Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Two Types of Social Reform Ideologies

Revivalist: Sought to restore and revive older traditions.

Reformist: Sought to remove superstition and harmful social practices.

Organization	Year	Founder	Region
Brahmo Samaj	1828	Raja Ram Mohan Roy	Bengal
Arya Samaj	1875	Swami Dayanand Saraswati	Bombay; Lahore branch 1877
Ramakrishna Mission	1897	Swami Vivekananda	Belur Math, Howrah
Satyashodhak Samaj	1873	Jyotirao Phule	Maharashtra
Prarthana Samaj	1867	Atmaram Pandurang	Bombay
Theosophical Society	1875	Blavatsky & Olcott	New York → Adyar, Madras
Aligarh Movement	1875	Sir Syed Ahmed Khan	Aligarh

Raja Ram Mohan Roy — The Pioneer

Father of Indian Renaissance | Father of Modern India

Profile

Birth: 22 May 1772, Radhanagar, Hooghly, Bengal.

Original Name: Ram Mohan (no "Raja" initially).

Death: 27 September 1833, Bristol, England.

Titles Given

"Raja" — Given by Mughal Emperor Akbar II.

"Yugdoot" — Called by Subhash Chandra Bose (in his book "The Indian Struggle").

"Father of Indian Renaissance" and "Father of Modern India".

Books & Journals

Mirat-ul-Akbar — Persian journal (mirror of news).

Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhiddin — First book; rational critique of idol worship.

Precepts of Jesus — About Christianity.

Samvad Kaumudi — Bengali magazine.

Institutions Founded

Atmiya Sabha (1815) — Oppose idol worship, caste system, rituals.

Hindu College (1817) — David Hare and several local patrons; Roy supported modern education.

Vedanta College (1825) — Monotheism + Western curriculum.

Brahmo Samaj (1828) — First major reform organization.

Major Achievement — Anti-Sati Bill

Anti-Sati Bill (1829) — Passed as Regulation XVII. Signed by Governor-General William Bentinck.

Born 1772 — Died 1833 Bristol "Raja" = Akbar II | "Yugdoot" = Bose Anti-Sati 1829 = Regulation XVII Brahmo Samaj 1828

Brahmo Samaj — Timeline & Splits

1828

Brahmo Samaj Established — Founder: Raja Ram Mohan Roy. First major reform organization. Based on Reason + Vedas/Upanishads. Propagated monotheism.

1839

Tattvabodhini Sabha — Founder: Debendranath Tagore. Published "Tattvabodhini Magazine" in Bengali.

1857

Keshab Chandra Sen joined Brahmo Samaj. Started expansion work.

1866

The Great Split (Division):
Part 1 → Adi Brahmo Samaj — Founder: Debendranath Tagore.
Part 2 → Indian Brahmo Samaj — Founder: Keshab Chandra Sen.

1868

Brahmo tabernacle foundation laid in 1868; consecrated 1869. New Dispensation was a later stage.

1870

Keshab Indian Reform Association established's.

1878

Sadharan Brahmo Samaj — Formed after split from Keshab Chandra Sen.

Keshab Chandra Sen — Profile

Birth: 1838, Calcutta.

Contribution: Expansion of Brahmo Samaj + social & educational development.

1828 = RMMR founds Brahmo Samaj 1866 = Great Split Adi Brahmo = Debendranath Indian Brahmo = Keshab Chandra Sen 1878 = Sadharan Brahmo Samaj

Arya Samaj

1875 | Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Feature	Details
Established	1875 (Bombay)
Founder	Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Major Centres	Founded Bombay 1875; influential Lahore branch from 1877
Ideology	Supporter of Varna System (merit-based). Propounder of Shuddhi Movement.
Language	Recognition to Hindi as National Language
Criticism	Chirol’s “Father of Indian Unrest” referred to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, not Arya Samaj.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati — Profile

Birth: 1824, Gujarat. Childhood name: Mulshankar.

Slogan: "Go back to the Vedas for Indians."

Books: Satyarth Prakash (first published 1875), Rigvedadibhashya Bhumika.

1882 — Cow Protection Committee (strengthening of cow protection movement).

Death: 30th October 1883, Ajmer.

Educational Institutions (Arya Samaj Offshoots)

Institution	Year	Founder	Philosophy
D.A.V. School, Lahore (later developed into a college)	1886	Lala Hansraj (honorary headmaster)	Blend of Modern Education + Vedic values.
Gurukul Kangri University	1902	Swami Shraddhanand	Revived the gurukul model and Vedic learning, with other subjects including English; near Haridwar.

