Brahmo Samaj: Leaders & Influential Movements in the 19th-20th Centuries

19th-20th Century Strides for Equality & Justice

Hindu socio-religious reform movements were pivotal in addressing social injustices and advocating for progressive changes within Hindu society. These movements emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries and sought to challenge practices like caste discrimination, child marriage, and promote education and gender equality. Prominent figures such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda played instrumental roles in these reform efforts.

Brahmo Samaj: Pioneering Hindu Reform and its Evolution

• Raja Rammohan Roy established the Brahmo Sabha in August 1828, which was later renamed as Brahmo Samaj.
  • The Samaj was keen to the “the worship and adoration of the Eternal, Inscrutable, Immutable Being who is the Author and Preserver of the Universe”.
    • Forms of worship within the Samaj included prayers, meditation, and the reading of the Upanishads, and it strictly banned the use of graven images, statues, sculptures, carvings, paintings, or portraits in its premises, emphasizing its disagreement to worship and superficial rituals.
  • With the goal of purifying Hinduism and promoting monotheism, the Brahmo Samaj was founded on the twin principles of reason and the teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads.
    • The Samaj also aimed to integrate the teachings of other religions and maintained its focus on human dignity, rejection of idol worship, and critique of societal ills like sati.
• It laid the basis for all subsequent social, religious, and political movements in contemporary India. 
• In 1866, it underwent a division, resulting in two distinct entities: 
  • the Brahmo Samaj of India, under the leadership of Keshub Chandra Sen, and 
  • the Adi Brahmo Samaj, led by Debendranath Tagore.
• Prominent Leaders: Leaders of Tattvabodhini Sabha
  • Debendranath Tagore, Keshub Chandra Sen, Pt. Sivnath Shastri, and Rabindranath Tagore.
    • Debendra Nath Tagor led the Tattvabodhini Sabha, established in 1839. 
    • This organization, along with its publication, the Tattvabodhini Patrika in Bengali, focused on the systematic examination of India’s history with a rational perspective and the dissemination of Ram Mohan’s principles.
• Ram Mohan Roy’s progressive ideas faced staunch opposition from traditionalist factions, including Raja Radhakant Deb, who orchestrated the formation of the Dharma Sabha to counter the Brahmo Samaj’s promotion.
• Debendranath Tagore and Brahmo Samaj (1817-1905): The Progressive Vision
  • In 1842, he became a member of the Samaj.
  • Prior to that, Tagore had led the Tattvabodhini Sabha, established in 1839. 
  • Over time, the Brahmo Samaj attracted prominent followers of Ram Mohan, Derozians, and autonomous thinkers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Ashwini Kumar Datta.
  • The revived Samaj actively advocated for widow remarriage, women’s education, the eradication of polygamy, enhancements in the conditions of agricultural tenants, and the promotion of sobriety.
• Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj: The Split and Evolution

• In 1858, shortly after his enrollment in the Samaj, Debendranath Tagore selected him as an acharya.
• However, Debendranath grew disapproving of some of Sen’s ideas, which he considered too radical. 
  • These included the cosmopolitanization of the Samaj’s assemblies by including teachings from various religions and Sen’s strong stance against the caste system, including open support for inter-caste marriages.
• As a result, Sen was removed from the position of acharya in 1865. 
• Following this, Keshab and his supporters established the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866, while Debendranath Tagore’s Samaj became known as the Adi Brahmo Samaj.

Debendranath Tagore: Scholar, Reformer, and Father of Rabindranath

• Maharishi Debendranath Tagore was both a scholar and a figure dedicated to social reform.
• He was born in May 1817 in Calcutta, India.
  His father, Dwarkanath Tagore, was a wealthy businessman and philanthropist based in Calcutta.

• Dwarkanath Tagore, along with Raja Ram Mohan Roy, played significant roles in Indian society.
• Debendranath Tagore was the father of Rabindranath Tagore, a well-known Bengali poet, artist, writer, and essayist.
• In 1844, Debendranath established a Tatwabodhini Pathshala, also known as Theological School. The purpose of this institution was to teach Vedanta and train young men to become teachers of the Brahmo religion.
• He compiled and published the Brahma Dharma Grantha, a theistic manual covering aspects of religion and morality.

Keshub Chandra Sen: Bridging Cultures for Hindu Renaissance

• Keshub Chandra Sen, born on November 19, 1838, into an affluent family in Calcutta, faced an early loss as his father, Peary Mohan. He was subsequently raised by his uncle.
• In 1854, he assumed the role of secretary at the Asiatic Society.
• His grandfather, Ramkamal Sen (1783-1844), held the distinction of being the first Indian secretary of the Asiatic Society.
  • He was renowned for compiling the first English-Bengali Dictionary, published in two volumes in 1830 and 1834.
  • Additionally, Ramkamal Sen played a significant role in the founding of institutions such as the Hindu College (1817), the Calcutta School-Book Society (1818), and the Sanskrit College (1824).
• Keshub Chandra Sen explored the works of Theodore Parker, an American Transcendentalist, and was influenced by his ideas. As a result, he delivered speeches on religious and moral topics.
• Sen was deeply affected by Christian teachings and aspired to integrate them into the Hindu belief system.
• He held the belief that Christian doctrine was the key to rejuvenating Hindu society. Furthermore, he was inspired by the sense of order and purpose in Christian missionary work, which led him to personally engage in such efforts.

