Origins & Early Life

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Bengali pronunciation: [ram moɦɔn rae̯]; 22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833) was an Indian social reformer and writer who was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement in the Indian subcontinent. He has been dubbed the "Father of the Indian Renaissance." He was given the title of Raja by Mughal emperor Akbar II (r. 1806–1837). His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration, education, and religion.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was known for his efforts to abolish the practices of sati and child marriage. Roy wrote Gaudiya Vyakaran, which was the first complete Bangla grammar written book. Ram Mohan Roy was born in Radhanagar, Hooghly District, Bengal Presidency. His great-grandfather Krishnakanta Bandyopadhyay was a Rarhi Kulin (noble) Brahmin. Among Kulin Brahmins – descendants of the five families of Brahmins, migrated from Kannauj by Ballal Sen in the 12th century as per popular myth – those from the Rarhi district of West Bengal were notorious in the 19th century for living off dowries by marrying several women.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Kulinism was a synonym for polygamy and the...

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