Theme 7:

CHAPTER 12 Soclo-Religlous Reforms

SOcial and Religious Reformns

Learning Outcomes lndian society in the early nincteenth century Refoms by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Dayanand Saraswati, Ramakrishna

Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda, Annie Besant, Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule Retormm movements in west and south India

Reform anmong the Muslims and Sikhs

The introduction of western education exposed sub-castes. Those belonging to the lower castes were

treated in inhuman ways. The abominable practice of untouchability was prevalent.

Indians to modern ideas of humanism and rationalism, and democratic ideals such as equality and justice. This new wave of thought openly questioned the age-old traditional social system and

The discrimination practised against women at that

religious practices. Educated Indians began to look at their own society through concepts of reason,

time was equally repulsive. Girls were married ott at a very early age. Widow remarriage was strictly prohibited. Widows were forced to live a life ot

utility, progress and justice. They realised that Indian

society had been stagnant for a very long time. extreme austerity. Many of them were forced to live in the ashramas of Vrindavan and Varanasi.

Many progressive Indians tried to address various socio-religious evils of the society. While many

The most inhuman act perpetrated against the Hindu widows by the orthodox heads of society was

the barbarie practice of sati. In this practice, Hindu widows were forced to immolate themselves on the

people refused to accept western ideas, and

continued to hold on to the traditional thoughts and

institutions, there were also people who realised the

importance of modern western thought which could

led to a revival or regeneration of Indian society.

funeral pyre ot their deceased husbands. While the orthodox members of the Hindu societvquoted from the religious scriptures to just1ty these practices, many liberal-minded Hindus were shocked and disgusted by them. They wee

particularly troubled by the condition ot women and girls. They henee decided to raise their voe ugainst the existing inhuman practices.

Indian Society in the Early Ninetcenth Century The Indian society was governed by the idea

of varnas or a hierarchy based on caste. Since its

inception in the ancient times, the varna system

had scen manifold muliplication. Hlence, by that

cighteenth century, there were thousands of jatis or Tlowever, such regressive practices were not restricted to the lindu conmmunity, but was also

100 ISTORY

prevalent among other communities such as the

Muslims and the Sikhs. He believed

in the unity of god and that

all people were Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the central figure children of that of the new awakening in India. He worked

tirelessly for the social, religious, intellectual and

political regeneration of India. He is considered

one god, and

hence are equal.

He translated as the inaugurator of the modern age in India.

Rabindranath Tagore called Roy the Father of and published

Indian Renaissance. the Vedas and Raja Ram Mohan Roy

the Upanishads

in Bengali. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a great scholar and

linguist. He was well-versed with several languages

like Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, English, Latin, Greek SOCIAL REFORMS and Hebrew. He also studied several religious philosophies and texts, ike the Vedas, the Quran,

and the Bible. He did a comparative study of these

texts and believed that all religions taught the same

ideals. He also believed in the Vedanta philosophywhich was based on rational thinking.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded a new society

called the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in Calcutta

(Kolkata), to work for social welfare.

The Brahmo Samaj condemned idol worship and opposed several socio-religious practices like sati, child marriage, polygamy, caste

RELIGIOUS REFORMS distinctions and untouchability. It supported education of women and widow remarriage. While Raja Ram Mohan Roy had immense

respect for the traditional philosophical ideas and

institutions of the East, he felt that modern ideas

and culture of the West could lead to revival of the

His persistent struggle against sati received the

support of the Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, who banned the practice in 1829.

Indian society. He wanted the people to accept the

rational and scientific approach and democratic EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

ideals of equality. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the earliest

advocates of western modern education, which, In 1815, Roy started the Atmiya Sabha to conduct

debate and discussion sessions on philosophical

topics, and to promote free and collective thinking

and social reform.

according to him, was instrumental in spreading

modern ideas of rationalism and humanism throughout the country.

He assisted David Hare in opening the Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817. It later came to be

known as the Presideney College. Raja Ram Mohan Roy also founded the Vedanta College in

1825, which oftered courses in western seienees as

Roy realised that social reforms cannot be attained

without reforms in the religion of the people.

Koy opposed idol worship, rigidity of caste and

religious customs.

He was critical of the corrupt priestly class who

were responsible for propagating superstitions

among the people.

well as Indian learning. Rov also brought out several

journals in Bengali, lindi, Persian and English

ISTOR 101

Vilyunapur opprt'el t IIenliCDralui languages to spreal litenay, Neientitie und olitiul

leaning among the people of nlian NIueontinent. doma over Samkrit tulien, TIe theeu liel nbrabmin elents to Saskri

Collepe. le introduced the tudy f wentern philosoply

Hd culre in Sannkrit Colleye. T le belicved in

e eductional philomophy wlich was a blend

Did you know?

