Major Hindu reform movements

Brahmo Samaj

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is called the "Father of Modern India".

Brahmo Samaj was founded in 1828 to fight idolatry and polytheism.

The movement promoted monotheism, rationalism, and human dignity.

It rejected the divine authority of the Vedas, unlike other movements.

Debendranath Tagore revived the Brahmo Samaj in 1842 after a period of decline.

Keshab Chandra Sen's radical ideas caused a major split in the Brahmo Samaj in 1866.

The Adi Brahmo Samaj, led by Debendranath Tagore, maintained a more conservative
stance.

The Brahmo Samaj of India, under Keshab Chandra Sen, embraced more radical reforms.

Akshay Kumar Datta, a Tattvabodhini Sabha member, advocated for a purely rationalist
approach.

The Brahmo Samaj was influential but largely confined to the English-educated middle
class.

Arya Samaj

Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.

He gave the famous call, "Go back to the Vedas," believing them to be infallible.

The Arya Samaj advocated for a purified Hinduism and opposed polytheism and image
worship.

The movement launched the Shuddhi movement to reconvert Hindus who had converted
to other faiths.

The Arya Samaj focused on social equality, including the upliftment of women and lower
castes.

It promoted education through a network of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and

colleges.

The movement opposed child marriage and advocated for widow remarriage.

Post-Dayananda, the Arya Samaj split into two factions: the DAV group and the Gurukul
group.

The Arya Samaj had a strong nationalistic undertone, emphasizing Hindu identity.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati is sometimes called the "Martin Luther of India".

Ramakrishna Mission

The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897.

The mission aimed to spread the teachings of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Ramakrishna taught that all religions lead to the same ultimate reality.

Vivekananda emphasized selfless service (seva) as a form of spiritual practice.

The Ramakrishna Mission opposed the caste system and emphasized humanitarian work.

Vivekananda introduced Vedantic philosophy to the West at the Parliament of the World's
Religions in 1893.

The mission established hospitals, schools, and relief centers across India.

Sister Nivedita, an Irish disciple of Vivekananda, was deeply involved in the mission's work.

The mission combined modern scientific temper with India's spiritual traditions.

Vivekananda's message inspired a new generation of nationalists and social workers.

Prarthana Samaj

The Prarthana Samaj was founded in Bombay in 1867 by Atmaram Pandurang.

Keshab Chandra Sen of the Brahmo Samaj influenced its formation.

It focused on social reform rather than religious doctrine.

Mahadev Govind Ranade was a prominent leader of the Prarthana Samaj.

The Samaj championed widow remarriage, women's education, and the abolition of the
caste system.

It advocated for a monotheistic belief in God.

The movement's followers included scholars and intellectuals like R.C. Bhandarkar.
Veda Samaj in Madras shared similar aims and was influenced by the Brahmo Samaj.

The Prarthana Samaj promoted reform through persuasion and gradual change.

It was active in Maharashtra and later expanded to South India.

Other Hindu movements

The Dharma Sabha, founded by Radhakanta Deb, was an orthodox movement opposing
Brahmo Samaj's reforms.

The Young Bengal Movement, led by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, promoted radical, free-
thinking ideals.

Derozians were inspired by the French Revolution and questioned traditional social norms.

The Bharat Dharma Mahamandala was an orthodox organization opposing the new reform
movements.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu initiated widow remarriage in the Madras Presidency.

The Servants of India Society was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905 to train
nationalists for social service.

The Theosophical Society was founded by Madam H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel H.S. Olcott.

Annie Besant played a key role in making the Theosophical Society an all-India movement.

The Theosophical Society revived Hindu, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian beliefs and promoted
universal brotherhood.

The Sanatan Dharma Sabha and other similar orthodox groups defended traditional
Hinduism against reformers.

Muslim reform movements

The Wahabi Movement aimed to restore Islam's purity, opposing the British and internal
corruption.

In Bengal, the Faraizi Movement, led by Haji Shariat-Allah, focused on the pillars of Islam
and rejected non-Islamic practices.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan spearheaded the Aligarh Movement to promote modern education
among Muslims, founding the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College. He advocated for
Western science and initially supported Hindu-Muslim unity.

The orthodox Deoband Movement, established by Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi, opposed

Western education.

The Ahmadiyya Movement, founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, promoted universal

humanity and liberal Western education while rejecting violent jihad.

The Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha was a Parsi reform group co-founded by Dadabhai
Naoroji.

Sikh reform movements

The Singh Sabha Movement in Amritsar sought to revitalize Sikhism and promote modern
education among Sikhs, using Punjabi publications.

This movement led to the Akali Movement, which worked to free Sikh gurdwaras from
corrupt control, resulting in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925.

The Nirankari Movement emphasized proper Sikh practices, while the Namdhari or Kuka
Movement opposed idol worship and Brahminical rituals.
Women's and lower caste movements

Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to uplift lower castes, coining the term
"Dalit" and opposing the caste system and priesthood.

His wife, Savitribai Phule, was a pioneering female educator who opened one of India's first
girls' schools and established shelters for widows.

Sree Narayana Guru founded the SNDP movement in Kerala for the Ezhava community,
advocating "One Caste, One Religion, One God for All" and fighting for temple entry rights.

E.V. Ramaswamy 'Periyar' started the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu against
Brahminical dominance.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar founded the Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha and the All India Depressed Class
Federation for depressed classes.

Other movements included the Vokkaligara Sangha and the Justice Movement, both
opposing Brahminical dominance in South India.

