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Brahmo Samaj and Religious Keshav Sen’s tour in Maharashtra led Social and Religious Reform Movements Movements of Bengal to the foundation of Prarthana Samaj in 19 Bombay in 1867. It was started by R. G. CHAPTER Raja Rammohan Roy was born in Bhandarkar, a famous scholar and M. G. Can you recall the main aspects of the eastern countries they were called Bengal in 1772. He Ranade with ideas similar to Brahmo Bhakti movement you read about in Class ‘Orientalists’.) Now these books are was a great scholar Samaj. Sen has also a major influence upon VII? You may recall that Bhakti saints available for all to study. of Sanskrit, Persian, Kandukuri Veeresalingam who started criticised orthodoxy among both English, and knew reform movement in South India. Hindus and Muslims and pointed Arabic, Latin and However, out the oneness of God and Greek. differences arose equality of all human beings. These among the Raja Rammohan Roy ideas were further strengthened in He also studied members of the the 18 th and 19 th centuries. several religious Brahmo Samaj philosophies like Hinduism, Islam, and they broke Christian Missionaries and Christianity and Sufism. Having studied into smaller Oriental Scholars various religious books he was convinced organizations Many Christian missionaries that there is only one God and that Ramakrishna William Jones Max Muller often quarrelling came to India along with the worshipping of idols and making sacrifices with each other. Paramahamsa European companies to preach As the ancient Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, were incorrect. He was convinced that all Keshav Sen eventually became a Christianity in India. They severely Persian and Arabic books got translated into great religions had the same common disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who criticised the existing religious practices European languages, the rich and diverse beliefs and it was incorrect to criticise the preached ardent devotion to goddess Kali. and beliefs and tried to persuade people to cultural heritage of the country was religions of others. He also believed that Swami Vivekananda adopt Christianity. At the same time they recognized by all. This enabled the people we should accept a religious belief only if was a disciple of also established many educational with new ideas to reinterpret their own it is rational and if it is beneficial to people. Ramakrishna and he set institutions, hospitals and charity services religions better. He rejected the authority of priests and up the Ramakrishna with the view of serving the poor and needy. called upon people to study the original Mission with two This helped in spreading many new ideas books of their religions. He published his objectives - to revive a among people. The Europeans introduced printing ideas in magazines and books using the new reformed Hindu Soon a lively debate ensued between press in India. It made possible the technology of printing to reach out to religion and to engage the missionaries and leaders of Hinduism appearance of many newspapers and maximum number of people. in social work and Swami Vivekananda and Islam as each tried to defend their own magazines. Books were also published In 1828 Rammohan Roy founded the social service for religious ideas. Such debates helped people in different Indian languages. This Brahmo Samaj - an assembly of all those national reconstruction. not only to understand each others ideas made books accessible to a large who believed in an universal religion based He believed that Hindu religion was but also encouraged them to enquire into number of people at a very low cost. on the principle of One Supreme God. After superior to all others. He emphasized the the original and basic tenets of their own People could now carry on debates and the death of Rammohan Roy in 1833, the teachings of Upanishadas which were being religions. Several European scholars discussions through these newspapers, Brahmo movement was led by translated and printed in large numbers. At studied the ancient literature of India, magazines and books and easily reach Devendranath Tagore and Keshav Chandra the same time he wanted Hindu religion to translated them and published them as out to large number of people. Sen. They popularised their ideas by get rid of ritualism, superstitions etc. and books. (Since they studied books of the lecturing all over India. Free distribution by A.P. Government 211 212 Religion and Society Social and Religious Reform Movements adopt some of the positive qualities of religions to return to Hinduism based on were opposed to English education as they You may have noticed that all the European culture like freedom and respect the Vedas. He set up Arya Samaj, in 1875 felt that the teachings of modern science reformers tried to reinterpret the for women, work ethic, technology, etc. He to preach his ideas and also wrote a book, and philosophy were contrary to Islamic ancient religious books in order to wanted the Mission to set up hospitals, Satyartha Prakash, which was printed in tenets. defend their reformist ideas. Look at schools, orphanages and also work to bring large numbers and read widely by the However, many Muslims like Sir Syed the examples of all the major relief in times of floods and famines. educated class. Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) were convinced reformers and see how they did this. After his death in 1883 his followers that the bitterness between Muslims and the What were the similarities and Why do you think there was in Punjab set up the Dayanand Anglo Vedic British must end. In order to progress, differences between the views of bitterness between Muslims and the (DAV) School to educate children in Muslims should participate in government Rammohan Roy and Swami British after 1857? Vivekananda? modern subjects and at the same time keep and get larger share them in touch with their religion and in Government jobs. Do you see any similarity between How do you think were the early culture. Some years later there were This was the DAV schools and the MAO reformers influenced by European differences within the Arya Samaj possible only college? culture and Christianity? movement. Some people felt that they through modern Do you find any religious idea In what way do you think printing should only focus on teaching Vedic education. Sir syed advocated by the above reformers helped in the spread of these new religion and not modern subjects and tried to modernize which was not part of the Bhakti ideas? counter the influence of other religions. Muslim community Movement? They set up Gurukul Kangri University in Arya Samaj in Punjab and propagated his Haridwar. ideas through his Social Reforms and Women Swami Dayananda Sir Syed Ahmed Compare the religious views of writings in a journal. Khan Nowadays most girls from middle class Saraswati (1824-1883) Rammohan Roy, Vivekananda and families go to school, and often study with was a social reformer Sir Syed started the Aligarh Movement Dayananda, and point out the boys. On growing up, many of them go to who rejected the for the spread of Modern education and similarities and differences among colleges and universities, and take up jobs. orthodox ritualistic social reforms among the Muslims. He was Women are free to pursue different kinds them. in favour of education of women and the Hinduism and of careers just like men. They can travel to abolition of purdah . He wanted to interpret became a wandering If you had to choose between a DAV distant places and take up work. Islam and bridge the gap between religion, sanyasi. Swami Dayananda school, Gurukul School and a According to law, if they are adults, He studied the government run school, which one modern science and philosophy. In 1864 Saraswati Sir Syed promoted a scientific society they can marry anyone they like, from any Vedas and was would you prefer to go to and why? which translated many scientific works into caste and community, or not marry at all convinced that they contained the true Reform and Education among Urdu and published them. His greatest and widows can remarry too. All women, religion and he rejected all later additions Muslims achievement was the establishment of the like all men, can vote and stand for to Hindu religion like many gods and elections and take part in public life. Even Just as the reformist Hindus had to Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) goddesses, idol and temple worship and College at Aligarh in 1875. It sought to though women still face discrimination, struggle against the orthodox practices, so Brahmanic priesthood and caste system. teach English and science but in an Islamic they can fight against them and assert their too reformist Muslims had to struggle He advocated worshipping one atmosphere. In course of time, this became rights. against their orthodox religious practices. Supreme God through simple rituals and the most important educational institution The suppression of the revolt of 1857 had Two hundred years ago things were very recitation of Vedic mantras. He rejected for Indian Muslims. It later developed into created a lot of bitterness between different. Most children were married off all other religions as false religions and the Aligarh Muslim University. Muslims and the British. Most Maulvis at an early age of five or six years. Both wanted Hindus who had converted to other Free distribution by A.P. Government 213 214 Religion and Society Social and Religious Reform Movements Hindu and Muslim men could marry more the early nineteenth century many British Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848- improving women’s rights in Maharashtra. than one wife. In some parts of the country, officials had also begun to criticise Indian 1919) Jyotiba set up a school for girls of upper caste women were burnt along with traditions and customs.

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