RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY

RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY WAS THE PROMINENT SOCIAL REFORMERS OF THE 19TH CENTURY. HE ESTABLISHED BRAHMO SAMAJ IN 1828 A.D AT CALCUTTA IN ORDER TO PURIFY HINDUISM AND TO PREACH MONOTHEISM. THE SAMAJ UNDER WAS BASED ON THE TWIN PILLARS OF REASON AND ANCIENT HINDU SCRIPTURES(VEDAS AND UPANISHADS) AND INCORPORATED THE BEST TEACHINGS OF OTHER RELIGIONS AS WELL. HE CHAMPIONED THE WOMEN REIGHTS LIKE RIGHT OF INHERITENCE AN PROPERTY,WIDOW REMARRIAGE,FEMALE EDUCATION ETC.. HE ATTACKED POLYGAMY,CHILD MARRIAGE,FEMALE FEOTICIDE,SATI AND THE DEGRADED STATUS OF WOMEN. HE ALSO ATTACKED THE CASTE SYSTEM AND RELIGIOUS ORTHODOXY. HE ALSO FOUGHT FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF MODERN EDUCATION THROUGH THE SPREAD OF ENGLISH EDUCATION.

HE BELIEVED IN THE UNIFICATION OF THE DIVERGENT GROUPS OF INDIAN SOCIETY TO BRING ABOUT NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN INDIA. THE BRAHMO SAMAJ ESTABLISHED BY HIM ALSO INITIATED THE PUBLIC AGITATION ON POLITICAL QUESTIONS LIKE THE NEED FOR REFORMS IN BRITISH ADMINISTRATION,TARDE AND ECONOMIC POLICY ETC. THE OTHER PIONEERS OF THE BRAHMO SAMAJ INCLUDE DEBENDRA NATH TAGORE AND K.C. SEN .THE LATTER AFTER SECESSION FORMED BRAHMO SAMAJ OF INDIA IN 1866 A.D.