Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) of Bengal, often known as the ‘First Modern Man of India”, was the first socio-religious reformer of the 19th century. He was the first to see the evils that had crept into the Hindu society on account of orthodox religious practices and superstitious beliefs. Raja Ram Mohan Roy attempted at the emancipation of the Indian society from the arbitrary social regulations. He advocated innumerable social reforms like – abolition of “sati”, widow remarriage, education of women, removal of caste inequalities, etc. He not only stood for the eradication of these evils but also founded the “Brahmo Samaj” with liberal religious views. The Brahmo Samaj launched a crusade against the inequalities of the caste system in Indian society. He declared caste as inhumane and undemocratic. The Brahmo Samaj movement was completely against the burning of the widows along with the dead bodies of their husbands, a practice known as ‘Sati Pratha’. This movement was greatly responsible for the introduction of the Prevention of Sati Act, 1829. The main objective of this movement was to build up a caste-less society. it awakened in the minds of the people the necessity for the reformation of the Hindu society, its social customs and conventions.
