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regular-article-logo Friday, 22 November 2024

Yesterdate: This day from Kolkata’s past, November 1, 1796

Scottish clergyman and abolitionist William Adam was born on this day

Chandrima S. Bhattacharya Published 01.11.24, 09:34 AM
William Adam

William Adam Sourced by the Telegraph

Scottish clergyman and abolitionist William Adam was born on this day. He arrived in Calcutta in 1818, he was in Serampore as a Baptist missionary. He learnt Sanskrit and Bengali and worked on a translation of the New Testament.

Meeting reformer Raja Rammohun Roy was a turning point for Adam. After Adam converted to Unitarianism, Roy, with a few Indians and Europeans, established the Calcutta Unitarian Committee (1821-1828), which paved the way for Brahmo Samaj. Commissioned by the colonial government, Adam prepared three detailed reports between 1835 and 1838 on the state of education in Bengal.

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He left for the US, where he would be appointed teacher of Oriental linguistics and work as an abolitionist. His contribution to the anti-slavery movement is well-remembered. He said the British abolition of slavery was incomplete till India was free. He was appointed Unitarian minister in Toronto and Chicago. He died in England.

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