Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the first major social reformer of 18th-century India who fearlessly fought against various social evils such as sati, child marriage, and polygamy. Recognized for his visionary work, Rabindranath Tagore called him the “Father of the Indian Renaissance.
“Abolition of Sati:
Sati was a cruel ritual in Hindu society where widows were forced to self-immolate on their husband’s funeral pyre. Between 1815 and 1828, over 8,000 cases of sati were recorded.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy strongly condemned the practice, stating:”The practice of sati is a form of murder. It is not an act of virtue or piety, but one of cruelty and oppression. “He deeply studied Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads to prove that sati had no sanction in authentic Hindu texts. To support his argument, he collected signatures from over 300 people, showing that the ritual was a misinterpretation of scripture. His efforts were instrumental in influencing Lord William Bentinck, who officially abolished sati in 1829.
Contribution to Education:
A highly learned man fluent in several languages, Ram Mohan Roy believed that ignorance was the root cause of social evils. He championed Western education in the English medium, focusing on scientific subjects like physics, chemistry, botany, and mathematics. In collaboration with David Hare, he helped establish the Hindu College, and later founded the Anglo-Vedic School and Vedanta College, blending modern and traditional knowledge.
Advocate of Freedom of Speech and Press: Inspired by Western liberal thinkers such as John Locke and John Stuart Mill, Ram Mohan Roy strongly supported freedom of speech and expression. He founded and published two newspapers: the Bengali periodical Sambad Kaumudi and the Persian journal Mirat-ul-Akhbar (meaning Mirror of News), both of which promoted rational thinking, reformist ideas, and the right to criticize unjust practices.
Conclusion:Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a visionary reformer who laid the intellectual and moral foundations for modern India. Through his fight against social evils like sati and his support for education, freedom of speech, and rational thinking, he transformed Indian society. His legacy continues to inspire movements for justice, equality, and progress even today.—
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