With reference to the social reforms initiated by Raja Rammohun Roy, consider the following statements: 1. He founded the Brahmo Sabha in Calcutta, which was later known as the Brahmo Samaj. 2. He relied exclusively on Western rationalist thought and rejected all ancient Indian texts to prove his arguments. 3. He led a campaign against the practice of Sati, which was banned in 1829. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the social reforms… - NCERT Class 8 History MCQ

NCERT Class 8 History — Chapter 6: Women, Caste and Reform

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With reference to the social reforms initiated by Raja Rammohun Roy, consider the following statements:

He founded the Brahmo Sabha in Calcutta, which was later known as the Brahmo Samaj.
He relied exclusively on Western rationalist thought and rejected all ancient Indian texts to prove his arguments.
He led a campaign against the practice of Sati, which was banned in 1829.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Our Past -3 · Page 80

Options

A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (c).

Explanation

Raja Rammohun Roy, often regarded as the father of the Indian Renaissance, initiated socio-religious reforms in the 19th century by synthesizing Western rationalism with the philosophical depths of ancient Indian scriptures.

Statement 1 is Correct: Raja Rammohun Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in August 1828 in Calcutta. It was later renamed the Brahmo Samaj. The institution was established to purify Hinduism and preach monotheism, opposing idolatry and meaningless rituals.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Raja Rammohun Roy did not rely exclusively on Western thought, nor did he reject ancient Indian texts. On the contrary, he extensively cited the Vedas and Upanishads to demonstrate that practices like idolatry, polytheism, and Sati were not sanctioned by the ancient scriptures. His methodology involved using the authority of religious texts to support rational social reforms.

Statement 3 is Correct: He led a sustained campaign against the inhuman practice of Sati. His efforts, combined with public opinion and official support, led Governor-General Lord William Bentinck to pass Regulation XVII in 1829, which declared Sati illegal and punishable by law.

Key Takeaway: Raja Rammohun Roy’s reformist approach was rooted in a constructive synthesis of modern Western values (liberty, equality, rationality) and the monotheistic principles of ancient Vedanta, rather than a total rejection of Indian tradition.

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