Raja Rammohun Roy: From Idolatrous to Civil Society

Abstract

Roy perceived the contemporary Indian society as corrupted, shocking, barbarous and uncivilized. It became corrupted due to the inculcation of idolatry, deviating from the worshiping of one ‘Supreme Being.’ This diversion was the root of all social evils in the Indian society such as widow burning, caste system, polytheism, idolatry and other superstitions. According to Roy, the Indian priests, as in the west, played an important role in corrupting the Indian society. They introduced idolatrous practices for their own benefit and selfishness. The research question which this article deals with is whether the Indian society was really corrupted or if it was the repercussion of the import of the western model? This article delves into the latter part of the research question. Roy adopted the same model of ‘corruptness and restoration’ of the west. Roy intended to purify Indian society by introducing the ‘real scripture of the Hindus’, i.e. Vedas and established various organizations including Atmiya Sabha and Brahma Samaj to inculcate the ‘doctrines’ of the ‘real Hinduism’.