Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s Application of Utilitarianism to Indian Social Reform

Panya Senawiang

Abstract

Raja Ram Mohan Roy provides the connection between the dark India, renaissance and the modern period. He was a religious and social reformer of India and became known as the father of modern India. Roy interprets the doctrine of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity under humanism. His method was to ask critical questions about the core principles of social problems. Religious principles, For Roy, were having a duty to serve humanity, resist oppression and exploitation because religion has the goal to allow deliverance of persons and promote forgiveness within society. Therefore, religion and rituals must be useful for humanity. Importantly, to be able to serve the goals of humanity leading to Freedom of expression and Social Happiness, it requires Rule Utilitarianism.