Hindu Reform Movements

Hindu Reform Movements: Challenging Traditions, Advancing Progress, and Promoting Social Equality

(1828)

• The samaj was established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.
• Worshiping the immortal God Brahma was the main objective of the Brahmo Samaj.
• It focused on prayers, meditation, and scripture reading. Roy was a firm believer in the oneness of all religions
• This movement was opposed to the priesthood, the dominance of ceremonies, and animal sacrifices.
• This movement is also known as contemporary India’s first intellectual reform movement.
• This movement led to an increase in India’s rationalism and enlightenment, which indirectly benefited the nationalist struggle.
• All current social, religious, and political movements in India are said to have originated from this Hindu Reform Movement.
• The Brahmo Samaj got separated into two organisations in 1866.

(1814)

• It was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1814.
• To promote the monotheistic ideas of Vedanta Philosophy.
• Atmiya Sabha aimed to fight idolatry, caste rigidities, useless religious rituals, and other societal problems.
• It promoted rational beliefs propagated by Vedantic Philosophy.

(1867)

• It was established in 1867 by Atmaram Pandurang along with Keshav Chandra Sen.
• A covert organisation called the Paramahansa Sabha fostered the eradication of caste and communal barriers and promoted liberal principles..
• It was a forerunner of the Prarthana Samaj.
• The strategy of samaj was based on persuasion and teaching rather than conflict with Hindu orthodoxy.

• It was founded in 1839 by Debendranath Tagore.
• After joining the Brahma samaj in 1842, Tagore gave it fresh vitality.

(1826)

• The intellectual leaders of the new Bengal movement were from the Hindu College of Calcutta.
• They were referred to as Derozians.
• By his instruction and the establishment of a discussion and debate club on literature, philosophy, history, and science, Derozians promoted radical viewpoints.
• Derozians revered the ideas of the French Revolution (1789 A.D.) and British liberalism and also advocated for women’s rights and education.

(1875)

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of the Arya Samaj in 1875.
• The main aim of the Samaj was modernising Hinduism in western and northern India.
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati claimed that the Puranas, which he claimed included false beliefs, were used by rich and ignorant priests to corrupt Hinduism. 
• He sought inspiration from the Vedas, which he believed infallible as the divine word of God and the font of all knowledge.
• His disciples eventually established a network of schools and universities around the country to provide Western-style education. Lala Hansraj was instrumental in establishing various educational institutes.

• The religious lessons of Ramkrishna Paramhans were popularised by the Vivekananda.
• Vivekanand attempted to adapt it to the demands of the current Indian society.
• But, Vivekanand was also convinced of the superiority of the Indian philosophical tradition’s approach.
• Vivekananda criticised Indians for becoming static and mummified after losing contact with the rest of the world.
• They opposed the caste system and emphasised on rituals and superstitions.

• It was an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra, founded by Jyotibha Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24th September 1873.
• Satyashodhak was a reformational society that promoted education, and increased social rights, justice, and political access in the deprived sections.
• It opposed idolatry and condemned the caste system.
• It opposed the need for priests and advocated for the spread of reason.

(1853)

• Promoted widow remarriage.
• Campaigned against child marriage.
• Discouraged practices like dowry in marriages, shaving off a widow’s head, etc.