246th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy on 22nd May 2017

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833) was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj at Calcutta in 1828 and due to his efforts, the practice of sati in Bengal was abolished. It was he who first introduced the word “Hinduism’ into the English language in 1816. For his diverse activities and contributions to society, he is regarded as one of the most important personalities in the Bengali Renaissance. His efforts to protect Hinduism and Indian rights earned him the title “The Father of the Indian Renaissance”.

He was also a great scholar who translated many books, religious and philosophical work and scriptures into Bengali and also translated Vedic scriptures into English. He worked for the East India Company and extensively studied Christianity and other religions that were the reasons to make him realize that some Hindu traditions and superstitions were required to be reformed. That was the motivating factor in his starting a new reformist body – viz. Brahmo Samaj. Roy was against idol worship and propagated the oneness of God through Brahmo Samaj. He had combined the righteousness of Western and Indian Culture. Apart from his opposition to the practice of Sati, he had also condemned the evil practices of polygamy, caste rigidity, ban on widow re-marriage and child marriage  by the Hindus. He was greatly moved by his sister-in-laws death who became Sati.

Education system of India had undergone changes due to his efforts. To modernize the education system, Roy established many English schools and also the Hindu collage at Calcutta in 1822. Roy urged that science, technology, western medicine and English should be taught at Indian schools.

Ram Mohan Roy was married three times. His first wife died early in his childhood. He conceived two sons, Radhaprasad in 1800 and Ramaprasad in 1812 with his second wife, who died in 1824. Roy's third wife outlived him.

The title ‘Raja’ was given to him by the Mughal Emperor. He was the first educated Indian to travel to England. He went to England as an ambassador of the Mughal Emperor Akbar II.

Roy died on 27th September 1833 at the age of 61 years in Bristol because of meningitis..

Ram Mohan Roy was originally buried on 18 October 1833, in the grounds of Stapleton Grove where he had died. Nine and a half years later he was reburied on 29 May 1843 in a grave at the new Arnos Vale Cemetery, in Brislington, East Bristol. The original brief epitaph, "Rammohun Roy, died Stapleton 27th. Sept. 1833", was suggested by Dwarkanath Tagore, but this plaque was removed to the rear of the tomb and his new and more expansive epitaph was placed at the front.