Topic: Socio-Religious Reform Movements (SRRM) - Brahmo Samaj & Raja Ram Mohan Roy (RRMR)
Speaker's Advice on Note-Taking for SRRM:
No Notes Provided: Unlike the previous chapter (British Policies), the speaker will not provide separate notes for SRRM.
Reason: SRRM is well-covered in standard textbooks (Spectrum, NCERT, Degree books, other private publications). British Policies required consolidation from multiple sources.
Student Action: Follow the lecture using your own preferred textbook.
Lecture Style: The speaker will present the information in a structured "frame" or order to make it easier to understand and remember.
Recommendation: Make rough notes following the speaker's structure. This method is particularly helpful if you find remembering years, newspapers, and institutions challenging.
Starting Point: Hindu Reform Movements -> Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is considered the first major religious reform movement.
Founder: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (RRMR).
Approach: Study RRMR's biography first, then the evolution of Brahmo Samaj.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (RRMR) - Biography & Contributions (Speaker's "Frame")
Biography Basics:
Family Origin: Brahmin family (not royal).
Title "Raja": Given by Mughal Emperor Akbar II to represent him in England regarding a pension increase request. RRMR traveled to England (where he eventually died in Bristol in 1833).
Titles & Comparisons (Birudulu/Polikalu):
Father of Indian Renaissance / Bengali Renaissance (Bharata/Bengali Punarjeevana Udyama Pitamahudu).
Called a "Luminant Star" by Rabindranath Tagore in the essay "Inauguration of the Modern Age in India" (Found in NCERT).
His petition against the 1823 Press Licensing Act was compared to Milton's Areopagitica by Miss Collet as a significant document for press freedom.
Also called the "Father of Modern India", "Bridge between Past and Future", etc. (Implicit from his role).
Religious Reforms (Hindu Matham):
Monotheism (Ekeshwaropasana): Believed in one God.
Book: "Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin" (Gift to Monotheists) - Written in Persian (1803/04).
Opposed:
Idol Worship (Vigraharadhana).
Polytheism (Bahudevata Aradhana).
Meaningless rituals and superstitions.
Translation: Translated Vedas and Upanishads (5 mentioned in NCERT) into Bengali to make ancient texts accessible and argue his points against prevalent practices.
Atmiya Sabha (Society of Friends): Founded in 1814/15 in Calcutta.
Purpose: To propagate monotheism and discuss social/religious issues. Met weekly (Saturdays).
Views on Other Religions:
Studied other religions (Islam, Christianity).
Book: "Precepts of Jesus" (1820) - Focused on the moral and ethical teachings, excluding miracles. This disappointed Christian missionaries who hoped he would convert.
Contributions for Women (Stree):
Abolition of Sati: His most famous social reform campaign.
Personal Motivation: Witnessed his sister-in-law (vadina) being forced into Sati.
Method: Used ancient texts to argue Sati was not mandatory, lobbied the British government.
Newspaper: Samvad Kaumudi (Bengali Weekly, 1821) - Used to argue against Sati. (Considered the first newspaper started by an Indian).
Result: Regulation XVII passed by Lord William Bentinck in 1829, banning Sati.
Women's Rights: Advocated for women's right to property/inheritance (Aasti lo Samana Vata Hakku).
Opposed Polygamy.
Press Freedom (Patrika Swecha):
Advocated strongly for press freedom.
Newspaper: Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Persian Weekly, 1822 - First Persian newspaper).
Closed Mirat-ul-Akhbar in protest against the 1823 Licensing Regulation Act introduced by John Adams.
Submitted petitions to the Supreme Court and even the King-in-Council (Privy Council) in England against the press restrictions.
Education (Education):
Supported Western education (esp. scientific) alongside Indian learning.
1817: Helped David Hare establish the Hindu College in Calcutta.
1825: Established Vedanta College, offering both Indian and Western social/physical sciences.
