Raja Rammohan Roy: Life and Reforms

Raja Rammohan Roy

• Studied the Quran, Persian, Arabic literature, the Bible, Greek, and Hebrew, demonstrating his eclectic and open-minded approach to education.
• Wrote "Gift to Monotheists" in 1803, advocating for the worship of one God and promoting monotheism.
• Founded the Atmiya Sabha in 1815, a movement that campaigned against idol worship and meaningless religious rituals.
• Established the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, later renamed Brahmo Samaj, which promoted monotheism and condemned idol worship.
• Advocated for a set of principles including prayer, meditation, charity, morality, and strengthening bonds between men.

Social Reforms

• Campaigned against the rigidity of the caste system, recognizing its harmful effects on society.
• Fought against the practice of Sati, which led to its abolition in 1829 by Governor-General William Bentinck.
• Condemned polygamy and child marriages, and advocated for the right of widows to remarry.
• Opposed the purdah system, which restricted women's freedom and rights.

Political Rights

• Spearheaded public agitation for political and social rights, demanding change in the status quo.
• Called for the abolition of the East India Company's trading rights, which exploited Indian resources.
• Advocated for the reduction of heavy export duties on India and the abolition of European privileges over Indians.

Pioneer of Indian Journalism

• Founded various journals in Bengali, English, Hindi, and Persian to spread scientific, literary, and political knowledge.
• Was a staunch nationalist, using journalism as a tool to promote Indian interests and challenge British rule.

Jyotiba Phule

• Critiqued Hindu religion and customs, drawing from his experiences as a member of a so-called low caste.
• Worked for the upliftment of women, aiming to restore their status of superiority to men.
• Opened the first girls' school in Pune in 1848, along with his wife Savitribai, pioneering girls' education in India.
• Established more schools for girls in the following years, expanding access to education for women.

Explore the life and contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy, a pioneer of Indian renaissance, who advocated for monotheism, social reforms, and condemned idol worship.