Raja ram mohan rai biography for kids

Indian reformer and penman (1772–1833)

Ram Mohan RoyFRAS (22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833) was conclusion Indian reformer and writer who was one of the founders of rendering Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the predecessor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement in the Indian subcontinent. He has been dubbed the "Father of Indian Renaissance."^[1] He was delineated the title of Raja by Mughal emperor Akbar II (r. 1806–1837).

His sway was apparent in the fields delineate politics, public administration, education and communion. He was known for his efforts to abolish the practices of sati and child marriage.^[2] Roy wrote Gaudiya Vyakaran which was the first strong Bangla grammar written book.^[3]

Early life (1772–1796)

Ram Mohan Roy was born in Radhanagar, Hooghly District, Bengal Presidency. His great-grandfather Krishnakanta Bandyopadhyay was a RarhiKulin (noble) Brahmin. Among Kulin Brahmins – descendants indicate the five families of Brahmins outside from Kannauj by Ballal Sen extract the 12th century as per well-liked myth – those from the Rarhi district an assortment of West Bengal were notorious in dignity 19th century for living off dowries by marrying several women. Kulinism was a synonym for polygamy and integrity dowry system, both of which Force Mohan campaigned against.^[4] His father, Ramkanta, was a Vaishnavite, while his close, Tarini Devi, was from a Shaivite family. He was a great savant disciple of Sanskrit, Persian and English languages and also knew Arabic, Latin skull Greek. One parent prepared him retrieve the occupation of a scholar, description Shastri, while the other secured expulsion him all the worldly advantages necessary to launch a career in picture laukik or worldly sphere of decode administration.^{[citation needed]} Torn between these bend over parental ideals from early childhood, Pack Mohan vacillated between the two aim the rest of his life.^[5]

During authority childhood Ram Mohan Roy witnessed justness death of his sister-in-law through sati. The seventeen-year-old girl was dragged to about the pyre where Ram Mohan Roy witnessed her terrified state. He try to protest but to no service. She was burned alive. The exercises chanted "Maha Sati! Maha Sati! Maha Sati!" (great wife) over her youthful screams.^[6]

Ram Mohan Roy was married triad times. His first wife died badly timed. He had two sons, Radhaprasad fall 1800, and Ramaprasad in 1812 meet his second wife, who died embankment 1824. Roy's third wife outlived him.^[7]

The nature and content of Ram Mohan Roy's early education is disputed. Individual view is that Ram Mohan under way his formal education in the neighbourhood pathshala where he learned Bengali nearby some Sanskrit and Persian. Later agreed is said to have studied Farsi and Arabic in a madrasa entail Patna and after that he was sent to Benares to learn magnanimity intricacies of Sanskrit and Hindu bible, including the Vedas and Upanishads. Nobility dates of his time in both these places are uncertain. However, invalidate is believed that he was spiral to Patna when he was digit years old and two years succeeding he went to Benares.^[5]

Ram Mohan Roy's impact on modern Indian history was his revival of the pure talented ethical principles of the Vedanta faculty of philosophy as found in ethics Upanishads. He preached the unity female God, made early translations of Vedic scriptures into English, co-founded the Calcutta Unitarian Society and founded the Brahmo Sabha, precursor to Brahmo Samaj. Righteousness Brahmo Samaj played a major position in reforming and modernizing the Amerindic society. He successfully campaigned against sati, the practice of burning widows. Settle down sought to integrate Western culture be different the best features of his brake country's traditions. He established a numeral of schools to popularize a extra system of education in India. Subside promoted a rational, ethical, non-authoritarian, this-worldly views and social reforms in Religion. His writings also sparked interest amid British and American Unitarians.^[8]

Christianity and authority early rule of the East Bharat Company (1795–1828)

During the early years show consideration for East India Company rule, Ram Mohan Roy acted as a political troublemaker while employed by the company.^[9]

In 1792, the British Baptist shoemaker William Carey published his influential missionary tract, An Enquiry of the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Amendment of Heathens.^[10]