Prarthana Samaj: Rational Worship and Social Reform with Brahmo Samaj Influence

• The Prarthana Samaj, founded in Bombay by Dr. Atma Ram Pandurang in 1876, aimed for rational worship and social reform. 
  • Notable members of this Samaj included R.C. Bhandarkar and Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, who were dedicated to social reform efforts such as promoting inter-caste dining, inter-caste marriage, widow remarriage, and improving the status of women and oppressed classes. 
• The Prarthana Samaj had a four-point social agenda that encompassed the following:
  • disapproval of the caste system, 
  • women’s education, 
  • widow remarriage, and 
  • raising the marriage age for both males and females. 
• Mahadev Govind Ranade was not only contributory in founding the Widow Remarriage Association (1861) and the Deccan Education Society but also established the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. 
  • He believed that religious reform and social reform were knotted, emphasizing that firm religious ideas would hinder progress in social, economic, and political domains. 
  • While the Prarthana Samaj drew inspiration from the Brahmo Samaj, it didn’t insist on complete elimination of idol worship and a definitive break from the caste system.

Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers’ Society) in 1873: Jyotiba Phule’s Crusade Against Caste with Brahmo Samaj Influence

• Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj with the leadership of the samaj from the backward classes, Malis, Telis, Kunbis, Saris and Dhangars.
• The movement’s key objectives included:
  • Promoting social service
  • Spreading education among women and lower-caste individuals
• Jyotiba Phule’s written works, “Sarvajanik Satyadharma” and “Gulamgiri,” served as sources of motivation for the general public.
  • In contrast to the Brahmins’ symbol of Rama, he adopted the symbol of Rajah Bali.
  • His key aim was the complete abolition of the caste system and the removal of socioeconomic disparities, and he held opposition to Sanskritic Hinduism.
• This movement provided relegated communities with a collective identity, allowing them to unite against Brahmins who exploited the masses’ religious beliefs for personal financial gain.
  • Phule was a strong supporter for gender equality, and, with the assistance of his wife Savitribai, he established a girls’ school in Poona. 
• Jyotiba Phule played a pioneering role in the widow remarriage movement in Maharashtra and founded a home for widows in 1854.

Jyotiba Phule: Pioneer of Social Equality and Reform in India

• Born on April 11, 1827, in present-day Maharashtra, belonging to the Mali caste of gardeners and vegetable farmers. 
• Education: Jyotiba Phule enrolled in the Scottish Missionary High School (Pune) in 1841, where he completed his education.
• Ideology: Phule’s ideology revolved around principles of liberty, egalitarianism, and socialism. Jyotiba Phule was influenced by Thomas Paine’s book “The Rights of Man” and believed that enlightening women and lower-caste members was the key to addressing social evils. 
• Major Publications: Published significant works such as “Tritiya Ratna” (1855), “Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha” (1869), “Gulamgiri” (1873), and “Shetkarayacha Aasud” (1881).
• Satyashodhak Samaj: Founded the “Satyashodhak Samaj” in 1873, translating to “Seekers of Truth.” The purpose was to secure equal social and economic rights for the lower castes in Maharashtra.
• Municipal Council Member: Appointed commissioner to the Poona municipality and served in that role until 1883.
• Title of Mahatma: Conferred with the title of Mahatma on May 11, 1888, by Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.
• Social Reformer: Jyotirao Phule’s Trailblazing Social Reforms and Inclusive Vision
  • In 1848, Jyotiba Phule educated his wife, Savitribai, teaching her to read and write.
    • Together, they established the first indigenous school for girls in Pune, where they both served as teachers.
  • Strong supporter of gender equality, he actively engaged his wife in all his social reform endeavors.
  • By 1852, the Phules had founded three schools, but all had to be closed by 1858 due to financial restraints following the events of the Revolt of 1857 .
  • Identifying the dire situation of widows, Jyotiba set up an ashram for young widows and championed the cause of widow remarriage.
  • Jyotiba Phule openly criticized orthodox Brahmins and upper-caste individuals, labeling them as “hypocrites.”
  • In 1868, he constructed a communal bathing tank near his residence, showing his inclusive approach by welcoming individuals from all castes to dine with him.
  • He originated awareness campaigns that served as a source of inspiration for later figures like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, both of whom spearheaded significant efforts against caste

Also Read: Indian Social Reforms – British Influence and Cultural Transformation

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