Ram Mohan Roy | Brief Biography

Ram Mohan Roy | Brief Biography

Ram Mohan Roy | Brief Biography

Ram Mohan Roy, born in 1772 in the village of Radhanagar in the Hooghly district of Bengal (present-day West Bengal, India), was a pioneering Indian intellectual, social reformer, and journalist. He is widely considered as the father of the Indian Renaissance and is recognized for his contributions to the modernization of Hinduism and Indian society.

Early Life and Education:
Ram Mohan Roy was born in a Hindu family and was educated in both Hindu and Islamic traditions. He learned Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic and was well-versed in the Vedas and Upanishads, the Islamic scriptures, and the Christian Bible. He was fascinated by Western ideas and philosophy, and his extensive travels to England, France, and other European countries exposed him to the intellectual and cultural ferment of the age.

Reformist Views:
Roy’s intellectual and spiritual journey led him to reject the traditional Hindu practices of caste discrimination, idol worship, and ritualism. He advocated for a rational and enlightened Hinduism, one that was based on the universal principles of human dignity, equality, and morality. He argued that these principles were consistent with the teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads, and he sought to restore their relevance in contemporary Hinduism.

The Brahmo Samaj:
In 1828, Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj, a social and cultural organization that aimed to reform Hinduism and promote rationalism, humanism, and universal spirituality. The Brahmo Samaj became an influential voice for social reform in India and a precursor to the modern Hindu reform movements. It sought to bring about a spiritual and moral awakening in Indian society and to promote the education of women and the lower castes.

Journalism and Writing:
Ram Mohan Roy was a prolific writer and journalist who used his pen to advocate for his reformist views. He wrote extensively on the need for social reform in India and sought to bridge the gap between Indian and Western cultures. His most famous work, the “Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin” (A Gift to Monotheists), was a treatise on the principles of monotheism and universal religion and aimed to promote religious harmony and tolerance.

Death and Legacy:
Ram Mohan Roy died in 1833, at the age of 61. He was widely mourned and his death was seen as a loss to India and the world. Today, he is widely recognized as one of India’s most important social reformers and is remembered for his contributions to the modernization of Hinduism and Indian society. 0 0 0.

Sources:

“Ram Mohan Roy: The Father of Indian Renaissance” by Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (Oxford University Press, 2002)
“Ram Mohan Roy: A Biographical Study” by S.R. Bakshi (M.D. Publications, 2002)
“The Social and Political Thought of Ram Mohan Roy” by S.K. Biswas (People’s Publishing House, 1975)
“Ram Mohan Roy and the Making of the Modern Indian Mind” by Kenneth W. Jones (Princeton University Press, 2016). ***

N.B. This article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Brief Biographies of Prominent Bengali Writers‘ by Menonim Menonimus.

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