David Hare was a Seottish watehmaker who came to

India in 1800. He promoted western education n the

country and founded many educational institutionn in

Bengal during the British rule. Poremost among them o astern and Wcstern culturc.

Vilyasagar worked towardu 1he upliftnent of are Hindu School and Hlare School,

women. le fought a long struggle for widow

rcmarriage. As a reult of his ctforts, the Widow

Remarriage Act was pawscd in 1856. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was

monumental figure of the Bengal Renaissance.

He was a great scholar and social reformer. He

another Vidyasagar also championed female education.

Ile helped Eliot Drinkwater Bethune establish

the Bethune School in Calcutta in 1849, which

is considered a great humanist who championed was the first Indian school for girls.

the cause of the poor and oppressed sections of

society. He dedicated his entire life towards social As a government inspector of schools, he becgan

35 girls' schools on his own cxpenscs. reform.

ACTIVITY In 1851, he became the principal of the Sanskrit

College. While a great Sanskrit scholar, he was also

open to modern western thought, and believed in

combination of the best learnings of East and West.

hink of a few qualities that Vidyasag1r must have

Ssessed as a person to be able to couribute in the way

he did to the cause ol widows and women in general

SOCIAL REFORMS Dayanand Saraswati Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar worked tirclessly for Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a great rcformer o

the Hindu socicty. He founded the Arya Samaj in

1875, which worked for reforming Hindu religion in social reforms. In a

time when women

could not be educated, north India.

when only the Dayanand Saraswati brahmanic class had believed that the access to education, sclfishness of brahmins the Sanskrit language Was corrupting Hindu

religion. He believed and religious texts,

Vidyasagar instituted

several path-breaking

changes.

the Vedas to be Isbwar Chandra Vidyasagar infallible and a source of

all knowledge and truth. He rejected all the later Swami Dayanand

102 HISTORY

religious thoughts if they were in contradiction to the His simple teachings attracted many followers.

Vedas. Most prominent among his followers was

While he held the Vedas in high esteem, individual Narendranath Datta, who later came to be known

reason remained the decisive factor. He strongly o*a attacked Hindu orthodoxy and based his teachings Swami Vivekananda

as Swami Vivekananda.

on the interpretation of the Vedas. Swami Vivekananda popularised the religious

message of Ramakrishna Paramahansa far and

wide. He proclaimed the essential oneness of

He opposed idolatry, religious rituals and all religions and condemned narrowness in

Dayanand Saraswati believed that everyone

could have a direct access to god.

customs, particularly the rigid caste practices religious matters. He was a staunch believer

that were preached by the brahmins. in the Vedanta philosophy, which he declared

was rational in its approach. He advocated

universal brotherhood, peace, tolerance and

humanity.

He favoured the introduction of western

education and sciences.

Saraswati opposed the system, caste Swami Vivekananda untouchability and child marriage. also believed hat

Indians He also supported education for women and

widow remarriage.

were

them s elves

responsible for their After the death of Dayanand Saraswati, his followers

started a network of Dayanand Anglo-Vedicown stagnation and

(DAV) Schools throughout the country. These degradation, which

was due to their institutions were based on western education and Swami Vivekananda isolation from the sciences blended with traditional learning.

rest of the world. The only solution was to interact

ACTIVITY with the world and imbibe its modern ideas.

Vivekananda opposed the caste system and

untouchability, and criticised the mindless rituals,

customs and superstitions promoted by the priestly

class. He promoted the ideas of liberty, equality and

free thinking.

Social reformers worked for spread of education in

India and set up several educational institutions.

Collect information on the contributions of these

institutions in the field of education of women.

Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission Ramakrishna Paramahansa Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a priest at the in 1897 to promote humanitarian and social work.

Kali Temple at Dakshineshwar, near Calcutta. He

followed the path of religious salvation through India which worked for social service.

The Mission opened numerous branches all over

renunciation, meditation and bhakti. Paramhansa Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule

believed that different religions were different

paths to the same god. He believed that service to Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule were two great social retormers in

Maharashtra in the nineteenth century. humanity is service to god.

HISTORY 103

Tlhe Theosophical Socicty advocatedthe revival of Jyotiro Phhule. popularly known as Mahatnma Phule, started a raadical social movement agaiust the ncient religions such as Tlinuistn and Buddhism

It also pronoted the idea ot universal brotherhon hism.

SOcial injustices ot the caste svstem, and waged an

deological war against the brahmins. He attacked of man. The Socicty Workcd to revive Indin

brahminorthodoxy and ehallengedancicnt seriptures. n

religions and traditions, and inculcating a scnsc of

ln 1873, he established the Satyashodhak Samaj self confidence and pride anong Indians.

