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Brahmo Samaj & Raja Ram Mohan Roy Short notes PDF

BRAHMO SAMAJ OF INDIA

FOUNDING & BACKGROUND

Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 in Calcutta.
Originally began as Atmiya Sabha (1815) → became Brahmo Sabha (1828) → renamed Brahmo Samaj (1830).

Scriptural Basis: While they drew from the Upanishads, they fundamentally rejected the infallibility of the Vedas, polytheism, and the belief in avatars.
Trust Deed of 1830 laid down core principles of the Samaj. Trust Deed (1830) banned idol worship, sacrifices, rituals, and caste distinctions.
First prayer hall built in Chitpore Road, Calcutta (1830).

MAJOR BELIEFS OF BRAHMO SAMAJ

Belief in one supreme God (Monotheism).
Complete rejection of idol worship, rituals, sacrifices, and priestly domination.
Rejected caste distinctions (though initially gradually).

Belief in universalism, rationality, and purity of conduct.
Emphasis on prayer, meditation, moral living.
Used Upanishads as scriptural basis instead of Puranas or Vedas.

SOCIAL REFORMS OF BRAHMO SAMAJ

Opposed Sati, polygamy, child marriage, purdah system.
Supported widow remarriage and female education.
Focused on women’s rights and dignity.

Intellectual Tools: Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha and published the Bengali weekly Samvad Kaumudi to spread these ideas

BRAMO SAMAJ EFFORTS FOR WOMEN SOCIAL REFORMS

Active role in abolition of Sati (1829). Played a pivotal role in the Bengal Sati Regulation (1829) under Governor-General Lord William Bentinck.
Promoted Bethune School (1849) and girls’ education.

Supported legal reforms like Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1856).

DEVELOPMENT OF BRAHMO SAMAJ AFTER RAM MOHAN ROY

After Roy’s death in 1833, the movement weakened until revitalised by:
Debendranath Tagore (Joined 1842)

Made Brahmo Samaj a pan-Indian spiritual movement.
Started Tattvabodhini Sabha (1839) to spread Vedantic teachings.
Emphasised Upanishadic monotheism.

Spread movement in Bengal, Punjab, and Bombay.
Introduced systematic rituals of the Samaj.

Keshab Chandra Sen (Joined 1858)

Young, energetic reformer; introduced radical social changes.

Advocated:

Inter-caste marriage

Widow remarriage
Women's education
Abolition of polygamy

Promoted the idea of Universal Religion.
International fame after meeting western reformers.

SPLITS IN THE BRAHMO SAMAJ MOVEMENT

First Split (1866): Brahmo Samaj of India
Reason: Keshab Chandra Sen’s radicalism (advocating inter-caste marriage, women's education) and growing popularity conflicted with the conservative, Upanishadic approach of the original group.

Result: Debendranath Tagore led the Adi Brahmo Samaj (original), while Keshab led the Brahmo Samaj of India (1866).
Second Split (1878): Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
Trigger: Keshab Chandra Sen married his 13-year-old daughter to the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, violating his own opposition to child marriage and the Native Marriage Act of 1872.
Result: Disillusioned followers (Anandamohan Bose, Sivnath Shastri) left to form the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (1878), advocating democratic, constitutional, and non-authoritarian governance.

Keshab Chandra Sen later called his remaining followers the "New Dispensation" (Nava Vidhan) in 1881, but the 1878 split entity was the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.

Notable Personalities

Raja Ram Mohan Roy: The "Father of Modern India" and founder.

Debendranath Tagore: Founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha (1839) before merging it with the Samaj in 1843.
Keshab Chandra Sen: Instrumental in making it an all-India movement and founding the Indian Reform Association (1870).

LEGISLATIVE IMPACT

Major influence in passing:
Abolition of Sati (1829)
Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1856)

Age of Consent debates (1891)
Promoted reform laws on property, marriage, and women’s rights.

OVERALL CONTRIBUTION OF BRAHMO SAMAJ

First organised modern socio-religious reform movement in India.

Helped spread Western education, rationalism, and nationalism.
Created a revival of Vedantic monotheism free from superstition.
Laid foundation for later reforms: Prarthana Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission.

Contributed directly to early Indian nationalism and intellectual awakening.
Encouraged scientific reasoning and modern education.
Advocated the Upanishads as pure Hindu philosophy.

Raja Rammohan Roy (1772–1833) – One-Liner Notes

Raja Rammohan Roy is known as the “Father of Modern Indian Renaissance.”
Born in 1772 at Radhanagar, Hooghly (Bengal) in a Kulin Brahmin family.
Known as the “Father of Modern India.”

First Indian to study Western education systematically.
Mastered Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
Early exposure to Upanishads shaped his rational and reformist ideas.

Strong critic of idol worship, superstition, and blind rituals.
Believed in monotheism and ethical religion.
Strong supporter of freedom of press; opposed press restrictions (1823).

Founded Atmiya Sabha (1814) to discuss social and religious reforms.
Established Brahmo Sabha (1828), later called Brahmo Samaj.
Brahmo Samaj preached one God, rational faith, and moral living.

Actively opposed Sati system through writings and petitions.
Played a key role in the abolition of Sati (1829) under Lord William Bentinck.
Supported widow remarriage and opposed child marriage.

Advocated women’s education and property rights.
Strong supporter of Western education, science, and English language.
Opposed orthodox education limited to Sanskrit learning only.

Educational Contributions

Hindu College (1817): Collaborated with David Hare to establish this premier institution in Calcutta.
Anglo-Hindu School (1822): Founded to teach Western science and mechanics alongside traditional subjects.

Vedanta College (1825): Established to offer courses in both Indian learning and Western physical/social sciences.

Journalism & Literature (Crucial for Exams)

Samvad Kaumudi (1821): A Bengali weekly used to denounce Sati and promote social reforms.

Mirat-ul-Akbar (1822): India's first Persian weekly, which covered political events and criticized British policies.
The Brahmanical Magazine (1821): An English journal used to respond to Christian missionary attacks on Hinduism.
Precepts of Jesus (1820): Attempted to separate the moral teachings of Jesus from the miracle stories of the New Testament.
Gaudiya Vyakaran (1833): Wrote the first complete grammar book of the Bengali language

First Indian to use the press as a tool for reform and fought against the restrictive Press Ordinance of 1823.
Championed freedom of the press against British restrictions.
Economic Drain: He was one of the earliest Indians to analyze the economic drain caused by British policies.

Internationalist: Supported the freedom struggles in Italy, Ireland, and Latin American revolutions.
He received the title “Raja” from Mughal Emperor Akbar II (around 1830), who also appointed him as his envoy to Britain.
Represented Mughal Emperor Akbar II in England.

Went to England in 1830 as an official envoy.
Died at Stapleton, Bristol (1833) England; buried there.
His ideas laid the foundation for later reformers like Debendranath Tagore.