Q. Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-1833) was the central figure in the political awakening in India. He is rightly regarded as the father of Indian Renaissance and the maker of Modern India.
Statement I is correct: Raja Rammohan Roy possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical system of the East; but at the same time, he believed that Western culture alone could help regenerate Indian society. Roy considered different religions as national embodiments of universal theism. He defended the basic and universal principles of all religions—such as the monotheism of the Vedas and unitarianism of Christianity—while attacking the polytheism of Hinduism and trinitarianism of Christianity. The outlook of Raja Rammohan Roy was based on an intellectual synthesis of the best thoughts of the Orient and the Occident.
Statement II is correct: Raja Rammohan Roy firmly believed in the principle of causality linking the whole phenomenal universe and demonstrability as the sole criterion of truth. In particular, he wanted his countrymen to accept the scientific and rational approach, the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women. He also wanted the introduction of modern capitalism and industry in the country.
- He believed in the modern scientific approach and principles of human dignity and social equality. He put his faith in monotheism.
- He wrote Gift to Monotheists (1809) and translated into Bengali the Vedas and the five Upanishads to prove his conviction that ancient Hindu texts support monotheism.
Source:
A Brief History of Modern India, Spectrum, Chapter – 8, Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features, Pg. 192; Chapter – 9, A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements, 206-207
Discover more from Free UPSC IAS Preparation Syllabus and Materials For Aspirants
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.