Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and several Chief Ministers on Sunday paid tribute to social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy on his death anniversary. They described him as the pioneer of the Indian renaissance and credited him with an "unparalleled contribution" to women's empowerment.
Posting on X, Nitin Gadkari said: "In the field of social and religious renaissance in India, reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy ji holds a distinctive place. His journalism played the role of showing the right direction to the movements of the Indian freedom struggle. Humble salutations to him on his death anniversary today."
Union Minister Manohar Lal called Roy the pioneer of the Indian Renaissance, a great social reformer, educationist, and founder of the Brahmo Samaj.
"The work he did for education and women's empowerment is unparalleled. Through his welfare-oriented thoughts and farsightedness, he made an unparalleled contribution to freeing society from superstition and evil practices; that will always remain inspiring," he wrote on X.
Chief Ministers Pay Homage
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta remembered his fight against Sati. "From the struggle against evil practices like Sati to the promotion of women's dignity and the spread of modern education, he freed society from rigid traditions and showed the path of new consciousness and progress. His vision of building an empowered India through social reform continues to inspire us even today," she said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: "Raja Ram Mohan Roy made an unparalleled contribution to the renaissance of Indian society as an eradicator of social evils. He was someone who empowered women, and was a carrier of modern ideas." He added, "With the establishment of the Brahmo Samaj, his vision towards nation-building and progressive thinking remain exemplary for all of us. Humble tribute on his death anniversary."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said: "Your contribution to the eradication of evil practices like Sati, the promotion of women's education, and laying the foundation of modern ideas is unforgettable. Your thoughts, which ended orthodoxy and established equality and rationality in society, will forever inspire us all to build an egalitarian and progressive society."
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said: "Your tireless efforts for women's rights, education, and social equality infused a new consciousness into Indian society. Your life is an inspirational source of dedication to social awakening, education, and human dignity."
Who Was Raja Ram Mohan Roy?
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on May 22, 1772, in Radhanagar, Bengal, and died on September 27, 1833, in Stapleton, Bristol, England. This year marks his 193rd death anniversary.
He was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement. The Mughal Emperor Akbar II conferred the title of "Raja" on him. He went to England to represent the Mughal emperor's grievances before the British king and parliament, and fell ill and died while visiting Bristol.
The Fight That Changed the Law
The leaders' tributes repeatedly returned to one issue: Sati. Roy witnessed the forced immolation of his sister-in-law, which ignited his campaign against the practice. His advocacy and scriptural arguments influenced Lord William Bentinck to enact the Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, which outlawed it.
His work for women went beyond Sati. He advocated education for women, widow remarriage and women's right to property.
Why It Matters: The Reformer Who Used the Press
Gadkari's reference to Roy's journalism points to a side of his work that is often overlooked. Roy used newspapers as a tool for reform. He brought out the Bengali newspaper Sambad Kaumudi in 1821 and the Persian newspaper Mirat-ul-Akhbar in 1822 to spread his reformist and liberal views. Sambad Kaumudi campaigned for social reforms, including the abolition of Sati.
In doing so, he showed that public opinion could be built through the written word, well before the freedom movement made the press a central force in Indian public life.
Nearly two centuries after his death, leaders across states returned to the same themes: women's dignity, education and rational thinking. It is a reminder that many of the reforms Raja Ram Mohan Roy fought for in the 19th century remain central to India's public conversation today.
With inputs from IANS.
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