Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, also known as Rammohan Roy or Rammohun Roy, (22 May 1772 – 27 September, 1833) was the founder of the Brahmo Sabha movement in 1828, which engendered the Brahmo Samaj, an influential Bengali socio-religious reform movement. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration and education as well as religion. He is best known for his efforts to establish the abolishment of the practice of sati, the Hindu funeral practice in which the widow was compelled to sacrifice herself in her husband’s funeral pyre in some parts of Bengal. It was he who first introduced the word "Hinduism" into the English language in 1816. For his diverse contributions to society, Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as one of the most important figures in the Bengali renaissance. His efforts to protect Hinduism and Indian rights by participating in British government earned him the title "The Father of the Indian Renaissance". The British government has named a street in memory of Ram Mohan Roy as "Raja Rammohan Way".