www.gradeup.

co
www.gradeup.co

Socio-Religious Reform Movement

The dawn of the 19th century witnessed the birth of a new vision a modern vision among some
enlightened sections of the Indian society.

- Process of re-awakening, sometimes, but not with full justification, defined as the
“Renaissance”, did not always follow the intended line and gave rise to some undesirable
by-products as well.
- Impact of British rule on Indian society & culture was extensively different from earlier
times.

- Most of the earlier rulers who came to India had settled within her frontiers, were absorbed
by her superior culture and became part of the land and its people. On the other hand, the
British conquest was different, and it came at a time when India, in contrast to an
enlightened Europe of the 18th century affected in every aspect by science arid scientific
outlook, presented the picture of a stagnant civilisation.

- Indian society in the 19th century was caught in the vicious web created by religious
superstitions and social obscurantism. Hinduism became a compound of magic and
superstition. Priests exercised an overwhelming and, indeed, unhealthy impact on the minds
of the people.

- Social conditions were equally depressing. Position of women reached its lowest position.
Another weakening factor was caste. It sought to maintain a system of isolation.

- The impact of modern Western education & culture and consciousness of defeat by a
foreign power gave birth to a new awakening.

- Youth developed a revulsion for Hindu religion & culture, gave up old religious ideas and
traditions.

- Social Base: The social base of the upcoming quest was the newly emerging middle class
& traditionally as well as western-educated intellectuals.

- Ideological Base: The important intellectual principles which gave these reform
movements an ideological unity were “rationalism”, religious universalism and
humanism.
www.gradeup.co

This gave rise to various Religious reform movement in India:

Socio-Religious Associated people Details

Movement
Swaminarayan Swami Sahajanand - Belief in a theistic god,
Sampradyaga; (original name: protest against
-Gujarat (early Gyanashyama) epicurean practices of
19th century) 1781-1830 Vaishnavism;
- rescribed a moral code.

Brahmo Samaj Raja Rammohan Roy - Propagated the

(earlier Atmiya (1772-1833) monotheism, opposed
Sabha-1814); (Books- A Gift to incarnation, meditation,
-Founded in Monotheists (1809), sacrifices, the existence
Calcutta (late Percepts of Jesus of priests, idolatry,
18th-early 19th (1820) ;Debendra-Nath superstition, sati; sought
century) Tagore—later formed for reforms in Hindu
Adi Brahmo Samaj; society.
Keshub Chandra Sen— - Journals by
later associated with Rammohan Roy:
Brahmo Samaj of India Sambad Kaumudi
(secessionists from (1821), Mirat-ul-
group: Sadharan Akbar; by
Brahmo Debendranath
Samaj) Tagore: Tattva
Bodhini Patrika;
Keshub Chandra Sen
brought out Indian
Mirror;
- Sadharan Brahmo
Samaj brought out the
Tattva Kaumudi, The
Indian Messenger,
The Sanjibari, the
Navyabharat, and
Prabasi.

Young Bengal Henry Louis Vivian Opposed the vices in the

Movement Derozio (founder), society; believed in truth,
(1826-1831) Rasikkrishna Mullick, freedom and reason; brought
www.gradeup.co

Tarachand Chucker- out the Jnanavesan (journal)

Vati, Krishanmohan and
Banerjee established the Society for the
Acquisition of the General
Knowledge (Derozio edited
Hesperus, The Calcutta
Library Gazette and he was
associated with India
Gazette).

Dharma Sabha; Radhakant Deb (1794- Emerged to counter the

Calcutta 1876) (founder) Brahmo Samaj, aimed at
(1830) protection of orthodoxy,
condemned radical and liberal
reforms helped in the spread of
western education.