1875 Bombay → Lahore branch 1877 Mulshankar = childhood name of Dayanand Satyarth Prakash published 1875 DAV school 1886 = Hansraj, honorary headmaster Chirol’s “Father of Indian Unrest” = Tilak

Prarthana Samaj

1867 | Bombay

Established: 1867 CE, Bombay.

Founder: Atmaram Pandurang; M.G. Ranade was a prominent leader, known as “Socrates of Maharashtra”.

Objectives: Monotheism, oppose caste system, oppose child marriage, promote widow remarriage + women's education.

Ramakrishna Mission + Swami Vivekananda

1897 | Belur Math, Howrah

Established: 1897 CE. Founder: Swami Vivekananda.

HQ: Belur Math, Howrah. Advaita Ashrama at Mayavati is a branch, not a second headquarters.

Guru: Ramakrishna Paramhansa — priest of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple.

1893 — World Religion Conference, Chicago (famous speech).

1894 — Vedanta Society formed.

Memorial: Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

Vivekananda Profile

Born: 12 January 1863, Calcutta. Real name: Narendranath Dutta.

12 January = National Youth Day; declared 1984, annually observed from 1985.

Famous Books: Rajyoga, Karmayoga.

Death: 4th July 1902.

Satyashodhak Samaj

1873 | Jyotirao Phule | Maharashtra

Established: 1873 CE, Maharashtra.

Founder: Jyotirao Govind Rao Phule (Jyotiba Phule).

Objective: Attaining social rights for Dalit/lower castes.

Books: Gulamgiri (1873), Sarvajanik Satyadharma.

Savitribai Phule — pioneering woman teacher in modern India; with Jyotirao opened a girls’ school at Bhide Wada, Pune, 1848.

Theosophical Society

1875 | New York → Adyar, Madras

Established: 1875 CE, New York.

Founders: Madam Blavatsky & Colonel Olcott.

HQ (India): Adyar, Madras.

Key Leader in India: Annie Besant.

1898 — Annie Besant founded Central Hindu College.

1916 — Led Home Rule Movement.

Henry Vivian Derozio — Young Bengal Movement

Life: 1809–1831 (Died at 22, Cholera).

role: Teacher at Hindu College (1826–31).

Movement: Initiated Young Bengal Movement — radical reform, free thought, rationalism.

Other Social Reform Organizations

Organization	Year	Founder / Key Facts
Dharma Sabha	1830	Radhakanta Dev. Orthodox — supported Sati, opposed RMMR's reforms.
Paramhansa Mandali	1849	Dadoba Pandurang / Durgaram Mehtaji. Bombay. Secret society — caste abolition.
Seva Sadan	1908	Behramji Malabari and Dayaram Gidumal, Bombay.
Dev Samaj	1887	Shivnarayan Agnihotri. HQ: Lahore.
Indian National Social Conference	1887	M.G. Ranade + Raghunath Rao. Social-reform meetings alongside Congress; closely associated, rather than a formal party department.
Bharat Dharma Mahamandal	1887	Pt. Deendayal Sharma (Haridwar). Madan Mohan Malaviya associated. Obj: Protection of Sanatan Dharma.
Swaminarayan Sect	1801 (succession)	Swami Sahajanand (Swaminarayan), Gujarat; succeeded Ramanand Swami in 1801.
Radhaswami Sect	1861	Shiv Dayal Singh (Soamiji Maharaj), Agra.
Telugu Social Reform	19th century	Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu advocated widow remarriage in Telugu-speaking areas.
Servants of India Society	1905	Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Training youth for public service.
Social Service League	1911	Narayan Malhar Joshi. Data collection + social service.
Seva Samiti	1914	H.N. Kunzru, Prayagraj. Social service awareness.
Ved Samaj	1864	Madras; inspired by Brahmo Samaj. Promoted widow remarriage and women’s education, opposed caste distinctions.

Aligarh Movement

1875

Initiator: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

School 1875 → MAO College 1877 → AMU 1920. Promoted modern education and social advancement among Indian Muslims.

Deoband Movement

1866–67

Leaders: Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi

Place: Deoband, Saharanpur

Objective: train religious scholars. Mahmud Hasan, known as Shaykh al-Hind, was a prominent Deoband scholar.

Ahmadiyya Movement

1889

Leader: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

Region: Punjab

Objective: Restore the true form of Islam.

Rahnumai Mazdayasan Sabha

1851 (Parsi Reform)

Founders: Dadabhai Naoroji, Naoroji Fardunji, S.S. Bengali

Place: Bombay

Parsi religious reform movement.

