Study Guides/Learn/Brahmo Samaj
Study Guide ยท Learn

Brahmo Samaj โ€“ Founded By, Aim and History

The Brahmo Samaj was a landmark Hindu socio-religious reform movement founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1828. It was one of the first organized efforts to modernize Hinduism and fight deeply rooted social evils.

Question (Click to Flip)

Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?

Answer

The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 in Calcutta.

Card 1 of 2 free previews

Key Facts

Founded: 1828, Calcutta.

Founder: Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Key Achievement: Abolition of Sati (1829).

Later Leaders: Debendranath Tagore, Keshab Chandra Sen.

Roy's Title: 'Father of Modern India' / 'Father of Indian Renaissance'.

Founder and Background

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772โ€“1833) was a brilliant scholar who knew Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, and several Indian languages. He was deeply influenced by Western rationalism and Enlightenment thinking. He believed Hinduism had been corrupted over centuries by superstition, idol worship, and inhuman practices.

Key Aims and Reforms

The Brahmo Samaj fought against:

  1. Sati โ€” the forced burning of widows on their husbands' funeral pyres. (Roy's campaign led to the British ban on Sati in 1829).
  2. Child marriage.
  3. Caste discrimination.
  4. Idol worship and religious superstition.
  5. Denial of education to women.

It promoted: monotheism (worship of one formless God), women's rights, and rational thinking.

Later Leaders

After Roy's death, the Brahmo Samaj was led by Debendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) and later Keshab Chandra Sen, who further expanded its social reform agenda.

Questions and Answers

Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?+

The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 in Calcutta.

What was the main achievement of Brahmo Samaj?+

The most significant achievement was the abolition of the practice of Sati in 1829, largely due to Raja Ram Mohan Roy's campaign.

More in Learn

Study Smarter with Shinyu.ai

Turn this guide into revision flashcards, a practice exam, or an AI-generated podcast โ€” free, no signup required.