Satyashodhak Jyotiba Phule To fight caste system

Samaj (Truth Books- Sarvajanik
seeker’s society) Satyadharma &
Gulamgiri
Wahabi Movement Syed Ahmed of Rai Popularised the teachings of
(beginning in Bareilly (founder); Waliullah;
Rohilkhand— Vilayat Ali, Shah opposed the British and fought
spread in Kabul, Muhammad Hussain, against Sikhs; stressed the role
NWFP, Bengal, Farhat Hussain (all from of individual conscience in
the Central Patna); Inayat Ali religion.
Provinces; Sittana
in NWFP—
head-quarters from
1850 onwards
(19th century—
founded in 1820;
suppression by the
British by 1870)

Namdhari or Kuka Bhai Balak Singh and For political and social
Movement Baba Ram Singh reforms amongst the Sikhs.
(among Sikhs); (founders)
NWF Province and
Bhaini (Ludhiana
district, Punjab)
(1841-1871)
www.gradeup.co

Taayuuni Karamat Ali Jaunpuri Religious teachings of Shah

Movement; Waliullah shaped the basis;
founded in opposed Faraizi movement.
Dacca (1839)

Students Literary -- Debated popular science and

and Scientific social questions.
Society (1848)

Paramhans Dadoba Pandurang, Emphasised unity of godhead;

Mandali (1849) Mehtaji Durgaram against caste rules.

Rahanumai S.S. Bengali, Naoroji To improve the social

Mazdayasanan Furdonji, condition of Parsis and restore
Sabha Dadabhai Naoroji and the purity of Zoroastrianism.
(religious reform others Their journal was Rast Goftar
association for (Truth Teller). Monthly
Parsis—1851) Journal- Jagat Mithra

Radhaswami Tulsi Ram or Shiv Dayal Preached belief in one

Movement; Saheb supreme being,
founded in (Swamiji Maharaj— the guru’s supreme position,
Agra (1861) founder) simple social life for the
believers (the Satsang).
Stress on achieving spiritual
fulfilment without giving up
material life.

The Deoband Muhammad Qasim A revivalist movement whose

School of Islamic Nanaytavi religious teachings
Theology (at (1832-80) and Rashid encompassed a liberal
Deoband Ahmad interpretation of Islam; for
Saharanpur, Gangohi (founders),moral, religious upliftment;
UP—1866) Maulana Abul did not take to western
Kalam Azad, Mahmud- influences in the education.
ul-Hasan, Opposed Syed Ahmed Khan’s
Shibli Numani views and welcome the
formation of INC.
Prarthana samaj Atmaram Pandurang Worship and reform of society
founded in (founder), through an emphasis on
Bombay (1867) monotheism, uplift of women,
www.gradeup.co

Govind Ranade (chief the abolition of caste

mentor), R.G. discrimination and religious
Bhandarkar orthodoxy.

Indian Reform Keshub Chandra Sen To create a public opinion

Association; against the child marriages; for
Calcutta the uplift of the social status of
(1870) women; to legalise Brahmo
type of marriage in the society.

Arya Samaj: Dayanand Saraswati

Asserted Hindu faith over
founded in (originally Mula other religions, within a
Bombay(1875) Shankar—founder) revivalist framework,
Book- denounced rites, Brahmins’
Satyarth
Prakash supremacy. Opposed
Hinduism preached by
Brahmins. Dayanand Anglo
Vedic school were established.
Aligarh Movement Syed Ahmed Khan Religious reform through an
(The Aligarh (1817-1898— emphasis on the principle of
School grew into founder of the Aligarh enquiry in religion favoured
Muhammadan School scientific and rational outlook,
Anglo-Oriental recognised Western education,
College in 1877 aimed towards social reform;
and later the
Aligarh Muslim Sir Syed Ahmed founded a
University scientific society in 1864,
(1875—the year of Tahzib-al-akhlaq:(1870)—
founding the which was an Urdu journal.
Aligarh
School)

The Theosophical Madame H.P. Blavatsky Drew inspiration from

Society— founded (1831-91), Upanishads, philosophy of
in New York but a Russian, and Col. H.S. Vedanta, etc. to aim at
headquarters Olcott religious revival and social
shifted to Adyar, (1832-1907), an reform.
near Madras American
(1875) (founders); Annie
Besant (one of its
presidents)
www.gradeup.co

Deccan Education M.G. Ranade, V.G. For contributing to the

Society; Pune Chibdonkar, education and culture in
(1884) G.G. Agarkar (founders) western India; established
Ferguson College, Pune (in
1885).

