Bombay: Social Reforms

RELEVANT LITERATURE:
 Rosalin O. Alan. "Caste, Conflict and Ideology: Mahatma Jothirao Phule and low Caste
Protest in 19th Century Western India "
 Gayle Ombedt. (feminist historian) "Cultural Revolt in a Colonial Society; The non-Brahmin
Movement in Western India"
Jothi rao Phule was an important social reformer
21 September 2023
08:41
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BENGAL AND BOMBAY
BENGAL BOMBAY

Mid-18th century Mid-19th Century

Reformers came from the Upper Not only Brahmins, also non-brahmins
caste Hindu society

They were very radical. They were an Even though they spoke, wrote and demanded social
isolated group, since they distanced reforms in the public sphere, they still maintained
themselves from their own religious practices in their private lives. They were
community and society. not isolated.

They were completely preoccupied Started with women's upliftment, they moved onto
with women's issues. class inequality and untouchability.

Hindu College Influenced Elphinstone College (1825) influenced. Set up to

commemorate Lord Elphinstone, Governor of
Bombay. Many brahmins and non-brahmins
emerged. Led to the emergence of many Debate
Clubs

Unlike Bengal, SR often referred to Bhakti Ideas and

Bhakti saints. Was heavily influenced by such

Manava Dharma Sabha set up in 1824 due to intermingling in Elphinstone college.

 Mid-19 and 2nd half of 20th century.
 Atmaram and Dadoba Pandurang; the Pandurang Brothers emerged as reformers. They
established many Social Reform associations.
 This debate club was short-lived

Scientific society of Bombay, 1828

 Widow remarriage, child marriage, etc. tackled.
 This was also short lived.

Paramahamsa Mandale
 Influenced by the Bhakti movement
 Which had initially started in south-India to initiate the idea of 'state'.
 Propagated Shaivism and Vaishnavism amongst other religions in 7th Century south-
India.
 It was a Sanskritization movement. Transition from tribal societies to state.
 They were converted forcibly; murder.
 The Bhakti Movement in North India after the Islamic Incvasion.
  Many Bhakti saints such as Kabir tried to abolish untouchability in the 12th century.
 Thus, the modern SR were influenced.

Prarthana Samaj (1867), initiative by Kesav Chandra Sen

 Est. in Bombay after the previous one.
 It came into being after Keshav Chandra Sen came to Bombay attempting to set up brahma
samaj, however the Pandurang brothers set up the Prarthana Samaj.
 In this samaj, the Parsi community undertook most control.
 Especially in establishing and participating in SR movements in Bombay.
 Too initiatives to est. schools for lower castes, especially factory workers, Eurasians and
mixed Indians.
 Abraham v. Abraham
 Founded Orphanages and Missions such as depressed class mission to elevate them.
Basically the untouchables.
 Many such identities emerged in the colonial period.
 The samaj became ineffective after the Arya samaj came about in 1875 est. by Dayanand
Saraswati.
 Many important leaders of Prarthana Samaj joined Arya Samaj.

Thus, even before Jothi Rao Phule, there were many reformers and more importantly, non-brahmin
reformers.