SOCIAL REFORMS

Many Indians realized that the reform of social institutions and religious outlook of people was a necessary pre-condition for the growth of national unity. Through successive movements they carried forward the pioneering work started by few enlightened Indians. This was a difficult task as orthodox elements formed large and strong groups in the country. During the second half of 19th century only two important laws were passed by the British government. One of these passed in 1872 sanctioned inter-caste and inter-communal marriages. The other passed in 1891 aimed to discourage child marriage. India has produced numerous social reformers who have played a significant role in making India a more progressive and forward looking country. These social reformers have fought against several social evils such as Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage, casteism et al. Here is a brief profile of famous Indian social reformers.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known as the 'Maker of Modern India'. He was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj, 1828. one of the first Indian socio-religious reform movements. He played a major role in abolishing the role of Sati. Raja Rammohan Roy was a great scholar and an independent thinker. He advocated the study of English, Science, Western Medicine and Technology. He was given the title 'Raja' by the Mughal Emperor. Due to the efforts of Keshab Chandra Sen, one of the leaders of Brahmo Samaj, an Act was passed in 1872. It abolished polygamy and childmarriage. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was against idol worship and orthodox Hindu rituals. He stood firmly against all sort of social bigotry, conservatism and superstitions. But his father was an orthodox Hindu Brahmin. This led to differences between Raja Ram Mohan Roy and his father.

In 1814, Raja Ram Mohan Roy formed Atmiya Sabha. Atmiya Sabha tried to initiate social and religious reforms in the society. Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaigned for rights for women, including the right for widows to remarry, and the right for women to hold property. He actively opposed Sati system and the practice of polygamy. He also supported education, particularly education of women. He believed that English-language education was superior to the traditional Indian education system, and he opposed the use of government funds to support schools teaching Sanskrit. In 1822, he founded a school based on English education.

In 1828, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the 'Brahma Samaj'. Through 'Brahma Samaj, he wanted to expose the religious hypocrisies and check the growing influence of Christianity on the Hindu society. Raja Ram Mohan Roy's efforts bore fruit when in 1929, the Sati system was abolished. Ram Mohan started publishing Newspapers and Magazines for which he was called the 'Father of Indian Journalism'.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered satyagraha, resistance to tyranny through mass civil resistance His philosophy was firmly founded upon ahimsa (nonviolence). His philosophy and leadership helped India gain independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma Honoured in India as the Father of the Nation. His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Ramakrishna Paramhansa Provided spiritual enlightenment to the people of Bengal and played a key role in the social reform movement in Bengal in 19th century Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa's original name was Gadadhar Chattopadhyay Dayanand Saraswati Founded Arya Samaj to promote social service and established gurukuls to impart vedic education. His book Sathyartha Prakash contains his views about Vedas. He called people Go back to the Veda created consciousness among the people
Dayanand Saraswati was one of the most radical socio-religious reformers in the history of India Arya Samaj opposed idol worship,ritualism, animal sacrifice, the idea of heaven and hell

Dayanand Saraswati undertook a tour of the entire county, made fiery speeches condemning the caste system, idolatry, and child marriages. He advocated the ideal age for a girl to be between 16 and 24, and for men between 25 and 40. First leader in the field of theology who welcomed the advances of sciences and technology. To him, the Vedas as the source book contain the seed of science, and to him, the Vedas advocate the philosophy of dynamic realism.

Swami Vivekananda Played a major role in spiritual enlightenment of Indian masses; Spread Vedanta philosophy in the West; established Ramakrishna Mission for the service of the poor. The most influential spiritual leaders of Vedanta philosophy. He was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa and was the founder of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. He participated in the World Religious Congregation held at Chicago in
the United States of America in 1893.

He showed a beacon of light to a nation that had lost faith in its ability under British rule and inspired self-confidence among Indians that they are second to none. His ringing words and masterful oratory galvanized the slumbering nation. Swami Vivekananda real name was Narendranath Dutta. Narendranath acquired the name of Swami Vivekananda when he became a monk. According to him, Man is the maker of his own Destiny. The whole world has been made by the energy of man, by the power of faith . According to Vivekananda, The best way to Serve God is to serve the poor and the downtrodden.