Seva Sadan; Behramji M. Malabari Against child marriages,

Bombay forced the widowhood;
(1885) to help socially exploited
women in society.

Indian National M.G. Ranade, Aimed at Social reform

Social Conference; Raghunath Rao
Bombay (1887)

Deva Samaj; Shiva Narain Agnihotri

Religious ideas closer to the
Lahore (1887) Brahmo Samaj;
favoured a social code of
conduct which was against the
bribe-taking, gambling.
Ahmadiya Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Defended Islam from attacks
Movement; (1839-1908)— by Christian missionaries &
Qadiani in founder Hindu revivalists in the
Punjab (1889) society;
belief in a universal religion;
Ghulam Ahmad proclaimed
himself as a Messiah and as an
incarnation of Lord Krishna.

Madras Hindu Viresialingam Pantulu Social purity movement;

Association; against the devadasi system
Madras and oppression of widows.
(1892)

Ramakrishna Vivekananda (originally Sought to revive the Hinduism

Mission founded in Narendranath based on ancient India’s
Bengal (centres at Dutta), 1863-1902 (its religious texts and concepts
Belur and founder); (of Vedanta, etc.);
Mayavati became Ramakrishna against caste restrictions,
focal points— Paramhansa (1834- oppression, superstition in
1897) 86)— Hinduism aimed to uplift
Vivekananda’s guru women and overhauled the
education system.
www.gradeup.co

Bharat Dharma Madan Mohan Orthodox Hindus’ (Sanatan-

Mahan-mandala; Malaviya, Deen Dayal dharinis’) organisation that
Benaras (1902) Sharma, Gopal Krishna opposed the Arya Samaj’s
Gokhale teachings.
(founders)

The Servants of Gopal Krishna Gokhale Famine relief and improving

India Society; tribals’ condition in particular.
Bombay (1905) Journal- Hitavada

Poona Seva Sadan G.K. Devadhar and Economic uplift; employment

(1909) Ramabai Ranade for women.
Dhondo Keshav Karve

Bharat Stri Saralabala Devi Women’s education and

Mandal; Calcutta Choudharani emancipation.
(1910)

Social Service Narayan Malhar Joshi Improving the condition of the

League (1911) common masses; opened
schools, libraries.

Seva Samiti; Hridyanath Kunzru Improving the status of the

Allahabad (1914) suffering classes through
social service, education.

The Indian Annie Besant Upliftment of Indian women;

Women’s annual conferences (All India
Association; Women’s Conferences) were
Madras (1917) held.

Nishkam kama Dhondo Keshav Karve The educational progress of

Math: Pune 1910 women; improving widows’
condition.
Founded a women’s university
in Pune, now in Bombay.
www.gradeup.co

The greatest impact of the 19th-century socio-religious reform movements was:

- the creation of national awakening among the masses of India.
- A revival of Hinduism as a tolerant, rational religion to restore its lost prestige in the wake
of Islam in the past and Christianity in the 19th century.
- The onslaught on the dishonours committed on women, untouchables and other depressed
& oppressed sections of Indian society.
- The spirit of sacrifice, service and rationalism.
- An attack on the hereditary character and rigidities of caste system & sense of equality,
indigenisation and co-existence of cultures and religions.

These movements lacked an all-India character. They were confined in Bengal, Maharashtra,
Punjab, etc. & impact was generally limited to educated upper-middle and middle classes.

