Social Reform Movements Before 1857

The social reform movement was introduced before 1857 to eradicate social inequality and reduce the violation of women’s rights in Indian society. The social reform, a movement was started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in East India to eradicate child marriage, sati pratha, purdah system, polytheism, and polygamy from the Indian society. The social reform movement in 1820 introduced legislation guidelines for the development of a society free from casting inequality. Society promoted women’s rights for inclusion of the rule of a marriage of divorced women. Further, to develop the education for the Muslim community Aligarh movement was introduced in 1875. The creation of Arya Samaj in North India between the years 1824-1883 helped promote social equality for women. 

What Was a Social Reform Movement Before 1857?

The Arya Samaj movement in North India in 1824 fought against polytheism, priesthood, animal sacrifice, and idolatry in Indian society. Arya Samaj eradicated the untouchability among the different classes of Hindus and removed barriers from the social people. Arya mahila Samaj was created to eradicate child marriage from society and elevate the normal situation of women in society. Pandita Ramabai developed Sharada Sadan for helping the divorced women and depressed community of the society. Atmiya Sabha was established by Raja Rammohan Roy in 1814 to conduct educational sessions on philosophy and ideology. 

Explanation of Brahmo Samaj

The Brahmo Samaj movement was introduced by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1773 and the tenure of the movement was 1772-1833. The creation of Brahmo Samaj helps to develop a movement against the casting inequality and unnecessary rituals among the Hindus. Brahmo Samaj also reduced the natural activity of promoting religious ideology in the society. Complete abolishment of child marriage and sati pratha are the two successful results of the movement in East India. Brahmo Samaj is the monotheistic act of Hinduism to promote social harmony and reduce untouchability among the people of the community. The Brahmo Samaj movement was introduced after conducting meetings such as Brahmo Sabha with the priests of Hindu culture.

The Main Purpose of Brahmo Samaj

The primary purpose of the movement is to reduce the impact of caste inequality among the people of India. Brahmo Samaj has been introduced to reform Hindu society from religious evils. This movement was developed for complete abolishment of Sati pratha and child marriage from society. The principle of Brahmo Samaj is to stop the meaningless rituals of Hindu culture and forbid idol worship. Brahmo Samaj also introduced the Hindu marriage act for the marriage of the widow and promoted rights for women in Indian society.

Tattvabodhini Sabha and Adi Brahmo Samaj

The Tattvabodhini Sabha was founded by Debendra Nath Tagore to form Brahmo religion in 1848 to encourage religious beliefs and stop unnecessary rituals in the society. During the phase of 1856-1858 Brahmo dharma was promoted by the Hindu priest to introduce the new form of worship called Brahmopasana. Keshab Chandra sen introduced the Sangat Sabha to discuss the spiritual and social clauses in the Hindu caste. Adi Brahmo Samaj was introduced by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dwarkanath Tagore to reform the movement of hindu religion and start the Renaissance in Bengal.

Young Bengal Movement

This movement was started between 1820- 1830 to meet the intellectual change among the youth of Bengal. This movement was started by Anglo Indian teacher Henry Vivian Derozio to inspire the young leaders of Bengal to promote uniformity of every religion in the society of India. Hindu college was started in 1817 to complete the formation of strategy by the young Bengal movement. Derozio promoted radical changes in society and helped to reduce inequality in society due to caste and class. 

The Main Objective of Young Bengal Movement

Main objective of the Young Bengal movement is to promote ideology and radical intellectual movement among the young leaders. In the movement, a separate debate Sabha was introduced to debate on the existence of God, religious conviction, freedom for religious beliefs and expression. Education for all the community was introduced in this movement and the main reason for this is to reduce the impact of social inequality among the people.

Conclusion

The above study indicates that the Social reform movement before 1857 was developed for complete eradication of social inequality and caste problems.The upper-class Hindus were the main reason for the caste inequality along with the Indian Hindu community. Unnecessary rituals and ideology among the upper class impacted the social rights of the community. Complete abolition of child marriage and Sati pratha was made by the movement in the East India region. Arya samaj prompted ideology among the upper-class Hindus to reduce polygamy and unnecessary rituals.