(Society of Seckers of Truth) to fight against caste Aunie Besant also contributed in the sphere of

diserimination and liberate the lower castes trom thne eucation. She established the Central Hindu

School at Benaras. 1his school later developed into

Benaras Hindu University.

stigma and restrictions imposed by the brahmins.

He also championed the cause of women's education

and was supported by his wife. Savitribai Phule, in

this quest. Reforms in West India Many reformers initiated retorms movements in

the Maharashtra region. Savitribai Phule was a radical teacher, thinker and retormer. She was taught to read and write by Phule

himselt. In 1851, Jvotiba established a girls' school

and asked Savitribai to teach in the school. Thus, was Gopal Hari Deshmukh, popularly known as

One of the earliest reformers from western India

Lokahitawadi. He attacked Hindu orthodoxy and

believed in the principles of rationality and social

cquality.

she became the first woman teacher of modern

Maharashtra.

They also established ashramas for the widows and

orphanages for child-widows. The Phules advocated The Prarthana Samaj was founded with the aim

widow remarriage. of reviving Hindu religion through modern western

ideas. R.G. Bhandarkar and Madhav Govind

Ranade were two eminent leaders of the Samaj. It was heavily influenced by the Brahmo Samaj. It preached monotheism or worship of one god,

Annie Besant Annie Besant was a British

social reformer who was

opposed caste hierarchies as well as priesthood which led to the corruption of Hinduism.

actively involved in the Indian

national movement. She

supported the Irish Home

Rule League and started the Another great retormer in west India was Gopu Ganesh Agarkar. He propagated rationalism and was

critical of blindly following traditions as well as talse

gloritication of India's past.

Home Rule Movement in

India.

She was an active member of

Annie Besant Reforms in South India the Theosophical Society.

The Theosophical Society was

founded by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel H.S. Olcott in New York city. In

1882, it founded a centre in Adyar near M:adras

Many reformers worked in south India to brin about a regeneration of the Indian society.

KANDUKURI VEERASALINGAM (Chennai). Annie Besant was given the leadership Kandukuri Veerasalingam was a promnc prominent

retormer in the Andhra region and considered tne of the Theosophical Society.

104 HISTORYY

prophet of modern

Andhra

Reforms Among Muslims He Religious reform movement emerged late among the

Muslims. The Muslim upper classes were initially was a champion

of womens wary of western education. However, later some

emancipation. He educated Muslims realised the need for social reforms

campaigned for of the Muslim community for its progress.

widow remarriage In 1863, Nawab Abdul Latif founded the and education of

Mohammedan Literary Society in Calcutta. It

women.

promoted religious, political and social reforms in

the light of modern western ideas and appealed

to the upper and middle class Muslims to take up He started

Vivekavardhin i,

a monthly journal Kandukuri Veerasalingam western education.

to put forth the

ills of the society. He also started several other SIR SYED AHMAD KHAN

journals, such as Chintamani, Satihita bodhini,

and Satyavadi, and helped in the development of

Telugu literature.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a leading reformers

among Muslims in India. He led the Aligarh Movement, which worked for modernising the

Veerasalingam established girls schools in Muslim community.

Dhavaleshwaram in 1874 and in Rajamundry in Syed Ahmad Khan

1884 to encourage education for women. tried to reconcile

Islamic teachings SREE NARAYANA GURU with modern

Sree Narayana Guru was a great saint, scholar, scientific thought.

philosopher and social reformer in Kerala. His He argued that the

campaign was based on the message of one caste, only authoritative

one religion, one god for mankind. He believed

that the ultimate goal of all religions is the same,

work on Islam was

the Quran and all

and so there was no reason for religious conflicts.

He was a crusader for the lower classes of sociery

other works on

Islamic teachings Sir Syed Abmad Khan

and campaigned against caste inequalities and

hierarchies in the societ

were secondary. He

also interpreted

Quran in the light of modern ideas of rationalism

Naravan Guru was a follower of Advaita philosophy and scientific thought.

and preached that the ultimate salvation is to be

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan believed that all religions TOund in oneself. He also condemned many socia

had an underlying unity. practices like polygamy.

n 1905, Guru started an evening school for lower Hebelieved that religious and social revival of the

ste people. He also established Advaitha Ashram

Awave in 1913 and founded a Sanskrit school

there in 1916.

Muslim communiry was possible only by imbibing

western education and sciences.

HISTORY 105

He founded the Muhammadan Anglo- Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875 as a centre for learning western culture and sciences. This began in the late nineteenth century. The Singh

Reforms Among Sikhs Social reforms among the Sikh community

college later became the Aligarh Muslim

University. Sabha was set up in Amritsar and Lahore.