In 1793, William Carey valid in India to settle. His together was to translate, publish and deal the Bible in Indian languages become calm propagate Christianity to the Indian people.^[11] He realised the "mobile" (i.e. supply classes) Brahmins and Pandits were accumulate able to help him in that endeavour, and he began gathering them. He learnt the Buddhist and Jainist religious works to better argue rendering case for Christianity in a indigenous context.^[12]

In 1795, Carey made contact touch upon a Sanskrit scholar, the Tantric Saihardana Vidyavagish,^[13] who later introduced him lecture to Ram Mohan Roy, who wished inhibit learn English.^[14][15]

While there are rumors mosey between 1796 and 1797, the trilogy of Carey, Vidyavagish, and Roy composed a religious work known as justness "Maha Nirvana Tantra" (or "Book achieve the Great Liberation"). Scholars like Convenience Duncan Derrett are skeptical of that claim calling it "highly improbable"^[16] increase in intensity Hugh Urban argues that "It appreciation probable that we will never be acquainted with the true author and date slate the Maha Nirvana Tantra".^[17] Carey's interest is not recorded in his as well detailed records and he reports sui generis incomparabl learning to read Sanskrit in 1796 and only completed a grammar explain 1797, the same year he translated part of The Bible (from Josue to Job), a massive task.^[18] Represent the next two decades Maha Paradise Tantra was regularly augmented.^[19] Its impartial sections were used in the illegitimate courts of the English Settlement wealthy Bengal as Hindu Law for adjudicating upon property disputes of the zamindars. However, a few British magistrates ahead collectors began to suspect and university teacher usage (as well as the dependence on pandits as sources of Hindi Law) was quickly deprecated. Vidyavagish esoteric a brief falling out with Carey and separated from the group, nevertheless maintained ties to Ram Mohan Roy.^[20]

In 1797, Raja Ram Mohan reached Calcutta and became a bania (moneylender), on the whole to lend to the Englishmen selected the Company living beyond their basis. Ram Mohan also continued his trade as pandit in the English courts and started to make a years for himself. He began learning Grecian and Latin.^[21]

In 1799, Carey was connubial by missionary Joshua Marshman and say publicly printer William Ward at the Nordic settlement of Serampore.^[22]

From 1803 until 1815, Ram Mohan served the East Bharat Company's "Writing Service", commencing as clandestine clerk (Munshi) to Thomas Woodroffe, Clerk of the Appellate Court at Murshidabad (whose distant nephew, John Woodroffe—also copperplate magistrate—and later lived off the Maha Nirvana Tantra under the pseudonym Character Avalon).^[23] Roy resigned from Woodroffe's team and later secured employment with Lavatory Digby, a Company collector, and Wedge Mohan spent many years at Citrus and elsewhere with Digby, where unwind renewed his contacts with Hariharananda. William Carey had by this time effected at Serampore and the old trilogy renewed their profitable association. William Carey was also aligned now with description English Company, then head-quartered at Citadel William, and his religious and bureaucratic ambitions were increasingly intertwined.^[24]

While in Murshidabad, in 1804 Raja Ram Mohan Roy wrote Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin (A Gift to Monotheists) in Persian with an introduction involve Arabic. Bengali had not yet energy the language of intellectual discourse. Glory importance of Tuhfat-ul-muwahhidin lies only hold up its being the first known ecclesiastical statement of one who achieved after fame and notoriety as a Vedantin. On its own, it is toughened, perhaps of interest only to swell social historian because of its negligent eclecticism. Tuhfat was, after all, unengaged as early as 1884 in ethics English translation of Maulavi Obaidullah EI Obaid, published by the Adi Brahmo Samaj. Raja Ram Mohan Roy frank not know the Upanishad at that stage in his intellectual development.^[25][26]

In 1814, he started Atmiya Sabha (i.e. Concert party of Friends) a philosophical discussion faction in Kolkata (then Calcutta) to deliver the monotheistic ideals of the hindooism and to campaign against idolatry, tribe rigidities, meaningless rituals and other common ills.^[27]

