Q. Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: C. Both I and II
Explanation:
Statement I: Correct – Raja Ram Mohan Roy deeply respected Eastern philosophy but advocated for regeneration through modern (Western) education and ideas.
Roy considered different religions as national embodiments of universal theism. He defended the basic and universal principles of all religions, such as the monotheism of the Vedas and unitarianism of Christianity, while attacking the polytheism of Hinduism and trinitarianism of Christianity. The outlook of Raja Rammohan Roy was based on an intellectual synthesis of the best thoughts of the Orient and the Occident.
Statement II: Correct – He supported rationalism, scientific thinking, and social reforms like human dignity, equality, and women’s rights.He also wanted the introduction of modern capitalism and industry in the country.
He believed in the modern scientific approach and principles of human dignity and social equality. He put his faith in monotheism.
He wrote Gift to Monotheists (1809) and translated into Bengali the Vedas and the five Upanishads to prove his conviction that ancient Hindu texts support monotheism.
