72 SOCIAL SCIENTIST indeed, be too much to expect that Rammohun should have led an anti-British movement at that time. His views on the jury system, on the separation of the executive from the judiciary, on codification of law, would present before us instances of his genuine belief in democratic values. The Reform Bill of 1833 was to Rammohun a step forward along the path of democracy. But a Marxist would say, "the proletariat and the petty-bourgeois, most prominent in the struggle for the 'reform5 were (ultimately) duped by the liberal bourgeoisie and did not secure electoral rights". The struggle for and against the Bill was actually between the monopoly right of the landed aristocracy and that of the industrial bourgeoisie. And Rammohun's disillusionment about the democratic character of the Bill was complete within one month of its introduction. In his letter to Woodford, he observed, ^he reformed Parliament has disappointed the people of England5.26 The proper perspective in which Rammohun Roy's role has to be assessed will emphasize the beginnings of a new superstructure based on a new socio-economic foundation. 1 Dr R C Mazumdar; On Rammohun Roy. The author raises many questions, the seeds of which were already sown in the Advanced History of India, pp 806-809. See also Glimpses of Bengal in the Nineteenth Century, 1963. 2 Raja Rammohun Roy, Prabandha Sangraha, Vol I (Bengali). s V P Varma, Modern Indian Political Thought. A Karl Marx, First Indian War of Independence p 16. 5 Ibid, p 36. 8 Dr K K Dutt, Renaissance, Nationalism and Social Change in India, 1965. Zacharia, Renascent India ,1933. 7 C F Andrews & Girija Mukherjee, The Rise and Growth of the Congress in India, 1938. « Op cit, Karl Marx, p 19. 0 Appeal to the King-in-Council. 10 Paras 3, 24, ^0, 31, 34 of the Appeal 11 Appeal to Lord Amherst on English Education, 11 December 1823. 12 Letter, Centenary Edition, 1933, Appendix B, p 119. 1 3 Justice Harrington, Sir Hyde East, S Buckingham and even Rammohun's London secretary Mr Arnot were all Benthamites. William Bentick accepted the Company job with a view to reforming India in accordance with Benthamite principles. In fact., just before his departure for India, the English Benthamites met in the house of Mr Grote and his farewell was 'the pure milk of the Benthamite word'. See Works of Bentham, Vol X, p 292. 1 ^ Eric Stockes, The English Utilitarians and India. \ 959. is KG Mitra, Memoir of Raja Dwarakanath Tagore, 1870 Quoted in p 35. ie L Wolf, Life ofRipon (Two Volumes), 1921. 17 3rd and 43rd paras of the Appeal to the King-in-Council. 18 The adult franchise was only granted in England in 1920. ' 9 13th para. Appeal to the King-in-Council. 20 Memorial to the Supreme Court, Calcutta. 21 & 22 Italics mine. 2 s Para 38 th. Appeal to the King-in-Council. 2* 'A Zamindar', Sambad Kaumudi (Bengali). 2 5 Muzaffar Ahmed, Prabandha Sankalan, (Bengali) p 167-207. s « Letter to Mr Woodford, 22nd August 1883.