Question

Who among the following scholars first used the English word ‘Hinduism’?

• A. Bhadanta Anand Kausalyayana
• B. S. Radhakrishnan
• C. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• D. Swami Vivekananda

Hint:

Important modern Indian reformers:
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy → Brahmo Samaj
• Swami Vivekananda → Ramakrishna Mission
• Dayanand Saraswati → Arya Samaj Questions linking reformers with their contributions are frequently asked in competitive examinations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: The term “Hinduism” as an English word evolved gradually during the colonial and modern intellectual period. Earlier, the word “Hindu” was mainly used geographically and culturally to describe the people living beyond the Indus River region. Over time, scholars and reformers began using the term in a broader religious and philosophical sense. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as one of the earliest scholars and reformers to use the English word “Hinduism”. He played a major role in modern Indian religious and social reform movements.

Step 1: Understanding Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s contribution. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a great social and religious reformer of modern India. He is often called the “Father of Indian Renaissance” because of his contribution toward:
• social reforms,
• religious reforms,
• women’s upliftment,
• and modernization of Indian society. He founded the Brahmo Samaj and worked against social evils such as:
• Sati system,
• caste rigidity,
• and blind superstitions. During his intellectual and reformist writings in English, he used the term “Hinduism” to describe the broader religious traditions of India.

Step 2: Examining the given options carefully.
• Option (A) Bhadanta Anand Kausalyayana: He was a Buddhist scholar and writer, but he was not the first scholar to use the English word “Hinduism”.
• Option (B) S. Radhakrishnan: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was a philosopher and former President of India who wrote extensively on Indian philosophy, but the term “Hinduism” had already been used before him.
• Option (C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Raja Ram Mohan Roy is historically regarded as one of the earliest scholars to use the English term “Hinduism”. Therefore, this option is correct.
• Option (D) Swami Vivekananda: Swami Vivekananda popularized Hindu philosophy globally, especially after the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893, but he was not the first to use the term.

Step 3: Historical significance of the term “Hinduism”. The use of the word “Hinduism” became important because it:
• unified diverse Indian religious traditions,
• gave a broader identity to Indian philosophical systems,
• and helped explain Indian religious culture to Western audiences. Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s writings played an important role in this transformation.

Step 4: Final conclusion. Since Raja Ram Mohan Roy is recognized as the first scholar to use the English word “Hinduism”, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{Raja Ram Mohan Roy}} \]