Social and Religious Movements in India
Our country has a glorious past, a developing present, and is believed to have a prosperous future.
Pre-Independence was the era of transformation. And today we are witnessing the change in the old taboos of society, and it’s just because of the hard work of some luminary and courageous people.
All of us need to know about the reform drives that changed our present. They gave a new dimension to the development of the country.
Let’s take a glimpse on social and religious movements in India that changed the destiny of the nation and filled us with proud.
Socio-Religious Movements in India
| Name | Founder | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmiya Sabha | Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 1815 | Calcutta |
| Young Bengal Movement | Henry Vivian Derozio | 1826 | Calcutta |
| Brahmo Samaj | Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 1829 | Calcutta |
| Dharma Sabha | RadhaKant Dev | 1830 | Calcutta |
| Tatvabodhini Sabha | Debendranath Tagore | 1839 | Calcutta |
| Paramhansa Mandili | Dadoba Panderung | 1849 | Bombay |
| Rahnumai Mazdhyan Sabha | Dadabhai Naroji | 1851 | Bombay |
| RadhaSwami Satsang | Shiv Dayal Saheb | 1861 | Agra |
| Brahmo Samaj of India | Keshav Chandra Sen | 1866 | Calcutta |
| Prarthna Samaj | Dr. Atmaram Pandurang | 1867 | Bombay |
| Arya Samaj | Swami Dayanand | 1875 | Bombay |
| Theosophical Society | H.P Balatsvy & Col. Olcott | 1875 | New York |
| Sadharan Brahmo Samaj | Anand Mohan Bose | 1878 | Calcutta |
| Deccan Educational Society | G.G Agarkar | 1884 | Pune |
| Indian National Social Conference | M.G. Ranade | 1887 | Bombay |
| Dev Samaj | Shivnarayan Agnihotri | 1887 | Lahore |
| Ram Krishna Mission | Swami Vivekanand | 1897 | Belure |
| Servants of Indian Society | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | 1905 | Bombay |
| Social Service League | N.M. Joshi | 1911 | Bombay |
| Seva Samiti | H.N. Kunjru | 1914 | Allahabad |
The emergence of Socio-Religious Movements in India:
In the 19th century, many reformers came forward and joined hands for eradicating the inhuman activities, religious taboos, and superstitions from the society.
They have some common ideas in their minds:
- One god and individual unit of all religions.
- End of Polytheism, Priesthood, and Idolatry.
- Improve the status of women.
- Foster the feeling self-respect and self-reliance.
Outcome of the Social-Religious Movements:
It helped to bring back the society on the path of social, religious and mental well-being. It restored the harmony of people.
It transformed the mentalities and united the nation.
Major outcomes are given as follows:
- The revival of Hinduism.
- Given immense respect to women, untouchable and other oppressed people of society.
- A full attack on the caste system.
- Maintained the sense of co-existence of culture and religions.