Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Two Types of Social Reform Ideologies

Revivalist: Paramparaon ko wapas lana — traditions ko revive karna.

Reformist: Andh-vishwas hatana — superstitions aur evil practices remove karna.

Organization	Year	Founder	Region
Brahmo Samaj	1828	Raja Ram Mohan Roy	Bengal
Arya Samaj	1875	Swami Dayanand Saraswati	Bombay → Lahore
Ramakrishna Mission	1897	Swami Vivekananda	Belur Math, Kolkata
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 (1814) — Oppose idol worship, caste system, rituals.

Hindu College (1817) — With David Hare.

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.

1858

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

Keshab Chandra Sen ne Tabernacle of New Dispensation established ki.

1870

Keshab ne Indian Reform Association established ki.

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
HQ	Initially Bombay → Shifted to Lahore (since 1877)
Ideology	Supporter of Varna System (merit-based). Propounder of Shuddhi Movement.
Language	Recognition to Hindi as National Language
Criticism	Valentine Chirol called it "Father of Indian Unrest"

Swami Dayanand Saraswati — Profile

Birth: 1824, Gujarat. Childhood name: Mulshankar.

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

Books: Satyarth Prakash (1874), 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. College, Lahore (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College)	1886	Lala Hansraj	Blend of Modern Education + Vedic values.
Gurukul Kangri University	1902	Swami Shraddhanand	Pure traditional Vedic education. Located in Haridwar.

1875 Bombay → 1877 Lahore (HQ) Mulshankar = childhood name of Dayanand Satyarth Prakash 1874 DAV 1886 = Lala Hansraj Valentine Chirol = "Father of Indian Unrest"

Prarthana Samaj

1867 | Bombay

Established: 1867 CE, Bombay.

Founders: Atmaram Pandurang + M.G. Ranade (joined 1869). Ranade = "Socrates of India".

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

Ramakrishna Mission + Swami Vivekananda

1897 | Belur Math, Kolkata

Established: 1897 CE. Founder: Swami Vivekananda.

HQ: 1. Belur Math (Kolkata). 2. Almora (Uttarakhand).

Guru: Ramakrishna Paramhansa — priest of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple.

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

1896 — Vedanta Society formed.

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

Vivekananda Profile

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

12 Jan = National Youth Day (celebrated since 1984).

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 (1872), Sarvajanik Satyadharma.

Savitribai Phule — Key associate. Title: First Woman Teacher of India. Built school for lower castes 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	1885	B.M. Malabari.
Dev Samaj	1887	Shivnarayan Agnihotri. HQ: Lahore.
Indian National Social Conference	1887	M.G. Ranade + Raghunath Rao. Called "Social Wing of INC". Anti-child marriage + women's education.
Bharat Dharma Mahamandal	1887	Pt. Deendayal Sharma (Haridwar). Madan Mohan Malaviya associated. Obj: Protection of Sanatan Dharma.
Swaminarayan Sect	1804	Swami Sahajanand (Gujarat).
Radhaswami Sect	1861	Tulsi Ram (Shivdayal Sahib), Agra.
Madras Hindu Association	1892	Veersalingam Pantulu. Social Purification — against Devdasi system.
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	K. Shridharalu Naidu, Madras. Called "South India's Brahmo Samaj".

Aligarh Movement

1875

Initiator: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Founded Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College 1875 → became Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) 1920. Objective: Reform evils in Islam.

Deoband Movement

1866–67

Leaders: Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi

Place: Deoband, Saharanpur

Objective: Train religious leaders for Muslim society. Abul Kalam Azad was associated with this movement.

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.

AMU = 1875 college → 1920 university Deoband 1866 — Azad associated Ahmadiyya 1889 = Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Rahnumai 1851 = Dadabhai Naoroji (Parsi)

Movements Against Untouchability

Movement	Year	Founder(s)
Aravipuram Movement	1888	Shri Narayana Guru
Temple Entry Movement	1902	Shri Narayana Guru, T.K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan
Praja Mitra Mandali	1902	C.R. Reddy
Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam	1902–03	Shri Narayana Guru
Justice Party Movement	1916–17	C.N. Mudaliar, T.N. Nair, P. Tyagaraja 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 = 3 movements (1888, 1902, 1902–03) 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 India" — 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 — Ram Mohan Roy ke 2 titles confuse karo mat

"Raja" = Mughal Emperor Akbar II ne diya[cite: 8]. "Yugdoot" = Subhash Chandra Bose ne kaha[cite: 8]. Dono alag sources hain.

Trap #2 — Brahmo Samaj 1828 vs Brahmo Sabha

Pehle Brahmo Sabha tha (1828 original name) → phir Brahmo Samaj ban gaya[cite: 8]. Atmiya Sabha (1814) → Brahmo Samaj (1828) → Great Split (1866)[cite: 8]. Sequence yaad rakho.

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 se alag hua)[cite: 8].

Trap #4 — Arya Samaj ki HQ shift

Arya Samaj founded: 1875 Bombay[cite: 8]. HQ shift to Lahore 1877[cite: 8]. DAV College bhi Lahore mein 1886[cite: 8]. Dono Lahore se link hain.

Trap #5 — Theosophical Society ka founding place

Theosophical Society 1875 New York mein establish hua — India mein nahi[cite: 8]! India mein HQ = Adyar, Madras[cite: 8]. Annie Besant = Indian leader, founder nahi[cite: 8].

Trap #6 — Dharma Sabha RMMR ke against tha

Dharma Sabha (1830, Radhakanta Dev) Orthodox organization tha — Sati ko support kiya aur RMMR ke reforms ke against tha[cite: 8]. Confuse mat karna.

Trap #7 — AMU formation

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ne pehle Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College 1875 banaya → baad mein yahi Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) 1920 bana[cite: 8]. Dono dates yaad rakho.

Trap #8 — Vivekananda birth date = National Youth Day

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

Trap #9 — Savitribai Phule ka title

Savitribai Phule = First Woman Teacher of India[cite: 8]. School for lower castes: 1848[cite: 8]. Jyotiba Phule ka book Gulamgiri = 1872 tha (Satyashodhak Samaj 1873 se pehle likhi)[cite: 8].

Trap #10 — Socrates of India = Ranade

M.G. Ranade ko "Socrates of India" kaha jata hai[cite: 8]. Woh Prarthana Samaj (1867) mein 1869 mein joined aur Indian National Social Conference (1887) ke founder bhi the[cite: 8].