Opposed the government's funding solely for Sanskrit schools, advocating for English education in his famous letter to Lord Amherst (1823).
Public/Political Work (Praja Udyamalu):
Opposed the oppressive practices of the Zamindari system (criticized the Permanent Settlement - PS).
Advocated for the separation of the Executive and Judiciary (E-J Vibhajana).
Demanded equality between Indians and Europeans in the judicial system.
Campaigned for Indianization of services and trial by jury.
Brahmo Samaj - Foundation & Evolution:
Brahmo Sabha: Founded by RRMR in August 1828. (Key Year).
Place: Calcutta.
Purpose: Institutionalize his ideas; provide a place for worship focused on the unity of God, excluding idol worship.
Brahmo Samaj: Name change likely around 1830 (speaker notes uncertainty, but 1828 Sabha is definite).
Core Ideology (Two Pillars):
Monotheism (Ekeshwaropasana)
Reason/Rationalism (Rational Thinking) - Based on Vedas and Upanishads interpreted through human reason.
Opposed: Idol worship, caste system, meaningless rituals.
After RRMR's Death (1833):
Initially weakened.
Revitalized by Debendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore).
Joined in 1842 (Speaker notes the "+14 years" from 1828).
Founded Tattwabodhini Sabha (1839) before formally joining Brahmo Samaj.
Published Tattwabodhini Patrika (Bengali) - Spread Samaj ideas and promoted rational outlook.
Gave a systematic ideology and structure to the Samaj.
Keshab Chandra Sen Joins:
Joined in 1856/58 (Speaker mentions "+14 years" from 1842, leading to 1856, but also says 58). Appointed Acharya by Debendranath Tagore.
Young, dynamic, radical reformer.
Instrumental in spreading the Samaj outside Bengal (Pan-India).
First Split (1866): (Important Year)
Causes:
Ideological differences: Debendranath (conservative, focused on Hinduism) vs. Keshab Sen (radical, cosmopolitan, incorporated ideas from other religions, strong emphasis on social reform).
Keshab Sen's radical actions (e.g., inter-caste marriages, abandoning sacred thread by some followers) were opposed by Debendranath.
Trigger: Debendranath dismissed Keshab Sen from the Acharya post.
Resulting Groups:
Adi Brahmo Samaj: Led by Debendranath Tagore. (Original, conservative faction).
Brahmo Samaj of India: Led by Keshab Chandra Sen. (New, radical, pan-India faction).
Keshab Chandra Sen's Further Work (Post-Split):
Indian Reform Association (1870): To promote social reforms.
Native Marriage Act (or Civil Marriage Act) 1872: Advocated for this act, which prohibited child marriage (set min age 14 for girls, 18 for boys) and legalized inter-caste marriages for those not identifying with any major religion.
Newspaper: Indian Mirror (First Indian-owned English daily, started earlier but associated with him).
Second Split (1878):
Cause: Keshab Chandra Sen married his minor daughter (13 years old) to the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, violating the principles of the 1872 Act he himself promoted. Seen as hypocritical (Moorkhapu Charya - foolish act).
Resulting Group:
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj: Formed by dissenters from Keshab's group. Leaders included Ananda Mohan Bose, Sivnath Sastri, Umesh Chandra Dutta.
Influence in Telangana:
Limited influence compared to other regions.
Bhagya Reddy Varma initiated 14 people into Brahmo Samaj in Residency Bazaar, Hyderabad.
Narayana Rao Vellikankar, president of the Hyderabad Brahmo Samaj, invited Sarojini Naidu, leading to the establishment of a branch in 1914.
Overall Linkage:
RRMR's efforts laid the foundation.
Debendranath Tagore provided structure and consolidated ideology.
Keshab Chandra Sen radicalized social reform and made it a pan-India movement but caused splits due to his actions and radicalism.
The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj continued a more consistent reform path.
Keshab Sen's work influenced the formation of the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay (to be discussed next).
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