The East India Company was exhausting money from India at a move up and down of three million pounds a origin by 1838.^{[citation needed]} Ram Mohan Roy was one of the first unite try to estimate how much flat broke was being taken out of Bharat and to where it was fading. He estimated that around one-half curiosity all total revenue collected in Bharat was sent out to England, end India, with a considerably larger the general public, to use the remaining money disparage maintain social well-being.^[28] Ram Mohan Roy saw this and believed that nobility unrestricted settlement of Europeans in Bharat governing under free trade would accommodate ease the economic drain crisis.^[29]

During illustriousness next two decades, Ram Mohan down with William Carey, launched his struggle against against the bastions of Hinduism robust Bengal, namely his own Kulin Brainbox priestly clan (then in control more than a few the many temples of Bengal) limit their priestly excesses.^[19] The Kulin dispersal targeted include sati (the co-cremation push widows), polygamy, child marriage and dowry.^[14]

From 1819, Ram Mohan's battery increasingly stinking against William Carey, a Baptist Revivalist settled in Serampore, and the Serampore missionaries. With Dwarkanath's munificence, he launched a series of attacks against Adherent Christianity and was now considerably aided in his theological debates by position Unitarian faction of Christianity.^[30]

He wrote Gaudiya Vyakaran which was the first end up Bangla grammar written book. It was published in 1826.^[3]

In 1828, he launched Brahmo Sabha with Debendranath Tagore. Get by without 1828, he had become a arrive known figure in India. In 1830, he had gone to England introduction an envoy of the Mughal Prince, Akbar Shah II, who invested him with the title of Raja face up to the court of King William IV.^[15]

Middle "Brahmo" period (1820–1830)

This was Ram Mohan's most controversial period. Commenting on monarch published works Sivanath Sastri writes:^[31]

"The soothe between 1820 and 1830 was further eventful from a literary point be fond of view, as will be manifest circumvent the following list of his publications during that period:

• Second Appeal run into the Christian Public, Brahmanical Magazine – Parts I, II and III, be in keeping with Bengali translation and a new Asian newspaper called Samvad Kaumudi in 1821;
• A Persian paper called Mirat-ul-Akbar contained out tract entitled Brief Remarks on Antique Female Rights and a book plod Bengali called Answers to Four Questions in 1822;
• Third and final appeal sort out the Christian public, a memorial know the King of England on high-mindedness subject of the liberty of dignity press, Ramdoss papers relating to Christianly controversy, Brahmanical Magazine, No. IV, assassinate to Lord Arnherst on the issue of English education, a tract labelled "Humble Suggestions" and a book underneath Bengali called "Pathyapradan or Medicine be attracted to the Sick," all in 1823;
• A communication to Rev. H. Ware on say publicly "Prospects of Christianity in India" enthralled an "Appeal for Famine-smitten Natives include Southern India" in 1824;
• A tract smudge the different modes of worship, knock over 1825;
• A Bengali tract on the manner of speaking of a God-loving householder, a deduct in Bengali on a controversy traffic a Kayastha and a grammar be keen on the Bengali language in English sufficient 1826;
• A Sanskrit tract on "Divine Venerate by Gayatri" with an English paraphrase of the same, the edition sun-up a Sanskrit treatise against caste perch the previously noticed tract called "Answer of a Hindu to the Difficulty &c." in 1827;
• A form of angelic worship and a collection of hymns composed by him and his blockers, in 1828;
• "Religious Instructions Founded on Consecrated Authorities" in English and Sanskrit, span Bengali tract called "Anusthan", and clever petition against sati, in 1829;

He above-board declared that he would emigrate use up the British Empire if Parliament abortive to pass the Reform Bill.

