Social Reform Movements In India
Social Reform Movements In India: Young Bengal Movement
The leader of this movement was a young Anglo-Portuguese
Indian called Henry Vivian Derozio”, a lecturer at Hindu College in Calcutta and his followers were called Derozians. The movement attacked old and decadent customs and traditions. It was a passionate advocate for women’s rights and education, a free press, trial by jury, protection of ryots against oppression by zamindars and employment of Indians in higher Civil Services.
Social Reform Movements In India: Social Service League
Founded by Narayan Malhar Joshi” in 1911 in Bombay inspired by Servants of India Society, the main aim of the League was “to secure for the masses of the people better and reasonable conditions of life and work”. The League ran free schools for illiterate labourers, built libraries, provided legal assistance to the poor, besides organizing theatre and medical camps.
Social Reform Movements In India: Seva Samithi
Set up by Hrudayanath Kunjru in Allahabad, inspired by Servants of India Society it worked for the promotion of education, sanitation, physical culture etc. and did social service during natural calamities. The Boy’s Scouts Association of Seva Samithi was founded by Ram Bajpai” when Baden Powell refused to induct Indians into the Boy’s Scout Movement.
Social Reform Movements In India: Servants of India Society
Founded by G.K. Gokhale, its main motives were social reform and national regeneration. Its main activities included working for women’s education, communal harmony, upliftment of backward classes and promotion of native industry, besides others. In the south, the movement was led by Srinivas Shastri who was the President of the Society after Gokhale. Its main contribution was that it created a cadre of committed nationalist leaders.
Social Reform Movements In India: Vaikom Satyagraha
Launched in March 1924 by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, it was directed at temple entry and eradication of untouchability. Led by K.P. Kesava Menon, it aimed at opening the Vaikom temple in Travancore state, to Depressed Classes called Avarnas.
Social Reform Movements In India: Guruvayur Satyagraha
A temple entry movement that was a part of Gandhi’s Constructive Program, this Satyagraha was launched under the overall leadership of K.C. Kellappan of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee on November 1st 1931, for the backward castes to gain entry into the Guruvayur temple. The agitation was supported by the poet Subramanian Tirumambu, also called the “Swinging Sword of Kerala”. November 1st 1931 was observed as the All India Temple Entry Day. Other prominent leaders were A.K. Gopalan and Krishna Pillai.
Social Reform Movements In India: Akali Movement
Organized by the Sikh reformers of the Shiromani Akali Dal, it was directed against the corrupt loyalist Mahants of the Gurudwaras. The Jat peasantry of Punjab supported the movement and accepted non-violence as a part of the programme. The Government passed the Gurudwara Act, 1925 handing over all the Gurudwaras to the SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee). It was a model movement because it was a secular movement for a religious cause.
The movement brought the Jat peasantry of Punjab into the freedom struggle for the first time. Singh Sabha Movement: A socio-religious reform movement in 1873 launched by the Sikhs. it wanted to spread the message through education. The movement led to the establishment of a network of Khalsa colleges which served as centres of social awareness in Punjab.
Social Reform Movements In India: Nirankari Movement
A movement by the Sikh reformers against idolatry and advocate “Nirankari or a formless god. It pleaded for a simple life and was against ritual mainstage and advocated a simple marriage called “Anand Karaj” which was legitimized by the passage of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909. Prominent leaders include Baba Dayal Das, Baba Darbara Singh and Baba Ratanji.
Social Reform Movements In India: Ahrar Movement
A militant Muslim nationalist movement under the leadership of Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hasan Imam and Mazar Ul Haq. Inspired by the modern ideas of self Government, it strongly advocated the participation of the Muslims in mainstream nationalist politics. Aligarh School: Begun by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to reform Muslim society, it sought reinterpretation of Islam on modern scientific lines. It called for the spread of western education among Muslims and advocated higher status for women in Muslim society. Sir Syed was supported by Chirag Ali, Nazir Ahmed and Altaf Hussain Ali. In its later years, the Aligarh School lost its secular character and Sir Syed laid down the basic themes of Muslim communalism in India.
Social Reform Movements In India: Ahmediya Movement
A Muslim reform movement started by Mirza Gulam Ahmed in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab who expounded the doctrine of Bahrain-e-Ahmediya which emphasized the universal and humanitarian character of Islam. The movement worked for harmony between Hindus and Muslims and did considerable work in social reform education. Deoband Movement: The Deoband movement drew its doctrines om Shah Waliullah Dehlavi and preached religious tolerance and nationalism. It established the Dar-ul-Uloom at Deoband in UP. One of the most important products of this school was Moulana Abul Kalam Azad. Tatvabodhini Sabha: Established by Devendranath Tagore in 1832 ton of Raja Rammohan Roy. It ran a Magazine called Tatvabodhini Patrika which was dedicated to the systematic study of India’s past in Bengali.
Social Reform Movements In India: Brahmo Samaj of India
It was a breakaway group of Brahmo Samaj formed by Keshab Chandra Sen who was dismissed from the Brahmo Samaj for his liberal ideas in 1865. Sen popularized the Brahmo movement in Punjab, United Provinces and Madras. Social reform reached a peak under Sen’s leadership, especially in the area of emancipation of women. Prarthana Samaj: It was formed in Bombay in 1867 under the guidance of Keshab Chandra Sen and was first headed by Dr. Atmaram Pandurang. It literally meant a “Prayer Congregation”. Its main emphasis was on social reform and a rational form of worship and denounced purdah, polygamy and child marriage. It championed women’s education and widow remarriage. A prominent personality associated with this association was Justice M.G. Ranade.
Social Reform Movements In India: Ramakrishna Mission
It was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1898 at Belur near Calcutta basically to propagate the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa and train workers entirely devoted to social service. It recognized the utility of idol worship as a means to attain devotional fervour. The emphasis of the mission was both on personal salvation and social good.
Social Reform Movements In India: Arya Samaj
It was founded by Swami Dayanand in Bombay in April 1875. It stood for infallibility. It decried untouchability and idol worship and advocated widow remarriage and universal brotherhood. It started two movements called Shuddhi which was a ceremony for the reconversion of non-Hindus to Hindus and Sanghatan which called for greater solidarity among Hindus; this laid the foundation of Hindu communalism. Arya Samaj stood for western education and the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools were started in 1902 by Lala Hansraj. It gave the slogan “India for Indians” and gave it to the nation committed national leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai.
Social Reform Movements In India: Rehnumai Masdayasan Sabha
A socio-religious reform movement among the Parsis started by Dababhai Nauroji, Nauroji Furdanji and S.S. Benegalee, emphasized the pristine purity of the Zoroastrian religion and initiated the modernization of Parsi social customs regarding marriage, the position of women and education.
Social Reform Movements In India: Theosophical Society
Founded by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Col. Olcott in USA, they shifted the headquarters to Adyar near Madras. It was a movement by European Indologists to revive and rejuvenate the ancient Indian religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism and thereby glorify the rich religious and philosophical heritage of India. The movement became powerful under Annie Besant in South India and played a prominent role during the Home Rule Movement.