Fantastic flowers and the importance of plant life
July 12, 2022
Remembering Hansel and Gretel
December 9, 2022
Rajah Ram Mohan Roy's grave (also known as chattri) is one of the first memorials visitors notice when coming to the cemetery. It is one of the largest in the cemetery, a beautiful grade II* stone monument built in the Victorian era to honour a man whos life and work is still relevant to people today.
Act of Remembrance
Every year at the end of September a ceremony is held to remember and honour this great man and think about his importance to Indian history and society. The Rajah is not just important to West Bengalis but to Unitarians, members of the Brahmo Samaj and many many others.
Who was he?
The Rajah was an extremely influential religious and political thinker. He coined the word “Hinduism” as a term for the diversity of Indian religions and wrote extensively on religious and social matters. He stressed the importance of education for Indians, campaigned for women’s rights and worked to end the traditional practice of sati: the burning of widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands. He spoke several languages including Urdu, Bengali and Persian and was involved in publishing newspapers and also wrote a number of books. He was a true polymath and could read and write Greek, Latin, English and Sanskrit amongst other languages.
The Chattri with floral tributes
The speech was followed by a short wreath laying ceremony where flowers were presented by the dignitaries and the Arnos Vale Cemetery Chair of Trustees. Then tributes were also laid by a representative of the Multi-faith Forum, members of the Brahmo Samaj movement, and members of the public. This solemn act was followed by a moment of silence.
Following this Carla Contactor, our Life Trustee and Rajah scholar, then talked about the importance of the tomb as a piece of history and art, and explained how the Rajah came to rest in Arnos Vale. The ceremony was rounded off with a moving short prayer from Karl Stewart, a representative from the Unitarian Faith. This representation is important as the Rajah was known to call himself a Hindu Unitarian and he was great friends with Lant Carpenter whom he was visiting in Bristol when he fell ill.
This moving and uplifting multi-faith ceremony was open to all and reflected the beliefs of the Rajah Ram Mohan Roy who once said, ”all mankind are one great family”.
A moment of reflection for the Raja
The Ceremony
This year's ceremony was well attended. We were delighted to welcome Bristol's Lord Mayor Cllr Paula O’Rourke and her consort to the event. The Lord Mayor spoke about the importance of the Rajah to the world and to Bristol and how his messages about equality, tolerance and kindness are important in our multicultural city and world. We were also pleased to have a representative from the Indian High Commission, Ovessa Iqbal, who spoke about his work in education and for the rights of women and how his lessons can still be learned. The Rajah himself said that he believed in "a more liberal and enlightened system of instruction, embracing mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, anatomy, with other useful sciences”
A long time member of the Brahmo Somaj, Mrs Manju Chowdhury then spoke movingly about what the Ram Mohan Roy means to her and how his philosophy guides her life and her faith. This sect of Hinduism was an important reforming movement in the 19th and 20th century, and the Raja was a leading member along with his friend Dwarkanath Tagore.
Mrs Chowdhury of the Brahmo Samaj
Ovessa Iqbal from the Indian High Commission
The Lord Mayor Cllr Paula O'Rouke speaks on the Raja
Everyone is welcome at next year's ceremony on Sunday 24th September 2023.
