Protest, Agitation, Social Movements

A social movement is a loosely defined attempt by numerous people to attain a specific objective, usually one of social or political significance. This could be to implement or resist a social change. It is a collective action in which individuals or organisations are involved. “Organisational structures and techniques that may empower oppressed groups to mount effective challenges and oppose the powerful and advantaged societies” is one of the definitions of social movements. They reflect a bottom-up approach to social development within the nations.

Any society comprises various people of all religions, castes, colours, genders, and faiths. It is expected that they all live in harmony and without discrimination. The ideal condition is when all elements of society live in equality, freedom and fraternity. On the other hand, human civilization indicates that many sorts of acts are common throughout the world; these practices stem from the human thirst for power. In the long term, these discriminatory and exploitative activities manifest as social problems, leaving a scar on the face of any civilised society.

In the first part of the nineteenth century, societal problems such as casteism, prejudices, sati pratha, widowhood and child marriage plagued Indian society, obstructing our progress. There was a pressing demand for social reform from the early nineteenth century forward. When the British arrived in India, they brought with them some modern concepts. Liberty, social and economic equality, fraternity, democracy, and justice are some of the values that have significantly impacted Indian society.

Western ideas awoke many leaders and educated Indians in the nineteenth century. Societal and religious reform movements were founded by reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Keshab Chandra Sen, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. Such movements were intended to methodically remove the social problems and ideas destroying Indian culture and civilization.

Social reform movements in India

Here are some famous social movements in India:

1. Arya Samaj

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform organisation, on April 7, 1875, in Bombay
• This organisation drew in leaders and nationalists such as Pandit Guru Dutt, Lala Lajpat Rai and Lala Hansraj
• This organisation was founded to combat idol worship, superstitious rituals, animal sacrifice, polytheism and priesthood
• This organisation’s motto was “Back to the Vedas”
• Arya Samaj supported female education, ban of child marriage and the right of widows to remarry in certain circumstances
• This organisation was instrumental in altering Indians’ religious attitudes. The growth of a militant Hindu consciousness in the 19th and 20th centuries was partly due to a preaching movement

2. Ahmadiyya Movement

• The Ahmaddiyya movement was an Islamic movement In the late nineteenth century
• Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian founded this organisation in 1889 to counter the polemics of Christian missionaries and the Arya Samaj
• Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, motivated by western liberalism and the Hindu religious reform movement, founded this organisation on the principles of universal religion for all humanity
• This movement was important in promoting western education among Indian Muslims, as well as standing up to the jihad, which was a sacred battle against non-Muslims

3. Deva Samaj

• Shiv Narain Agnihotri started the Deva Samaj religious sect in Lahore in 1887
• The Samaj emphasised Guru’s sovereignty and the importance of good deeds
• Widow remarriage, women’s education, caste blending and the prohibition of child marriage and sati were all promoted
• Its originator preached dual worship of God and himself in 1892, but later abandoned God worship. Aside from that, they recommended moral virtues including abstaining from intoxicants, violence, bribery, and gambling
• A book named Deva Shastra was written to compile Deva Samaj’s thoughts and teachings

4. Brahmo Samaj

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy created the Brahmo Sabha, which was eventually renamed Brahmo Samaj, in 1828
• Its main purpose was to worship the everlasting God. Priesthood, sacrifices and rites were all outlawed
• Prayers, meditation and scripture reading were at the heart of everything. It was believed that all religions should coexist. It led to an increase in rationalism and knowledge in India, which indirectly supported the nationalist cause
• It was the forerunner of all social, religious and political movements in modern India. The Adi Brahmo Samaj, led by Debendranath Tagore, and the Brahmo Samaj of India, led by Keshub Chandra Sen, split up in 1866

5. Satyashodhak Samaj

• Jyotiba Phule led a successful campaign against upper-caste dominance and brahminical supremacy
• In 1873, he formed the Satyashodhak Samaj
• The movement’s key goals were service to the community and education of women and the lower castes
• In contrast to the brahmins’ sign of Rama, Phule adopted the Rajah Bali symbol
• The caste system and socioeconomic inequities were to be abolished completely, according to Phule
• This movement provided oppressed communities a feeling of class identification in opposition to the Brahmins, who were considered as exploiters

Conclusion

The socio-religious reform movements aimed to bring about and maintain social justice in India while also reducing social evils and promoting women’s education. These religious movements aided the British Empire greatly in enacting various laws. These movements gave women’s education a stronger voice. Various educational institutions were established as a result of this fight at the time, and these institutions were later transformed into universities. The biggest contribution to the development of the Indian constitution was the voice against untouchability. Finally, these social reform movements in India brought peace and togetherness to the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities, motivating them to pursue social justice