Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/twelvemenofbenga00bradiala#page/n3/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia600302.us.archive.org/34/items/twelvemenofbenga00bradiala/twelvemenofbenga00bradiala.pdf

Rolinda Sharples, widely recognised as the first female artist from America, was residing in Bristol at the time of the Rajah's visit. A painting of hers gives us a glimpse of contemporary Bristol society and the people that RamMohun knew. The city museum also boasts the most commonly recognised full-length portrait of RamMohun by Henry Perronet-Briggs that has since defined people's mental image of the great reformer and philanthropist. RamMohun scholar and activist Carla Contractor presents both paintings to us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2seKmeWv2do

The title of 'Raja' was given to Mr Ram Mohan Roy by King Bahadur Shah Zafar. He was then sent to England to plead his case (for higher pension) before Queen Victoria. He died there and was buried in a cemetery in Bristol. A nice memorial was built for him there. He never got to meet the Queen; they kept him waiting for more than a year.

Raja Rammohan Roy's Residence : http://www.kolkatainformation.com/calhert/h_r_mohan.htm

Asad ~ Rammohan Roy sailed to England in 1830 as the ' ambassador ' of the Mughal Emperor Akbar II (not Bahadur Shah Zafar). The East India Company had previously informed Rammohan, before he embarked from Calcutta, that it would not recognize this title officially, or accord to him diplomatic status. Rammohun had agreed to relinquish the title of ambassador ~ however ~ he was received as such by King William IV at his coronation in 1831 (Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837). As you point out ,the purpose of his voyage was to appeal to the King for an increase in the income allowed to the Emperor by the EIC. The actual negotiations in which Rammohun engaged were with the Court of Directors of the East India Company and the Board of Control (the body through which the British government supervised the Company's activities); these negotiations were partially successful ~ the Emperor recieved a small increase in his 'pension'. It seems that Rammohun was far from idle during his time in London and took an active interest in British politics and maintained quite a high profile. He was invited to attend a meeting of the Privy Council on 11 July 1833, at which an appeal to overturn the 1829 regulation banning the practise of sutte was defeated. He also contributed to the discussions surrounding the renewal of the charter of the East India Company(although the EIC had, of course, lost its trade monopoly twenty years earlier). He was in Britain when the Parliamentary Reform Act of 1832 became law and , no doubt, shared in the general enthusiasm with which this great measure was met. Apparently, he was considering whether or not to stand for parliament himself at the time of his death in 1833. (Nb. The first Indian to be elected for a British parliamentary constituency would be Dadabhai Naoroji ,sixty years later, for Finsbury in 1892.)

@Rare Book Society of India: Why is it in such a bad condition?

Shubha Phanishayee : Its a hundred year old book ! : )

Julian: Thank you for the clarification. I was aware (from the Wikipedia) that he was sent by Akbar II as the ambassador to Britain, but in all my readings from other books, I found out that it was Bahadur Shah Zafar who sent him. I suppose the dates should settle the question. Mis-recognition of the title 'Raja' was not mentioned anywhere in those books - obviously biased in favor of the Mughal King.

... Re: " I suppose the dates should settle the question ".... yes, I would have thought so. I'm sure that your knowledge of the Moghul court of Akbar II/ Bahadur Shah Zafar is far greater than mine ~ but ~ I can say with some assurance that in 1830/31 the future Queen Victoria was a 12 year old child, with very little idea that fate and geneology would conspire to place her on the British throne ! It is one of those curious, historical quirks that Victoria and Zafar should both become monarchs in the same year, 1837... the ultimate outcome of their respective reigns could, of course, not have been more contrasting ...