RELIGIOUS REFORM

MOVEMENTS
 m)
co
ail.
gm
2 @
1
uru
• ‘I regret to say’ said Rammohan Roy in 1828 ‘that ilm
e the
on
g
a
present system of religion adhered to by Hindu’s D V(m is not
AR
well calculated to promote their political
I K UMinterests.
H
RUT
• The distinctions of castes introduced A
RU
M innumerable
G U
divisions amongst them which d for has deprived them of
lise
patriotic feelings. ers
o n a

t is p
• It is, I think, necessary
o
en
cu
m that some change takes place in
is d
their religion atTh least for the sake of their political
advantage & social comfort’
• The social reform movements of 19th century were essentially top-
down led movements. .l co
m)
ai
gm
• The social base for these movements were the newly emerging 2@
uru
1 middle
n g
class & the traditional and western educated intellectuals a i l meo motivated by
V(m
the values of rationality, reason, universalism & R D humanism.
UMA
Some of them were TH
IK
A RU
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy- Bengal-Brahmo Samaj-1828
G URU
M

or
df
• Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra na
lise & Arya Samaj in Punjab & North India.
o
ers
• Satysodak Samaj- Jyotiba nt
i s p Phule, Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana
e
(SNDP) in Kerala.docum
is
Th
• Aligarh & Ahmadiya movements amongst Muslims.
• Rehnumai Mazdeyasan Sabha amongst Parsis
The social reform movements argued for a number of causes- m)
co
mail.
• Legalization of widow remarriage- Hindu Widow Remarriage ru 1
g
2@ act 1856-
gu
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Vishnu Shastri Pandit- Widow ilm
eo
n Remarriage
a
association. D V(m
R
MA
• Abolition of sati, female infanticide. HI
K U
T
RU
• Abolition of untouchability. RU
M A
G U
• Prohibition of Child Marriage-1872. e d for B.M Malabari-Age of Consent act
alis
1891 (<12yrs girls). Sarda eAct rso 1930 (<14 yr girl, <18yr male)
n
p
t is
• Stressing the need ofcumwomen education.
e n

is do
Th
Given the interconnections between religious beliefs & social practices,

religious reformation was a necessary pre-requisite for social reform.

 REFORM MOVEMENTS- RATIONALISM &
UNIVERSALISM gm
ail.
co
m)

2 @
1
guru
e on
• They challenged the unquestioned acceptance of religious beliefs and V(m
a ilm

argued for a rationalist critique of religion. UMAR D

H IK
RUT
MA
URU
G
• Questioned the practice of traditional
ed
for rituals in the light of rationality
n alis
rso
is pe
nt
ume
• Questioned the practice
oc
is d of polytheism, idolatry, idea of religious
Th
sanction for practice of untouchability.
 REVIVAL MOVEMENTS
)
• Revival movements strongly opposed such reform movements a i l . co
m
gm
which were backed by the colonial govt & appeared to ube 2 a
@
u r 1
surrender to colonial govt by the nationalists. eo
ng
ailm
V(m
ARD
M
KU
• Revivalism was marked by a conceptualization
UTH
I of a glorious
R
religious past which had degenerated
R UMA under british rule.
GU
or
df
alise
son
er
• Indian nationalists invoked nt
i s p the past as an alternative to colonial
e
rule and aimed to provide
d o cu
m for a viable cultural foundation of
is
nationhood. Th

• Such revival movements were marked by the use of religious

symbols for political mobilization.
 REVIVAL MOVEMENTS & CRITIQUE
m)
co
ail.
gm
2 @
1
Tilak- opposition to the passage of age of consent bill 1891.
ng
uru
eo
ilm
• Ganpati & Shivaji Festivals- these festivals actedDas important vehicles for
V(m
a

disseminating revolutionary political ideas and AR

Mtraining of local cadres
K U
H I
RUT
MA
URU
Cow protection movements: Gaurakshini or Sabhas- started by Arya Samaj
G
e df
in 1870’s. converted it into an sorganized
on
alis all india sentiment.
per
t is
men
cu
is do
Th
• Hindi-Urdu Controversy: in 1890’s in Punjab, NWFP & Benaras-
Madan Mohan Malviya argued for a equal status to Nagri as om)
c
ail.
compared to Urdu. (Resolution passed in 1900) @
g m
ru12
gu
• The shuddhi movements led by Arya Samaj & theilmTalibagh
eo
n &
a
(m
Tanzeem movements led to communal polarizations.
DV R
UMA
I K
H
RUT
MA
• Critique: the revivalist tone of cultural G UR
U
nationalism and the overt
o r
use of hindu religious symbols e d f for political mobilization alienated
al i s
s on
muslims and lower castes is p
e & this nationalism which grew in
r
t
strength in early 20oth en
mcentury was beset with contradictions from
c u
beginning. is d
Th
 SAMPLE QUESTIONS
m)
The socio-cultural regeneration of 19th
century India was occasioned by ail.
co
gm
colonial presence, but not created by it. Analyze. u r u 12
@
ng
eo
ailm
(m
R DV
The 19th century social reform movements envisioned MA
neither a revival
I KU
H
UT
of past, nor a total break with tradition. MComment.
AR
U
G UR
for
ed
alis
rson th century moved away from their
The social reform movements pe i s
of 19
e nt
universalistic orientation oc
u and metamorphosed into religiously
m
is d
particularistic ones.ThCritically analyze.