Brahmo Samaj | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

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The 19th Century India witnessed a strong wave of reformation activities in religion and society.  
There were attempts made by the educated young Indians to end the evils and abuses in religion 
and society. Western ideas of reason, equality, liberty and humanity inspired them. They tried to 
remove the defects in their culture.  They wanted to revive the glory of Indian culture.  Socio-
religious reform movement of the 19th century is called the India Renaissance movement. 
Causes for the Social and Religious reform movement 
? Political Unity 
? Reaction against the propaganda of Christian Missionaries 
? Contribution of foreign scholars 
? Indian Press 
? Western Education 
Political Unity: India was politically united due to the expansion and consolidation of British rule. 
It led to the understanding of many common problems of the Indians. The nature of the British 
rule provoked many young Indians to find out the causes of their misery and degradation. 
Christian Missionaries: The Christian missionaries made all possible attempts to spread 
Christianity particularly among the poor and the oppressed.  Educational institutions, hospitals, 
charity services and official support were also made use for this purpose.  Therefore, both the 
Hindus and the Muslims made efforts to protect their religions. 
Foreign Scholars: Many western scholars studied scholarly works of Indians of the ancient period.  
They brought to light the rich cultural heritage of India which was even superior to the western 
culture.  It made the educated Indians develop faith in their culture. They wanted to establish the 
superiority of Indian culture against the western culture. 
Indian Press: The Europeans introduced the printing press in India. It made possible the 
appearance of many newspapers and magazines. Books were also published in different Indian 
languages and mostly their subject matter was Indian.  Educated Indians started to work for the 
revival of Indian culture. 
Western Education: The spread of western education led to the spread of the western concepts 
of democracy, liberty, equality and nationalism.  The Indians who went abroad came in direct 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
SOCIO RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
 
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The 19th Century India witnessed a strong wave of reformation activities in religion and society.  
There were attempts made by the educated young Indians to end the evils and abuses in religion 
and society. Western ideas of reason, equality, liberty and humanity inspired them. They tried to 
remove the defects in their culture.  They wanted to revive the glory of Indian culture.  Socio-
religious reform movement of the 19th century is called the India Renaissance movement. 
Causes for the Social and Religious reform movement 
? Political Unity 
? Reaction against the propaganda of Christian Missionaries 
? Contribution of foreign scholars 
? Indian Press 
? Western Education 
Political Unity: India was politically united due to the expansion and consolidation of British rule. 
It led to the understanding of many common problems of the Indians. The nature of the British 
rule provoked many young Indians to find out the causes of their misery and degradation. 
Christian Missionaries: The Christian missionaries made all possible attempts to spread 
Christianity particularly among the poor and the oppressed.  Educational institutions, hospitals, 
charity services and official support were also made use for this purpose.  Therefore, both the 
Hindus and the Muslims made efforts to protect their religions. 
Foreign Scholars: Many western scholars studied scholarly works of Indians of the ancient period.  
They brought to light the rich cultural heritage of India which was even superior to the western 
culture.  It made the educated Indians develop faith in their culture. They wanted to establish the 
superiority of Indian culture against the western culture. 
Indian Press: The Europeans introduced the printing press in India. It made possible the 
appearance of many newspapers and magazines. Books were also published in different Indian 
languages and mostly their subject matter was Indian.  Educated Indians started to work for the 
revival of Indian culture. 
Western Education: The spread of western education led to the spread of the western concepts 
of democracy, liberty, equality and nationalism.  The Indians who went abroad came in direct 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
SOCIO RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
 
 
   
