LECTURE HANDOUT

Topic : Impact of Bengal Rennassance

Bengal Renaissance

According to the nationalist paradigm the 19th century was of Indian awakening
termed “Renaissance”, .The nineteenth century was a very creative age which
produced a usually large number of distinguished men in different parts of India.
Bengal Renaissance had a major role to play in the 19th century in the social milieu
of India. It had a great impact on many subsequent social reform movements which
took place under the umbrella term of acculturative movement. Aligarh movement
was greatly influenced and inspired by Bengal Renaissance.

Western education

Sir Syed had greatly admired him for his balance while treading the path between
Modernism offered by the English education and the reforms which he sought to
bring in the ancient beliefs. As Raja Ram Roy also known as Maker of India, advocated
the study of English, Science and technology. For this objective, he established the
Hindu College in Kolkata in 1817.His progressive views were bitterly opposed by
the orthodox Hindus. However, after some years his orthodox views of advocating
Western education prevailed and helped India

In the similar way, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan worked towards educating the Muslims and
he founded “Oxford of the East” Although the era they were born and worked was
vastly different, Sir Syed helped Muslims in the same way as Raja Ram Mohan Roy did
for the Hindus, as if he followed in his footsteps.

Combat orthodoxy

Sir Syed was also bitterly opposed by the orthodox Muslims. Both Syed and Roy,
the great reformers of their times, were abused as Friends of the west by religious
bigots but undeterred, they did not surrender to them. Fortunately, Hindu opposition
died down after sometimes but Muslim opposition continued for a longer period.
The result was obvious. Muslims lagged behind to their Hindu brothers in modern
education.

Just like, Raja Rama Mohan Roy interpreted the vedant in the light of Modern science,
similarly Sir Syed interpreted Quran in the light of modern science and he was totally
opposed by the orthodox views of the society.

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Social Reform

In the light of social reform, we can see that, Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a determined
crusader against the inhuman practice of sati, for that he started his struggle and he
cited sacred texts to prove his contention that no religion sanctioned the burning
alive of widows. As a campaigner for women rights, he condemned the general
subjugation of women and opposed prevailing misconceptions which formed the
basis of according an inferior social status to women. He also attacked polygamy.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan also ddressed social issues like polygamy and Widowhood. He
too struggled and cited back to Sacred text to prove his contention. Sir Syed Ahmad
khan was very much influenced by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He completely condemned
social evils such as slavery, polygamy, and other outdated and corrupt practices and
made practical efforts to correct them. He was a champion of women’s rights. He
pointed out the evils of widowhood. He said,

“The women need gentle treatment at the hands of man because of her delicate
nature, and especially the widow deserves all human sympathies. At that time
widow-remarriage was a taboo in Indian society. He appealed to the Muslims “to
encourage Widow-remarriage and earn the blessings both in this world and the next
for their virtuous deeds”.

Missionary onslaught

Both Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Sir Syed rejected the Christian doctrine being preached
by missionaries and made their own independent studies of the Christian scriptures.
Both searched for the central message at the core of their religions of superstitions
and other evils. Both wanted to reinterpret them in such a way so as to give their
ancient meanings a new vitality and living them in time with modern Science and
technology. Both of them edited periodicals and enriched, with their writings, the
languages of their regions.

Although both of them were termed as allies of British but it was the necessity of the
time which made them befriend the British. They were in a way using the English as a
means to an end which was the upliftment of their respective communities. Their role
in providing a way forward to a stagnant society at there respective times was one
of the greatest contributions that was made for the good of the Nation in the 19th
century India.

Reading list

Kenneth W.Jones :Socio religious movements in British India .

Susobhan Sarkar: Bengal Rennaissance and other essays
K.S.Bhattacharjee, The Bengal renaissance : social and political thought