The Sabha established the Khalsa College in

Sir Syed also advocated several social reforms. Amritsar which promoted Punjabi language and

He urged the Muslim community to give up literature.

traditional rituals and customs. Religious reform movement among the Sikhs was led by the Akali Movement started by the

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.

The Akali Movement aimed at purifying the

He campaigned for improving the status of

women in the society. He was against polygamy and the purdah gurudwaras of the corrupt management and freeing System. them from the control of the mahants.

Timeline

1875: Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj; Sir Syed Ahmad founded

the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental

College in Aligarh

1849: Vidyasagar started the -

first girls' school in Calcutta

1828: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj

BCE 1CE 1825 1875 CE

1800 1850 1900 1829: William Bentinck

banned sati

106 HISTORY

CONCEPT MAP

Social and Religious Reforms

Raja Ram Mohan

Roy Ishwar Chandra Dayanand Saraswati Swami Vivekananda

Vidyasagar Worked for revival and reform of Hindu

Believed that Indians should imbibe western Fought against

sati and child Campaigned for

widow remarriage Got the Widow

religion in north India Believed the Vedas to

be infallible Founded the Arya

Samaj in 1875 Followers started a network of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools

values to progress Opposed to caste system and

untouchability Established Ramakrishna Mission

marriage .Got law passed

abolishing sati in Remarriage Act passed in the 1856 1829

Founded Brahmo Samaj

Founded the Bethune School in

in 1897 in 1828 Calcutta in 1849

Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule Annie Besant

Campaigned against the social injustices of the caste system Established Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873

Set up many schools for girls Set up orphanages and ashramas for widows

British social reformer and an active member of Theosophical Society Established the Central Hindu School at Benaras

Reforms in Other Areas Kandukuri Veerasalingam campaigned for widow remarriage and cducation of women in Andhra region. Sree Narayana Guru campaigned against the caste incqualities in Kerala. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan worked for modernising the Muslim community. Akali Movement campaigned against corrupt management of gurudwaras by mahants.

HISTORY 107

Exercise A. Fill in the blanks.

1. is known as the Father of Indian Renaissance'.

2. Bethune School was founded by. 3. abolished sati in 1829.

4. was the principal of Sanskrit college. 5. DAV stands for

, school.

B. Match the columns.

People 1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy 2. Dayanand Saraswati

Movement a. Theosophical Society b. Brahmo Samaj c. Satyashodhak Samaj 3. Swami Vivekananda

4. Colonel Olcott d. Ramakrishna Mission S. Jyoti Phule e. Arya Samaj

C. Choose the correct answer. 1. DAV schools were set up by the followers of .

a. Raja Ram Mohan Roy b. Swami Dayanand Saraswati

c. Swami Vivékananda d. Annie Besant

was the first lady teacher of modern Maharashtra.

a. Jyotiba Phule b. Annie Besant c. Madame Blavatsky d. Savitribai Phule

3. Swami Vivekananda was a follower of

a. Dayanand Saraswati b. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar c. Ramakrishna Paramahansa d. Annie Besant

4. Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College later became the

Aligarh Muslim University b. Sahitya Sabha a.

C. Mohammedan Literary Society d. Sangh Sabha

5. The Khalsa college was set up in.

Delhi b. Amritsar C. Lahore a. d. Allahabad

D. Answer the following questions in brief. 1. Mention any two evil practices that the Brahmo Samaj fought against. 2. What did Savitribai Phule work for?

3. Who established the Ramakrishna Mission? What was its purpose? 4. What did Sree Narayana Guru campaign against? 5. How did the Sikhs fight the corrupt management ot the gurudwaras?

SHISTORY

E. Answer the tollowing questions in detail.

1. Elaborate on the contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in social and religious reforms.

2. How did Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaign for upliftment of women?

3. Give an account of the work done by Swami Dayanand Saraswati for the revival of Hindu society.

4. What were Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's views on social reform?

5. How did the Theosophical Society help the cause of nationalism?

F. Snap Shot!

This is an image of a social reformer in south India.

1. ldentify the social reformer.

2. Mention his contributions to the social reforms.

Life Skills Problem-Solving

We have read of the conditions of women in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in India. Over the

years, their condition has made a lot of progress in the urban areas. However, a lot still needs to be done.

How can we as fellow citizens improve the condition of women?

Creative Arts Integration Imagine that you are campaigning aginst sati with Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He has asked you to

write a petition to the Governor-General rcquesting him to abolish the system. Draft the petition and

highlight the main reasons to abolish sati. Remember that you are writing at a time when sati was a

generally accepted practice. The petition must be strong enough to convince the Governor-General to

ban the practice.

Project Find out about some women reformers in addition to the ones you learnt in this chapter. Prepare a

chart giving information on their lives and main contributions.

HISTORY 109