School 1875 → MAO College 1877 → AMU 1920 Deoband 1866 — Mahmud Hasan, Shaykh al-Hind Ahmadiyya 1889 = Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Rahnumai 1851 = Dadabhai Naoroji (Parsi)

Movements Against Untouchability

Movement	Year	Founder(s)
Aravipuram Movement	1888	Shri Narayana Guru
Kerala Temple-access Campaigns	1920s–1930s	Vaikom: approach roads (1924–25); Guruvayur: temple access (1931–32)
Praja Mitra Mandali	Early 20th century	Mysore non-Brahmin movement: opportunities and representation
Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam	1903	Narayana Guru, Dr Palpu and Kumaran Asan
Justice Party Movement	1916	C. Natesa Mudaliar, T.M. Nair, P. Theagaraya Chetty
Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha	1924	B.R. Ambedkar
Vaikom Satyagraha	1924	K.P. Kesava Menon
Self Respect Movement	1925	E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar)
Harijan Sevak Sangh	1932	Mahatma Gandhi

Narayana Guru: Aravipuram 1888; SNDP 1903 Ambedkar = Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha 1924 Periyar = Self Respect Movement 1925 Gandhi = Harijan Sevak Sangh 1932

Major Reformers — Quick Reference

Balshashtri Jambhekar — Major social reformer of Mumbai. Pioneer of Marathi Journalism. Magazines: Darpan, Digdarshan.

Gopal Hari Deshmukh — Nickname: "Lokhitwadi" (well-wisher of the people).

Sir William Jones — Founder of Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784 CE).

Vishnushastri Chiplunkar — Magazine: Nibandhmala (started 1874).

Satnami Movement — Objective: Improve social condition of Leather workers.

Mahadev Govind Ranade

"Socrates of Maharashtra" — Joined Prarthana Samaj 1869. Founded Indian National Social Conference 1887 (with Raghunath Rao). Called INC's "Social Wing".

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Founded Servants of India Society (1905) — training youth for public service, famine relief, tribal upliftment.

Trap #1 — Do not confuse Ram Mohan Roy's two titles

The title "Raja" was conferred by Mughal Emperor Akbar II[cite: 8], while Subhas Chandra Bose called him "Yugdoot"[cite: 8]. The titles came from different sources.

Trap #2 — Brahmo Samaj 1828 vs Brahmo Sabha

before Brahmo Sabha was (1828 original name) → then Brahmo Samaj became[cite: 8]. Atmiya Sabha (1815) → Brahmo Samaj (1828) → Great Split (1866)[cite: 8]. Sequence remember.

Trap #3 — Adi Brahmo vs Indian Brahmo

Adi Brahmo Samaj = Debendranath Tagore (1866 split)[cite: 8]. Indian Brahmo Samaj = Keshab Chandra Sen (1866 split)[cite: 8]. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj = 1878 (Keshab different from occurred)[cite: 8].

Trap #4 — Lahore Branch and DAV School

Arya Samaj = Bombay 1875; Lahore branch = 1877; DAV school at Lahore = 1886, later developed into a college.

Trap #5 — Theosophical Society's founding place

Theosophical Society 1875 New York in establish occurred — in India not[cite: 8]! in India HQ = Adyar, Madras[cite: 8]. Annie Besant = Indian leader, founder not[cite: 8].

Trap #6 — Dharma Sabha RMMR's against was

Dharma Sabha (1830), founded by Radhakanta Dev, was an orthodox organisation. It supported Sati and opposed the reforms of Raja Ram Mohan Roy[cite: 8]. Do not confuse its position.

Trap #7 — AMU formation

Sir Syed: school 1875 → MAO College 1877 → AMU 1920. Distinguish all three stages.

Trap #8 — Vivekananda birth date = National Youth Day

Swami Vivekananda born 12 January 1863[cite: 8]. 12 January = National Youth Day (observed since 1985; declared 1984)[cite: 8]. Real name = Narendranath Dutta[cite: 8]. Died 4 July 1902[cite: 8].

Trap #9 — Savitribai Phule's title

Savitribai Phule pioneered girls’ education with Jyotirao at Bhide Wada, Pune, 1848. Gulamgiri was published 1873, the year Satyashodhak Samaj was founded.

Trap #10 — Socrates of Maharashtra = Ranade

M.G. Ranade "Socrates of Maharashtra" is called[cite: 8]. That Prarthana Samaj (1867) in 1869 in joined and Indian National Social Conference (1887)'s founder also the[cite: 8].