Socio-Religious Movements

Introduction to Social and Religious Reform Movements in the 19th and 20th Century

In the early 19th century, the urgent need for social and religious reform movements began to exhibit. It arose in response to the contact with the Western culture, education, and other aspects. At that time, Indians were not that educated and aware of understanding the need for independence and social responsibilities. 

At that time, the Hindu community became quite rude and went in a downward direction. So few educated peoples were no longer willing to accept the transition, beliefs, and old-age practices of the Hindu society. The impact of the western ideas gave birth to the new knock up which led the Indian society to the new social scenario known as the Renaissance.

Socio-Religious Reform Movement: Raja Rammohan Roy

The central figure of the cultural awakening in Indian society was Raja Ram Mohan Roy who is the “father of the Indian Renaissance”. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the greatest patriots, scholars, and active humanists. Ram Mohan Roy was dedicated to the country and worked throughout his life for the regeneration of Indians through social, religious, political, and intellectual aspects.

Ram Mohan Roy was born in the year 1772 in a small village named Radhanagar in the state of West Bengal. He studied Sanskrit literature and Hindu philosophy in Varanasi, and Arabic and Koran in Patna. He also mastered various languages like Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and English.

Ram Mohan Roy had started struggling against all the social evils at an early age. He argued that all the Hindu texts upheld the doctrine of monotheism. To prove his thoughts, he translated some Hindu texts like the Vedas and the Upanishads.

He defended the Hindu religion and thoughts of Hindu philosophy from the attack of the missionaries. He was always desperate for new age requirements of social thoughts that would awake Hinduism into a new cast. In the year 1829, he grounded in the Atmiya Sabha, which later represented them as the Brahmo Samaj.

Ram Mohan Roy represented the rise of consciousness in Indian society. He was the first one who opposed the caste system as it destroyed the unity within the country.

Henry Vivian Derozio- the Young Bengal movement

In the 19th century, the establishment of the Hindu College became one of the most critical events in the history of Bengal. This educational institution was carrying forward the reform movement in West Bengal. This movement led by the Hindu society was known as the Young Bengal Movement that was started in college. 

Henry Derozio, the teacher of the Hindu College, was the leader of the Young Bengal Movement. In the year 1826, he joined the Hindu College as a teaching member and taught there till 1831. He was inspired by the revolutionary ideology of liberty, equality, and fraternity and that helped him to think rationally and freely. 

Derozio also influenced his students to question anything wrong with the authority or the society, to pray for liberty, and equality. He was also a worshipper of truth and freedom. He spread his radical ideas by formatting a young association that organized debates and discussions on various topics like literature, history, philosophy, and science.

Derozio’s followers condemned religious rites; they also pleaded for female education, the improvement of the Social condition of females. 

Debendranath Tagore: Socio-Religious Reform Movement

Debendranath Tagore was one of the co-founders of the Brahmo Samaj. He took the first step to convert the Brahmo Samaj into an independent religious and social community. He tried to find the best way to represent the traditional Indian culture in a western method.

In the year 1839, he grounded in the Tattvabodhini Sabha to pass on Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s ideology and thoughts. He also started to promote a systematic study structure in Bengali about Indian history.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar: Socio-Religious Reform Movement

In the middle of the nineteenth century, the person who took the baton of the reform movement in India is none other than Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. He was a Sanskrit scholar, and he took the position of the principal in the Sanskrit College. He was a human and Social activist and resolved his whole life to change the social condition of India.

Vidyasagar was an enthusiastic and staunch supporter of women’s education, and that’s the reason he helped Lord Bethune to build the Bethune School. He also started working for widows and he openly advocated widow marriage in Bengal. With his support, the Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856.

Dayanand Saraswati- Founder Of The Arya Samaj

In the northern region of India, Arya Samaj took the flag of reform movements. Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of Arya Samaj, which aimed to strengthen and reinforce Hinduism in north India. He took up arms against the practice of idol worship. 

He started questioning the meaningless rituals, and decried polytheism and the caste system. He wanted to decontaminate Hinduism. After his death, his devotees established the Dayanand Anglo School in Lahore. 

Jyotirao Govinda Rao Phule

In Maharashtra, Jyotirao Govinda Rao Phule started the reform movement. He started fighting for the improvement of women, poor and untouchable’s Social conditions. He started his movement by founding the Satyasodhak Samaj.

People from all caste and religions were allowed to join the foundation.

Annie Besant- The Theosophical Society

Annie Besant was an Irish woman who started the Theosophical movement in India. She urged Indians to feel proud of their culture. This society followed the universal brotherhood rule to create unity among all.

Annie Besant had founded the Central Hindu College in Benaras, though in modern days, it is known as Banaras Hindu University. 

Contribution Of Literature and Press in the 19th And 20th Century

Literature and newspaper played an important role in spreading social and religious awareness among people. These were also a medium for spreading social reforms. The social reformers dedicated their life to enriching Indian culture, and literature. 

Poets like Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Iqbal, and Subramania Bharati inspired the masses by spreading their ideas through their pens. Some reformers started their own journals and newspapers to spread awareness in society. 

Characteristics Of The Social And Religious Reform Movements In The 19th And 20th Century

The reform movement based on Social and religious characteristics had some common features. They are as follows:

1. All the reformers had tried to propagate the idea of one God. They want to tie up all the religions in one thread.
2. All of the social activists in the era of reform movements in India attacked meaningless rituals, idolatry, and polytheism.
3. All of the reformers tried hard to improve the social condition of women 
4. They all were against the caste system and the rude ritual of untouchability
5. All of the social activists bear the flag of unity in Indian society in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Conclusion

Indian philosophy and culture were upheld by reformers like Dayanand Saraswati and Vivekananda. As a result, Indians became proud of their culture and had a deep sense of pride in it. Women were encouraged to attend school. A female school was established. A women’s medical college was also founded. Socio-religious movements developed national consciousness through cultural and ideological struggle. As a result, nationalism was able to develop over time.