to educate the masses. As one of the most progressive reformists movements in India, Brahma Samaj supported women empowerment by advocating against child marriages, polygamy practice of Sati and treatment of widows in India. The Samaj also challenged polytheism and idolatry in the Hindu religion while preaching monotheism. They also took inspiration from other religions and prohibited criticism of other religious teachings.
  • Opposed to the unnecessary ritualism and idol worship advocated by priests. He had learned holy scriptures from various faiths and argued that Hindu Scriptures such as the Upanishads supported the concept of monotheism.
  • This sparked his search for a religious revolution to bring the teachings of ancient Vedic scriptures back to their original form. In 1928, he established the Atmiya Sabha, and the first meeting of this new religion was held on August 20 of that year.
  • The Atmiya Sabha was reorganized as the Brahma Sabha, a precursor organization of the Brahmo Samaj. The core principles of this emerging movement were monotheism, freedom from the scriptures, and rejection of the caste system.
  • Brahmo worship practices were stripped of Hindu ceremonialism and developed in accordance with Christian or Islamic prayer practices. With time, the Brahma Samaj emerged as a powerful progressive force driving social reforms in Bengal, especially women’s education.
• JOURNALISM
  • Ram Mohan Roy was a strong advocate of free expression and free speech. He advocated for the freedom of the vernacular press. He also published a Persian newspaper named ‘Mirat Ul- Akhbar’ (the Mirror of News) as well as a Bengali weekly called ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ (the Moon of Intelligence).
  • Items of news and articles had to be approved by the government before they could be published back then. Ram Mohan argued that the media should be free and that the facts should not be censored simply because the government did not want it.