Persian Sufism's Influence on 19th Century Indian Reform Movement

The article examines how Persian Sufism shaped the 19th century Indian reform movement through the work of Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833). Roy, a prominent Hindu reformer from Bengal, was educated in Persian and Arabic at a Muslim madrasa and adopted Islamic cultural practices. He utilized Persian Sufi poetry and theology, particularly the works of Hafez and Rumi, to advocate against practices like sati (widow burning) and polytheism. His Persian-language book 'Tuhfat al-Muwahhidin' incorporated Sufi verses to promote ethical reform. This influence continued through later figures like Rabindranath Tagore's father and Grish Chandra Sen, who translated Persian mystical texts for the Brahmo Samaj reform movement. The piece highlights the cross-cultural exchange between Persianate and Indian intellectual traditions during this period.