Kejriwal pays tribute to Raja Ram Mohan Roy, invokes education reform legacy
Synopsis
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal marked Raja Ram Mohan Roy's birth anniversary on 22 May 2026, invoking the 19th-century reformer's educational legacy to underscore the continuing goal of delivering quality, discrimination-free schooling to every child in India.
Key Takeaways
Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to Raja Ram Mohan Roy on his birth anniversary on 22 May 2026 .
Raja Ram Mohan Roy ( 1772–1833 ) founded the Brahmo Samaj and was a pioneer of education reform and social modernisation in colonial India.
Kejriwal explicitly linked Roy's legacy to the present-day goal of providing quality education to every child 'without any discrimination.' The Right to Education Act, 2009 guarantees free and compulsory schooling to children aged 6–14 and reserves 25 per cent of private school seats for disadvantaged groups.
From 2015 , the AAP government in Delhi pursued a large-scale government-school reform programme framed within this reformist tradition.
Upcoming reviews of the National Education Policy 2020 and state budget allocations will indicate how the rhetoric maps to policy action.
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, 22 May 2026 paid tribute to 19th-century social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy on his birth anniversary, invoking Roy's legacy of educational reform to reaffirm the commitment to delivering quality schooling to every child in India without discrimination.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, Kejriwal wrote: 'हमारे समाज को एक नई और प्रगतिशील दिशा देने वाले राजा राममोहन राय जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन' — ('Heartfelt salutations to Raja Ram Mohan Roy on his birth anniversary; a man who gave our society a new and progressive direction.')
He added that Roy's reforms in the education system continue to inspire the goal of reaching 'the best possible education to every single child of the country, without any discrimination.'
Policy backdrop
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833) founded the Brahmo Samaj, campaigned against practices such as sati and child marriage, and was among the earliest voices in colonial India to advocate Western-style education alongside the reform of indigenous learning. His efforts laid an intellectual foundation that later shaped modern India's constitutional commitment to universal education.
That commitment was codified in the Right to Education Act, 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory schooling to all children aged 6–14 and reserves 25 per cent of seats in private schools for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. From 2015 onward, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi undertook a large-scale overhaul of government schools — covering infrastructure upgrades, principal empowerment, and outcome-linked teacher training — presenting it as a direct continuation of the reformist tradition.
Stakeholders and impact
The message centres on school-going children and marginalised communities, the constituencies most directly affected by gaps in public education quality. Non-discrimination — on grounds of caste, gender, or religion — is the explicit thread linking Roy's 19th-century advocacy to present-day policy language.
Indian political leaders across parties routinely invoke 19th-century reformers on their birth anniversaries to signal commitment to social modernisation. Kejriwal's framing is notable in that it ties the tribute directly to an active policy plank — inclusive, quality public education — rather than offering only ceremonial remembrance.
What's next
Attention will now turn to state education budget allocations and any mid-term review of the National Education Policy 2020 in the coming parliamentary session, which will test how far the reformist rhetoric translates into measurable outcomes for children in government schools. The anniversary tribute signals that education equity will remain a central theme in AAP's political messaging ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
A framing that serves both commemorative and electoral purposes. The explicit mention of 'every single child' and 'without discrimination' echoes the language of the Right to Education Act, suggesting the party intends to keep public education equity at the centre of its identity. Whether that rhetoric is matched by fresh policy commitments will be the measure observers apply in the next budget and NEP review cycle.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Raja Ram Mohan Roy and why is he remembered?
Raja Ram Mohan Roy ( 1772–1833 ) was a pioneering Indian social reformer who founded the Brahmo Samaj , campaigned against sati and child marriage, and advocated modern Western-style education alongside the reform of traditional learning, earning him the title 'Father of the Indian Renaissance.'
Why did Kejriwal post a tribute to Raja Ram Mohan Roy?
22 May marks the birth anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy , and Arvind Kejriwal used the occasion to honour the reformer while connecting his educational legacy to AAP's stated commitment to quality, non-discriminatory schooling for all children.
What is the Right to Education Act?
The Right to Education Act, 2009 is a central legislation that guarantees free and compulsory education to all children aged 6–14 in India and mandates that private schools reserve 25 per cent of seats for children from disadvantaged and weaker sections.
What education reforms did AAP carry out in Delhi?
From 2015 onward, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi undertook a large-scale overhaul of government schools that included classroom infrastructure upgrades, empowerment of school principals, and outcome-linked teacher training programmes.
What is the National Education Policy 2020?
The National Education Policy 2020 is a central government framework that overhauled India's school and higher education system, introducing a new curricular structure and emphasising foundational literacy, multilingualism, and vocational skills; its implementation by states is ongoing and subject to periodic review.