 
contact with the working of these concepts.  After their return they were pained to see the lack 
of awareness among the Indians about such concepts. They worked for the spread of such ideas. 
The Important socio religious movements were 
? Raja Rammohan Roy and The Brahmo Samaj – 1828 
? Swami Dayananda Saraswathi and The Arya Samaj – 1875 
? Theosophical Society – 1875 
? Rama Krishna Mission – 1897 
? Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh Movement 
? Parsi and Sikh Reform Movements 
The Brahmo Samaj – 1828 
The Brahmo Samaj was established by Raja Rammohan Roy in 
1828. He was born in a Brahmin family of Bengal.  He learnt 
many languages like Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian, English, French, 
Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He also studied several religious 
philosophies like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Sufism.  
His primary aim was to reform the 
Hindu society and religion.  He 
wrote a number of books in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian and 
English. Precepts of Jesus Christ, The Guide to Peace and Happiness 
are some of them. He started newspapers Sambad Kaumudi, a 
Bengali weekly newspaper 
He was given the title of Raja and sent to England by the Mughal 
Emperor Akbar II as his envoy. The Brahmo Samaj was an assembly 
of all those who believed in a universal religion based on the 
principle of one Supreme God. Raja Rammohan Roy condemned 
idol worship, rites and rituals. But he never lost his faith in 
Hinduism and the Vedas. The Brahmo Samaj condemned caste, 
untouchability, the practice of Sati and image worship. 
In order to improve the position of women Raja Rammohan Roy 
and Lord William Bentinck tried to abolish Sati.  Bentinck 
declared in 1829 that the practice of Sati as an offence, 
punishable with death sentence. 
The Brahmo Samaj also opposed child marriage and polygamy. It supported widow remarriage. 
Due to the efforts of Keshab Chandra Sen, one of the leaders of Brahmo Samaj, an Act was passed 
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The 19th Century India witnessed a strong wave of reformation activities in religion and society.  
There were attempts made by the educated young Indians to end the evils and abuses in religion 
and society. Western ideas of reason, equality, liberty and humanity inspired them. They tried to 
remove the defects in their culture.  They wanted to revive the glory of Indian culture.  Socio-
religious reform movement of the 19th century is called the India Renaissance movement. 
Causes for the Social and Religious reform movement 
? Political Unity 
? Reaction against the propaganda of Christian Missionaries 
? Contribution of foreign scholars 
? Indian Press 
? Western Education 
Political Unity: India was politically united due to the expansion and consolidation of British rule. 
It led to the understanding of many common problems of the Indians. The nature of the British 
rule provoked many young Indians to find out the causes of their misery and degradation. 
Christian Missionaries: The Christian missionaries made all possible attempts to spread 
Christianity particularly among the poor and the oppressed.  Educational institutions, hospitals, 
charity services and official support were also made use for this purpose.  Therefore, both the 
Hindus and the Muslims made efforts to protect their religions. 
Foreign Scholars: Many western scholars studied scholarly works of Indians of the ancient period.  
They brought to light the rich cultural heritage of India which was even superior to the western 
culture.  It made the educated Indians develop faith in their culture. They wanted to establish the 
superiority of Indian culture against the western culture. 
Indian Press: The Europeans introduced the printing press in India. It made possible the 
appearance of many newspapers and magazines. Books were also published in different Indian 
languages and mostly their subject matter was Indian.  Educated Indians started to work for the 
revival of Indian culture. 
Western Education: The spread of western education led to the spread of the western concepts 
of democracy, liberty, equality and nationalism.  The Indians who went abroad came in direct 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
SOCIO RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
 
 
   
 
contact with the working of these concepts.  After their return they were pained to see the lack 
of awareness among the Indians about such concepts. They worked for the spread of such ideas. 
The Important socio religious movements were 
? Raja Rammohan Roy and The Brahmo Samaj – 1828 
? Swami Dayananda Saraswathi and The Arya Samaj – 1875 
? Theosophical Society – 1875 
? Rama Krishna Mission – 1897 
? Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh Movement 
? Parsi and Sikh Reform Movements 
The Brahmo Samaj – 1828 
The Brahmo Samaj was established by Raja Rammohan Roy in 
1828. He was born in a Brahmin family of Bengal.  He learnt 
many languages like Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian, English, French, 
Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He also studied several religious 
philosophies like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Sufism.  
His primary aim was to reform the 
Hindu society and religion.  He 
wrote a number of books in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian and 
English. Precepts of Jesus Christ, The Guide to Peace and Happiness 
are some of them. He started newspapers Sambad Kaumudi, a 
Bengali weekly newspaper 
He was given the title of Raja and sent to England by the Mughal 
Emperor Akbar II as his envoy. The Brahmo Samaj was an assembly 
of all those who believed in a universal religion based on the 
principle of one Supreme God. Raja Rammohan Roy condemned 
idol worship, rites and rituals. But he never lost his faith in 
Hinduism and the Vedas. The Brahmo Samaj condemned caste, 
untouchability, the practice of Sati and image worship. 
In order to improve the position of women Raja Rammohan Roy 
and Lord William Bentinck tried to abolish Sati.  Bentinck 
declared in 1829 that the practice of Sati as an offence, 
punishable with death sentence. 
The Brahmo Samaj also opposed child marriage and polygamy. It supported widow remarriage. 
Due to the efforts of Keshab Chandra Sen, one of the leaders of Brahmo Samaj, an Act was passed 
 
   
 
in 1872. It abolished polygamy and child marriage.  The Act also supported inter caste marriage 
and widow remarriage. 
After the death of Raja Rammohan Roy, the work of the Samaj was carried by great men like 
Keshab Chandra Sen and Devendranath Tagore.