Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. UPSC IAS Mains 2021 General Studies (Paper – 1)
When the British came to India, they introduced the English language as well as certain Western ideas. This led to the development of new Indian middle-class intelligentsia, where people like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar, Dayanand Saraswati, etc. spread the ideals of liberty, social and economic equality, democracy and justice.
Brahmo Samaj and Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known as the father of Modern India’s Renaissance and a tireless social reformer who inaugurated the age of enlightenment and liberal reformist modernisation in India.
- He founded Brahmo Sabha in 1828, whose main aim was the worship of the eternal God. However, it was against priesthood, rituals and sacrifices.
- The greatest achievement in the field of social reform was the abolition of Sati in 1829.
- He advocated the abolition of polygamy and wanted women to be educated and given the right to inherit property.
- This led to the emergence of rationalism and enlightenment in India which indirectly contributed to the nationalist movement.
- It was the forerunner of all social, religious and political movements of modern India.
Young Bengal and Henry Lui Vivian Derozio
- Derozio joined the Hindu College of Calcutta as a teacher.
- He promoted radical ideas through his teaching and by organising an association for debate and discussions on literature, philosophy, history and science.
- He inspired his followers and students to question all authority.
- Derozio and his famous followers, known as Young Bengal, were fiery patriots.
- They cherished the ideals of the French Revolution (1789) and the liberal thinking of Britain.
Apart from attacking social evils like bigotry, superstition, untouchability, purdah system, sati, child marriage, social inequalities and illiteracy, the social and religious reform movements also helped in dealing with the racism perpetuated by the colonial rule. This eventually led to the development of nationalism against the British Government.
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