Spectrum Test: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in 1828. Later it was renamed as Brahmo Samaj. Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866. 

In 1814, he set up the Atmiya Sabha (or Society of Friends) in Calcutta to propagate the monotheistic ideals of the Vedanta and to campaign against idolatry, caste rigidities, Meaningless rituals and other social ills. 

Strongly influenced by rationalist ideas, he declared that Vedanta is based on reason and that, if reason demanded it, even a departure from the scriptures is justified.

Rammohan Roy believed in the modern scientific approach and principles of human dignity and social equality. 

He put his faith in monotheism. He wrote Gift to Monotheists (1809) and translated into Bengali the Vedas and the five Upanishads to prove his conviction that ancient Hindu texts support monotheism.

Adi Brahmo Samaj was established originally by Raja Rammohun Roy and practically by Debendranath Tagore. The new group, which had also become an all India movement by this time called itself “ Brahmo Samaj of India” or “Nava Vidhana”.

During the late 1820s and early 1830s, there emerged a radical, intellectual trend among Bengal youth, which me to be known as the 'Young Bengal Movement'. 

A young Anglo-Indian, Henry Vivian Derozio (1809-31), who taught at the Hindu College from 1826 to 1831, was the leader and inspirer of this progressive trend. 

Drawing inspiration from the great French Revolution, Derozio inspired his pupils to think freely and rationally, question all authority, love liberty, equality and freedom, and oppose decadent customs and traditions. 

Derozians also supported women's rights and education. Also, Derozio was perhaps the first nationalist poet of modern India. The Derozians, however, failed to have a long-term impact. 

Derozio was removed from the Hindu College in 1831 because of his radicalism. The main reason for their limited success was the prevailing social conditions at that time, which were not ripe for adopting radical ideas. 

Further, there was no support from any other social group or class. The Derozians lacked any real link with the masses; for instance, they failed to take up the peasants' cause. In fact, their radicalism was bookish in character.

He was known as the father Marathi journalism. Balshastri Jambhekar (1812-1846) was a pioneer of social reform to journalism in Bombay. He attacked brahminical orthodoxy and tried to Reform popular Hinduism. 

He founded the Bombay native general library and started native improvement Society of which an offshoot was the students literary and scientific library. 

He was the first professor of Hindi at the Elphinstone College. He used the Darpan to awaken the people to Awareness of social reforms. In 1940 he started Digdarshan which published articles on scientific subjects as well as history.

Narayan Malhar Joshi founded the Social Service League in Bombay to secure the masses better and reasonable conditions of life and work.

They organised many schools, libraries, reading rooms, day nurseries and cooperative societies. 

Their activities also included police court agents' work, legal aid and advice to the poor and illiterate, excursions for slum dwellers, facilities for gymnasia and theatrical performances, sanitary work, medical relief and boys' clubs and scout corps. Joshi also founded the All-India Trade Union Congress (1920).

Dharm Sabha and Bharat Dharma mahamandal were the orthodox organisations. 

Radhakanta Deb founded Dharma Sabha in 1830. 

Tulsi Ram founded Radha Swami movement. 

Dayanand Saraswati founded arya Samaj.