Volume-XI, Issue-IV, July 2025 |
রাজা রামমোহন রায় ও আধুনিক বঙ্গ নির্মাণ: সংস্কার ও পরিবর্তনের সমাজতাত্ত্বিক অধ্যয়ন ড. মোহা: জিনারুল হক বিস্বাস, সহকারী অধ্যাপক, সমাজতত্ত্ব বিভাগ, নূর মোহাম্মদ স্মৃতি মহাবিদ্যালয়, মুর্শিদাবাদ, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 19.07.2025 | Accepted: 21.07.2025 | Published Online: 31.07.2025 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.04W.098 |
Raja Rammohan Roy and the Making of Modern Bengal: A Sociological Study of Reform and Change Dr. Md. Zinarul Hoque Biswas, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Nur Mohammad Smriti Mahavidyalaya, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
In 19th-century Bengal, particularly in Western Bengal, Hindu society was deeply entrenched in various forms of religious orthodoxy, superstition, and antisocial practices. The acquisition and application of religious knowledge were monopolized by the Brahmins, who used this as a means of earning a livelihood. In that society, both the educated and the uneducated largely accepted and practiced polytheism, idol worship, the custom of sati, oppression of women, polygamy, child marriage, and the kulin system as socially sanctioned norms. During this period, the influx of foreign culture and values—such as humanism, liberalism, and monotheism—had a profound impact on Raja Rammohan Roy. The influence and expression of Western education and culture played a pivotal role in initiating reform within Hindu society. This research paper, based on various secondary sources, attempts a qualitative analysis of Raja Rammohan Roy’s contributions to social reform from historical and sociological perspectives, and evaluates his role in modernizing the society of his time. The study applies interpretative sociological methods and modernization theory to analyze the impact of Roy’s reform efforts, their relation to modernity, and their long-term influence. It examines the process and limitations of partial reform in Hindu society under Roy’s leadership, which later contributed significantly to the broader modernization of India. Nevertheless, Rammohan Roy faced social neglect, humiliation, opposition, and violence in his pursuit of reform. Despite these challenges, he courageously fought against superstition, inhumane practices, and religious orthodoxy, sowing the seeds of rationalism, humanism, and monotheism. His efforts to abolish the sati practice, promote women's rights, modern education, use of print media, and religious reform paved the way for social transformation in Bengal. Keywords: Raja Rammohan Roy, Social Reform, Modernization, Bengal Renaissance, Women's Rights |