In 1830, Ram Mohan Roy travelled run into the United Kingdom as an envoy of the Mughal Empire to give it some thought that Lord William Bentinck's Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 banning the practice remark sati was not overturned. In along with, Roy petitioned the King to growth the Mughal Emperor's allowance and perquisites. He was successful in persuading justness British government to increase the financial aid of the Mughal Emperor by £30,000. While in England, he embarked keep cultural exchanges, meeting with members position parliament and publishing books on Soldier economics and law. Sophia Dobson Cap was his biographer at that disgust.

Religious reforms

The religious reforms of Roy contained in some beliefs of description Brahmo Samaj expounded by Rajnarayan Basu^[32] are:

• Brahmo Samaj believe that decency most fundamental doctrines of Brahmoism instructions at the basis of every communion followed by a man.
• Brahmo Samaj profess in the existence of One Matchless God—"God, endowed with a distinct nature & moral attributes equal to Wreath nature, and intelligence befitting the Father and Preserver of the Universe," suggest worship Him alone.
• Brahmo Samaj believe go off at a tangent worship of Him needs no central place or time. "We can be devoted to Him at any time and drowsy any place, provided that time nearby that place are calculated to make up and direct the mind towards Him."
• All men are children of the 'one God of all human beings', leading therefore equal.

Having studied the Qur’an, influence Vedas and the Upanishads, Roy's traditional wisdom were derived from a combination cataclysm monastic elements of Hinduism, Islam, eighteenth-century Deism, Unitarianism, and the ideas designate the Freemasons.^[33]

Social reforms

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha and position Unitarian Community to fight the general evils, and to propagate social celebrated educational reforms in India. He was the man who fought against superstitions, a pioneer in Indian education, see a trend setter in Bengali language and Indian press.

• Crusaded against Religion customs such as sati, polygamy, son marriage and the caste system.
• In 1828, he set up the Brahmo Sabha, a movement of reformist Bengali Brahmins to fight against social evils.

Roy's civil background and Devandra's Christian influence niminy-piminy his social and religious views concerning reforms of Hinduism. He writes,

The present system of Hindus is band well calculated to promote their governmental interests… It is necessary that wearying change should take place in their religion, at least for the gain of their political advantage and popular comfort.^[34]

Roy's experience working with the Brits government taught him that Hindu pandect were often not credible or cherished by western standards and this ham-fisted doubt affected his religious reforms. Closure wanted to legitimise Hindu traditions focus on his European acquaintances by proving lapse "superstitious practices which deform the Asiatic religion have nothing to do clank the pure spirit it dictates!"^[35] Prestige "superstitious practices", to which Ram Mohan Roy objected, included sati, caste stress, polygamy and child marriages.^[36] These jus divinum \'divine law\' were often the reasons British corridors of power claimed moral superiority over the Amerind nation. Ram Mohan Roy's ideas see religion actively sought to create grand fair and just society by implementing humanitarian practices similar to the Christlike ideals professed by the British ray thus seeking to legitimise Hinduism break open the eyes of the Christian false.

Educational reforms

• Roy believed education to live an implement for social reform.
• In 1822, Roy founded the Anglo-Hindu School, followed four years later (1826) by excellence Vedanta College; where he insisted think it over his teachings of monotheistic doctrines tweak incorporated with "modern, western curriculum."^[37]
• In 1830, he helped Rev. Alexander Duff send down establishing the General Assembly's Institution (now known as Scottish Church College), toddler providing him with the venue neglected by Brahma Sabha and getting loftiness first batch of students.
• He supported elicitation of Western learning into Indian education.
• He also set up the Vedanta College, offering courses as a synthesis avail yourself of Western and Indian learning.
• His most usual journal was the Sambad Kaumudi. Appreciate covered topics like freedom of rectitude press, induction of Indians into excessive ranks of service, and separation have fun the executive and judiciary.
• When the In plain words East India Company muzzled the resilience, Ram Mohan composed two memorials despoil this in 1829 and 1830 respectively.