Some Important Journals & Newspapers

Name of the Year and Place from

Name of the Founder/Editor
Paper/Journal which Published
Bengal Gazette 1780, Calcutta James Augustus Hickey
Madras Courier 1784, Madras -
Henry Loius Vivian Derozio was
India Gazette 1787, Calcutta
associated with it.
Bombay Herald 1789, Bombay -
R. Williams started it; later
Indian Herald 1795, Madras
published by Humphreys
Bengal Gazette (First
1818, Calcutta Harishchandra Ray
Bengali Newspaper)
Sambad Kaumudi (weekly
1821 Raja Ram Mohan Roy
in Bengali)
Mirat-ul Akbar (First
1822, Calcutta Raja Ram Mohan Roy
journal in Persian)
Bangadoot ( A weekly in
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and
four languages- English, 1822, Calcutta
Dwarakanath Tagore
Bengali, Persian, Hindi)
Udant Martand (First Hindi
1826, Calcutta Jugal Kishore Shukla
Newspaper)
East Indian 19th Century Henry V. Derozio
Bombay Times (from 1861
Robert Knight and Thomas
onwards, The Times of 1838, Bombay
Bennett
India)
Rost Goftar (A Gujarati
1851 Dadabhai Naoroji
fortnightly)
Hindu Patriot 1853, Calcutta Girish Chandra Ghosh
Somprakasha 1858, Calcutta Dwarkanath Vidyabhushan
Indian Mirror 1862, Calcutta Devendranath Tagore
Bengalee (this and Amrita
Girishchandra Ghosh (taken
Bazar Patrika were the first 1862, Calcutta
over by S.N. Banerjea in 1879)
vernacular papers)
www.gradeup.co

National Paper 1865, Calcutta Devendra Nath Tagore

Madras Mail (India’s first
1868, Madras -
evening newspaper)
Amrita Bazar Patrika
(Bengali in the beginning Shishir Kumar Ghosh and
1868, Jessore District
and later published in Motilal Ghosh
English)
Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq 1871 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
BangaDarshana 1873, Calcutta Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
The Statesman 1875, Calcutta Robert Knight
G.S. Aiyyar, C. Raghavacharya
The Hindu 1878, Madras
and Subba Rao Pandit
The Tribune 1881, Lahore Dayal Singh Majeethia
Hindustani and Advocate G.P. Verma
Kesari (Marathi daily) and
1881, Bombay Tilak, Chiplunkar, Agarkar
Maharatta (English Weekly)
Sudharak 1888, Pune Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Swadesha Mitram (Tamil
Madras G.S. Aiyar
Newspaper)
Paridasak (Weekly) Bipin Chandra Pal
Barindra Kumar Ghosh and
Yugantar 1906, Bengal
Bhupendranath Dutta
Sandhya 1906, Bengal Brahmabandhav Upadhyay
Indian Sociologist London Shyamji Krishna Verma
Bande Matram Paris Madam Bhikaji Cama
Free Hindustan Vancouver Taraknath Das
Ghadr San Francisco Ghadar Party
Talwar Berlin Virendranath Chattopadhyay
Peshwa (Urdu) Till 1908 Ajit Singh
Pheroz Shah Mehta, BG
Bombay Chronicle (a daily) 1913, Bombay
Horniman
K.M. Panikkar (as a part of
The Hindustan Times 1920, Delhi
Akali Dal Movement)
The Milap (Urdu) 1923, Lahore M.K. Chand
Leader (in English) Madan Mohan Malviya
Kirti 1926, Punjab Santosh Singh
Bahishkrit Bharat 1927 B.R. Ambedkar
E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker
Kudi Arasu (Tamil) 1910
(Periyar)
S.N. Mirjakar, K.N. Joglekar,
Kranti 1927, Maharashtra
S.V. Ghate
Bandi Jivan Bengal Sachindranath Sanyal
www.gradeup.co

Comrade (Weekly English

1911 Maulana Mohammad Ali
Newspaper)
Al- Bilagh and Al-Hilal
1912 and 1913 Abul Kalam Azad
(Both Urdu newspaper)
Pratap (Hindi Newspaper) 1913 Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
New India
1915, Madras Annie Besant
The Commonweal
The Independent
1919 Motilal Nehru
(Newspaper)
Young India (Weekly
1919 M K Gandhi
Journal)
Mook-Nayak (Marathi
1920 B.R. Ambedkar
Weekly)
Navjivan (Weekly
1929 M K Gandhi
Newspaper)
Harijan (Weekly Journal) 1931 M K Gandhi
Hindustan Dainik 1936 Madan Mohan Malviya
National Herald 1938 Jawaharlal Nehru

***