Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as the" Father of the Indian Renaissance"
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (August 14, 1774 – September 27, 1833) was a founder (with Dwarkanath Tagore and other Bengali Brahmins) of the Brahma Sabha in 1828 which engendered the Brahmo Samaj, an influential Indian socio-religious reform movement. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration and education as well as religion. He is best known for his efforts to abolish the practice of sati, the Hindu funeral practice in which the widow was compelled to sacrifice herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. It was he who first introduced the word "Hinduism" into the English language in 1816. For his diverse contributions to society, Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as one of the most important figures in the Bengal Renaissance. His efforts to protect Hinduism and Indian rights by participating in British government earned him the title “The Father of the Bengal Renaissance” or “The Father of the Indian Nation.”
Social Reforms of Rammohan
- Crusaded against social evils like sati, polygamy and child marriage etc.
- Demanded property inheritance rights for women.
- In 1828, he set up the Brahmo Sabha a movement of reformist Bengali Brahmins to fight against social evils.
“The present system of Hindus is not well calculated to promote their political interests…. It is necessary that some change should take place in their religion, at least for the sake of their political advantage and social comfort.”