Death

In early September 1833 Roy came acquiescent Bristol to visit his Unitarian associate, Dr Lant Carpenter, where he unchanging a deep impression on Lant's damsel and future social reformer, Mary Carpenter.^[38] While in Bristol Roy preached smash into the Lewins Mead Meeting House. Break off mid September he became ill extra was diagnosed with meningitis. He dull at Stapleton, then a village anticipation the north-east of Bristol (now adroit suburb), on 27 September 1833 be expeditious for meningitis or a chronic respiratory ailment.^[39]

Mausoleum at Arnos Vale

Ram Mohan Roy was originally buried on 18 October 1833, in the grounds of Stapleton Wood, where he had lived as operate ambassador of the Mughal Empire increase in intensity died of meningitis on 27 Sept 1833.^[40] Nine years later he was reburied on 29 May 1843 mop the floor with a grave at the new Arnos Vale Cemetery, in Brislington, East Metropolis. A large plot on The Ritual Way there had been bought offspring William Carr and William Prinsep, dispatch the body in its lac additional a lead coffin was placed adjacent in a deep brick-built vault, invest seven feet underground. Two years name this, Dwarkanath Tagore helped pay aspire the chhatri raised above this bound, although there is no record promote to him ever visiting Bristol. The chhatri was designed by the artist William Prinsep, who had known Ram Mohan in Calcutta.^{[41][citation needed]}

Bristol Arnos Vale necropolis have been holding remembrance services give a hand Raja Ram Mohan Roy every era on a Sunday close to tiara death anniversary date of 27 September.^[42] The Indian High Commission at Author often come to Raja's annual observance and Bristol's Lord Mayor is further regularly in attendance. The commemoration review a joint Brahmo-Unitarian service, in which, prayers and hymns are sung, floret laid at the tomb, and significance life of the Raja is prominent via talks and visual presentations.^[43] Hillock 2013, a recently discovered ivory conked out of Ram Mohan was displayed.^[42][44] Top 2014, his original death mask gorilla Edinburgh was filmed and its story was discussed.^[45] In 2017, Raja's fame was held on 24 September.^[46]

Legacy

Roy's dedication to English education and thought sparked debate between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.^[47] Gandhi objected to Roy's fervency to English education and thought ground disallowing independent thinking by being excessively supportive of the Western philosophical discourses.^[48] Tagore wrote a letter rejecting Gandhi's view, saying "[Roy] had the jam-packed inheritance of Indian wisdom. He was never a school boy of glory West, and therefore had the aristocracy to be a friend of birth West."^[47]

In 1983, a full-scale Exhibition restriction Ram Mohan Roy was held sufficient Bristol's Museum and Art Gallery. Potentate enormous 1831 portrait by Henry Perronet Briggs still hangs there and was the subject of a talk make wet Max Muller in 1873. At Bristol's centre, on College Green, there court case a full-size bronze statue of Raj by a modern Kolkata sculptor Niranjan Pradhan. Another bust by Pradhan, able to Bristol by Jyoti Basu, sits inside the main foyer of Bristol's City Hall.^{[citation needed]}

A pedestrian path power Stapleton has been named "Rajah Rammohun Walk". There is a 1933 Brahmo plaque on the outside west panel of Stapleton Grove, and his final burial place in the garden run through marked by railings and a positive memorial stone. His tomb and chhatri at Arnos Vale are listed type a Grade II historic site mass English Heritage and attract many assembly today.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

A 1965 Soldier Bengali-language film Raja Rammohan about Roy's reforms, directed by Bijoy Bose become peaceful starring Basanta Chowdhury in the caption role.^[49]

In 1988 Doordarshan Serial Bharat Indication Khoj produced and directed by Shyam Benegal also picturised a full hold up episode on Raja Ram Mohan Roy. The title role was played surpass noted TV actor Anang Desai look after Urmila Bhatt, Tom Alter and Ravi Jhankal as supporting cast.

In 1984 Films Division of India created top-hole documentary Raja Rammohan Roy directed stomachturning P. C. Sharma.^[50]

In 2004, Roy was ranked number 10 in BBC's ballot of the Greatest Bengali of Drain Time.^[51][52][53]

See also

References

External links