Contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the pioneer of modern Indian Renaissance for remarkable reforms brought in 18th and 19th century India. Among his efforts the abolition of Sati pratha was the most prominent his efforts were instrumental in eradicating the purdah system and child marriage.

Contributions:

Anti Sati campaign- started in 1818 with the citation from various texts that no religion sanctioned the burning alive of Windows. He also visited cremation ground, filed petitions to the government. His efforts brought about the  abolition of Sati in 1829, by the government declaring Sati a crime.

Women’s rights- He was a campaigner of women’s rights, condemned the general subjugation of women and misconceptions to form the basis of inferior status of women he attacked polygamy and wanted property rights for women and widow remarriage.

Modern Education- He supported David Hare’s effort to establish the Hindu College in 1817.  He established Vedanta college in 1825 where both Indian learning and western social and physical sciences were offered.

Freedom of press- He was a bold supporter of freedom of press and a pioneer of Indian Journalism. About journals like Mirat ul Akhbar in Persian and a Bengali weekly to educate and inform the public and represent their grievances before the government.

As a political activist- He demanded reduction in land revenue in export duties on Indian goods abroad. He vehemently demanded judicial equality between Indians and Europeans and that trial to be held by jury.

Founded Brahmo Samaj- He laid the foundation of Brahmo Samaj which discarded faith in divine Avatars, opposed the rigidity of caste system, believed in unity of all religions and focused mainly on prayers, meditation and reading of scriptures.

Hence, Raja Ram Mohan Roy has been rightly called the ‘father of modern India and father of Indian Renaissance’. There was hardly any aspect of nation building which he left untouched, he started with the Reform of Hindu religion but he also laid the foundation for reform of Indian society.