Muslim Movements : For a long time, the Muslims remained outside the influence of western education and the British rule. Reform movements among the Muslim community began in the later half of the 19th century. They aimed at the spread of modern education and removal of social abuses like the Purdha System and polygamy. In the beginning Mohammeden Literary Society of Kolkata was founded in 1863 by Nawab Abdul Latif. It played an important role in the spread of education among the Muslims and started a number of schools in Bengal. Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh Movement : The most important movement for the spread of modern education and social reforms among the Muslims was started by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan started a school at Ghazipur. It was later called as the Scientific Society. The Society translated many scientific works into Urdu and published them. His greatest achievement was the establishment of the Mohammeden Anglo Oriental College (MAO) at Aligarh. It later developed into the Aligarh Muslim University. The reform movement started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was called the Aligarh Movement. He was in favour of the abolition of Purdah and education of women. He propagated his views through his magazine called Tahzil-ud-Akhlaq

Parsi and Sikh Reform Movements : Dadabai Naoroji and Naoroji Furdoonji were the pioneers of religious and social reform among the Parsi community. For the progress of women and the spread of modern education they, together, started a journal Rast Goftar. Another important social reformer in the Parsi community was Sorabji Bengali. Among the Sikhs, the movement for reform was started by the Singh Sabhas. They were started at Amristar and Lahore. The two Sabhas merged together and played an important role in the spread of education. The Khalsa College was founded at Amristar in 1892 and many schools were also started.

In the early decades of the 20th century, the Gurudwaras (theplaces of worship for the Sikhs) were under the control of priests and Mahants. They treated them as their private property. Both Shiromany Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and the Akali Dal party aimed at handing over the control of the Gurudwaras to the representative of the Sikh community. The leaders of the freedom movement supported them. In 1925 a law was passed which gave the right of managing the Gurudwaras to the Shiromany Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.

Annie Besant Annie Besant was of Irish origin and made India her second home. She fought for the rights of Indian and was the first woman president of Indian National Congress. In 1893, she left for India having been influenced by the Indian culture and civilization. She was famous as a social worker, educationalist, journalist, prominent Theosophist, social reformer, political leader, women's rights activist, writer and orator. She fought for the Human Rights of Indian women. She founded the Central Hindu College at Benares which was ultimately merged with the Benares Hindu University. Her paper New India spread the theosophical ideas. Later she started the Home Rule Movement to give momentum to the national movement in India. Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow (presently in Madhya Pradesh). Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is viewed as messiah of dalits and downtrodden in India. He was the chairman of the drafting committee in 1947. Bhimrao Ambedkar experienced caste discrimination right from the childhood.he was the first who reduce the bridge between tribal & non-tribal.

Medha Patkar Medha Patkar was born in Mumbai. On 28 March 2006, Patkar started a hunger-strike to protest against the decision of the authorities to raise the height of the Narmada Dam. She ended her 20-day fast on 17 April 2006, after the Supreme Court of India refused the Narmada Bachao Andolan's appeal to stop the construction of the dam. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was a distinguished judge, writer cum social reformer of India during the pre-independence era. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was a judge, politician, writer cum reformer of India. Politically, Ranade established the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and was also among those who played a phenomenal role in setting up the Indian National Congress party. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was also an active reformer.

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was a grat poet and novelist. In his famous book "Kamala Kanter Daffer" pointed out the social evils and blind beliefs prevalent in Indian Soiety, which were pertaining to injustice to the poor and the downtrodden. He advocated remwedial measures for the eradication of all the evils.He wanrs to maintain equality between the rich and the poor. The famous song'Bande Mataram" was his creation.

Effects of The Reform Movements : 1. The reform movements brought about remarkable changes in the society and religion. Initially the great changes affected a small group of people, but gradually these ideas spread among many sections of the people, 2. The reform movements strengthened the Hindu and Muslim religions and made efforts to remove social evils among them, 3. The educated Indians started to think reasonably, 4. The reform movements helped in the revival of the past glory. They also helped in making up of a modern India, 5. It led to the progress of literature in different regional languages, 6. The caste system began to lose its hold on the society, 7. There was a significant achievement in the field of emancipation of women. Some legal measures were introduced to raise their status,8. To travel abroad, which was considered as a sin before, was accepted, 9. The reform movements created the rise of a middle class which consisted of the teachers, the doctors, the lawyers, the Scientists, and the journalists who helped in the progress of India in different fields and 10. The reform movements also contributed for the growth of Indian Nationalism as the reform activities united the people all over India and created a feeling of oneness.