The social reform movements in India contributed to the institutionalisation of English studies

India in the 19th century witnessed a series of reform movements undertaken in various parts of the country. These movements were oriented toward a restructuring of the Indian society along modern lines. 19th Century Social and Religious Reform Movements are important from the perspective of the upcoming UPSC exam. Candidates looking forward to appearing for the exam must refer to the details discussed below.

Founded in 1828 in Calcutta by pioneer social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772 – 1833), the movement fought against idol worship, polytheism, caste oppression, unnecessary rituals and other social evils like Sati, polygamy, purdah system, child marriage, etc. Society also strove for women’s rights like widow remarriage and education of women. It also fought, attacked prevailing superstitions among Hindus. Sayyid Ahmed Khan founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875. Later, it became Aligarh Muslim University. It offered modern education to Muslims.

Prarthana Samaj

· In 1863, Keshub Chandra Sen helped found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay.

· The Prarthana Samaj preached monotheism and denounced priestly domination and caste distinctions.

· Its activities also spread to South India, through the efforts of the Telugu reformer, Veeresalingam.

· Chandavarkar, basically a philosopher, was a great leader of the Prarthana Samaj.

Deoband Movement

It was a revivalist movement. In 1866, Muhammad Qasim Wanotavi and Rashid Ahamad Gangohi founded a school in Deoband (Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur District). Deoband movement focused on uplifting the Muslim community through religious education. The video given below is in line with the CSE syllabus for the 19th Century Social and Religious Reform Movements. Though Annie Besant’s name is most associated with this society, it was actually founded by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott in New York (later shifted to Madras) in 1875. It promoted the study of ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Zoroastrian philosophies. It promoted the concept of universal brotherhood, as expounded in the Upanishads and Vedas. It laid stress on occultism. This mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Belur near Calcutta to promote the teachings of Vivekananda’s Guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa. It opposed the caste system and untouchability. It focused on the universality of all religions and propagated Vedanta. This society was founded by Jyotirao Govindrao Phule on 24 September 1873 in present-day Maharashtra. It campaigned against idolatry and the caste system. It advocated rational thinking and rejected the priesthood. Jyotirao Phule is said to have used the term ‘Dalit’ for the oppressed castes.

Young Bengal Movement

This movement was started by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio in Calcutta in the 1820s. Derozio was an Anglo-Indian college teacher in Calcutta, and he encouraged radical thinking among his students. He criticised the prevailing religious practices of orthodox Hinduism. He also inspired free-thinking and propagated the spirit of liberty, equality and freedom.

Widow Remarriage Association

Pandit Vishnu Shastri founded Widow Marriage Association in 1860.

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