The Indian Social Conference served as the social reform wing of the Indian National
Congress.

Behramji Malabari founded Seva Sadan to assist exploited women.

Pandita Ramabai Saraswati established Arya Mahila Samaj for women's education and
Sharda Sadan for high-caste Hindu widows.

Early women's organizations included the one formed by Sarla Devi Chaudhrani and the
National Council of Women in India by Mehribai Tata.

Tarabai Shinde authored the feminist text 'Stri Purush Tulana'.

The All India Women's Conference was founded by Margaret Cousins.

Women like Kadambini Ganguly were among India's first female doctors and reformers.

Causes and characteristics

Western ideas, the rediscovery of India's past, and the rise of a new middle class fueled
these movements.

The movements were a blend of reformist (like Brahmo Samaj) and revivalist (like Arya
Samaj) approaches.

Primarily urban and middle-class, reformers used education, persuasion, and sometimes
collaborated with the British for legislative change.

Social reform was often seen as a prerequisite for political reform.

The press and vernacular literature were vital in spreading reformist ideas, facing
opposition from orthodox groups.

The movements emphasized individual emancipation from priestly control, challenged

ritualism, and promoted a rational, secular outlook.

They sought to balance tradition and modernity.

Some movements, like Aligarh and Arya Samaj, inadvertently contributed to communal
divisions.

The reforms tackled issues like Sati, child marriage, and caste, promoting religious
tolerance.
Social evils addressed

Key achievements included the abolition of Sati (campaigned by Ram Mohan Roy) and the
legalization of widow remarriage (championed by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar).

Legislation like the Age of Consent Act and the Sarda Act raised the minimum age of
marriage.

Reformers also opposed female infanticide, polygamy, the purdah system, and the
Devadasi system.

Combating untouchability and caste discrimination was a central focus.

Reformers highlighted the plight of widows and women, advocating for their property
rights and legal protection.

They challenged the priesthood's authority and blind adherence to superstition,

emphasizing human dignity and the dignity of labor.

Addressing religious fanaticism and communal tensions was also part of the reform
agenda.

Educational reforms

Western education was a significant influence, leading reformers to establish numerous

schools and colleges.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar integrated Western subjects into traditional curricula.

Figures like Henry Vivian Derozio and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan promoted radical ideas and
scientific knowledge.

Reformers aimed to make education accessible to all, believing it essential for progress and
dispelling ignorance.

Female education was a priority, with pioneers like Savitribai Phule leading the way.

Legacy and impact

The reform movements were a precursor to Indian nationalism, challenging colonial

narratives and fostering national pride.

Social reform became intertwined with the freedom struggle.

The movements created a platform for inter-community dialogue and their legacy is seen
in India's Constitution.

They promoted a rational, critical, and scientific temper, guiding India towards modernity
while preserving core values.

The movements uplifted women and marginalized communities and represented a period
of self-reflection for Indian society.

Miscellaneous

The 19th-century reforms are often called the Indian Renaissance.

Ram Mohan Roy's Atmiya Sabha and Debendranath Tagore's Tattvabodhini Sabha were
important precursors.

The Faraizi Revolt was an early anti-landlord and anti-British action.

The Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam was a Muslim reform group in Punjab.

The Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 was a major outcome of the Akali Movement.
Ramabai Ranade worked for women's rights in Western India.

The Deccan Education Society was founded by Tilak and Agarkar.

The movements included both reformist and revivalist tendencies, with religious revivalism
sometimes leading to communalism.

Efforts were also made to revive indigenous languages and traditions.

The movements helped define a modern Indian identity based on equality and justice.

Reforms impacted various communities and mobilized public opinion against oppressive
practices.

The movements were a powerful example of internal self-correction.

Continuing the list

The movements institutionalized progressive values and pushed for legal reforms
addressing religious and social hierarchy.

Legal reforms and challenges fought for women's rights and legal equality, reflecting
changing middle-class attitudes.

This period was crucial for introspection and self-critique, with reform efforts continuing
into the 20th century.

The movements were a complex response to colonialism and modernity.

Reformers like Periyar promoted rationalism, questioning the moral basis of inequality and
using scripture to support their arguments.
Intense ideological debates fostered a culture of critical analysis.

Some movements, like Arya Samaj, were more confrontational towards other religions.

The movements helped articulate a modern Indian identity and emphasized service to
humanity.

Education was seen as crucial for dispelling ignorance.

Brahmo Samaj promoted universalism, Arya Samaj advocated Vedic principles, and
Ramakrishna Mission emphasized religious harmony.

Reforms varied regionally, and the National Social Conference united diverse groups.

More points

The movements instilled pride in Indian civilization and prepared society for modernity.

They linked social and political progress and used the press to critique social evils and
colonial policies.

The movements created a progressive middle class and helped women engage in the
independence movement.

Reforms addressed the need for religion to adapt, influencing post-independence laws like
the Hindu Code Bill.

The movements fostered respect for legal rights over tradition and shaped India's national
consciousness.

They emphasized human dignity, individual worth, and a focus on the worldly rather than
solely spiritual.

This period was crucial for introspection and self-critique.

The movements emancipated individuals from fear-based obedience and encouraged a

rational approach to religion.

They addressed both specific social practices and broader ideological questions.

The movements fostered critical analysis and helped articulate a modern Indian identity.

The concept of service to humanity was central to some movements.

Education was viewed as the path from ignorance to knowledge.

The movements laid the groundwork for an independent and progressive India.

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