Religious Movements in the 19th -20th Century

India is a land of great religious diversity. Throughout history, there have been many socio-religious reform movements that have sought to change the religious landscape of the country. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important socio-religious reform movements in India’s modern history. These movements played a significant role in shaping Indian society and culture, and continue to be an important part of Indian society today.

Socio-religious reform movements

Socio-religious reform movements are a significant part of the modern history of India. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most important socio-religious reform movements that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Socio-religious reform movements in the 19th and 20th century

People began to appreciate the benefits of Indian culture in the 1800s and 1900s, but they were also vociferous in their rejection of its negative aspects. To transform Indian society, a number of leaders arose. They primarily aimed to instil modern principles in Indian society.

“Moving about here and there emaciated figures of young and old in tattered rags, whose faces bear deep-cut lines of despair and poverty of hundreds of years; cows, bullocks, buffaloes common everywhere – aye, the same melancholy look in their eyes, the same feeble physique, on the wayside, refuse and dirt; – this is our present-day India,” Swami Vivekananda said of the Indians at the

Social leaders set out to alter their old religions, driven by a desire to adapt their society to the demands of the modern world of science, democracy, and nationalism. This was due to the fact that religion was a fundamental component of people’s lives at the period, and there could be little social reform without religious reform.

What were the major issues during the 19th-20th centuries?

The major issues before socio-religious reform movements in the 19th and 20th centuries were

– the treatment of women.

– caste system and its evils.

– widow Remarriage

– education of women

– abolition of Sati 

List of socio-religious movements in the 19th and 20th century

Now, we will discuss the list of socio-religious movements in the 19th and 20th centuries that arose as a result of these major issues –

Arya Samaj (1875). [Swami Dayanand Saraswati]

One of the major socio-religious reform movements was the Arya samaj movement which began in the 19th century and sought to reform Hinduism. It was founded by Dayananda Saraswati and emphasised the importance of self-reliance and education. it also sought to end child marriage, polygamy and sati.

Brahmo Samaj (1828). [Raja Ram Mohan Roy]

The FIRST major socio-religious reform movement was the Brahmo Samaj movement. This movement began in the 19th century and sought to reform Hinduism. It was founded by Ram Mohan Roy. The Brahmo Samaj movement emphasised the importance of reason and rationality and sought to end casteism and superstition.

Theosophical Society (1875). [Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]

Another important socio-religious reform movement was the theosophical society which began in Kolkata and sought to end child marriage, polygamy and sati. The society also came in existence to constitute the nucleus of humanity’s worldwide brotherhood, without regard for race, creed, sex, caste, or colourand to promote comparative religion, philosophy, and scientific studies.

Prarthana Samaj (1867). [atmaram pandurang]

The Prarthana samaj movement was founded in 1867 by atmaram pandurang  and aimed to promote universal brotherhood and understanding among all religions. it also sought to reform Hinduism by seeking to end child marriage, polygamy and sati.

Ramakrishna Mission (1897). [Swami Vivekananda]

The Ramakrishna Mission was founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda and aimed to promote spiritual values among the people of India. It also sought to reform Hinduism by spreading the Vedanta teachings to improve Indian citizen’s social condition. 

Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (1878). [Sivanath Sastri and Anandamohan Bose]

The Saharan Brahmo samaj was founded in 1878 by Sivanath Sastri and Anandamohan Bose Its primary goal was to worship the eternal God. Priesthood, ceremonies, and sacrifices were all condemned. It centred on prayers, meditation, and scripture reading. It thought that all religions should be together. It was modern India’s first intellectual reform movement. It resulted in the growth of rationalism and enlightenment in India, which aided the nationalist cause indirectly.

Aligarh Movement (1875). [Sir Syed Ahmed Khan]

The Aligarh movement was founded in 1875 by sir Syed Ahmed Khan. It encouraged widows to remarry and campaigned against child weddings, high wedding costs, and rituals like widows’ heads being shaved, among other things. It was an anti-British movement that tried to educate Muslims in order to improve their situation.

Conclusion: 

Socio-religious movements have always been an important part of India’s history. The 19th and 20th centuries were no different, with a number of significant socio-religious movements taking place in that time period. In this article , we’ve looked at three of the most important socio-religious movements in modern Indian history: the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, and Swami Vivekananda. Each movement had a unique impact on Indian society and culture. If you are interested in learning more about these movements or other aspects of Indian history, this blog is for you. These movements are a great part of our history and every citizen must have knowledge about these.