Western India - Socio-Culture Reform Movement

Bal Shastri Jambekar

  • Balshastri Jambhekar (1812-1846), social reform through journalism in Bombay. Started newspaper Darpan in 1832 (people to awareness of social reforms).
  • Father of Marathi journalism.
  • Started Digdarshan - published articles on scientific subjects as well as history.
  • Attacked brahminical orthodoxy & tried to reform popular Hinduism.
  • Bombay Native General Library - Students Literary  & Native Improvement Society - Scientific Library.
Paramhansa Mandalis
  • Dadoba Pandurang, Mehtaji Durgaram in 1849 at Maharashtra.
  • Secret society that worked to reform Hindu religion and society in general.
  • Real religion is based on love and moral conduct.
  • Freedom of thought was encouraged & interested in breaking caste rules.
  • Advocated widow remarriage and women’s education.
Jyotiba Phule and Satyashodhak Samaj
  • Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890) belong mali (gardener) community.
  • Movement against upper caste domination and brahminical supremacy.
  • Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers’ Society) in 1873, leadership from the backward classes, malis, telis, kunbis, saris and dhangars.
  • Main Aim
    • Social service.
    • Spread of education among women and lower caste people.
  • Phule’s works, Sarvajanik Satyadharma and Gulamgiri, became sources of inspiration.
  • Phule symbol of Rajah Bali as opposed to the brahmins’ symbol of Rama.
  • Aim to complete abolition of the caste system and socio-economic inequalities & against Sanskritic Hinduism.
  • Believer in gender equality, pioneer in women’s education, opened a girls’ school at Poona. Widow remarriage, home for widows in 1854.
  • Title ‘Mahatma’ for social work
Gopalhari Deshmukh ‘Lokahitawadi’
  • Gopalhari Deshmukh (1823-1892), social reformer and rationalist from Maharashtra.
  • judge under British raj, but wrote weekly Prabhakar under the pen name of Lokahitawadi on social reform issues.
  • Attacked Hindu orthodoxy and supported social and religious equality & Against caste system.
  • "If religion does not sanction social reform, then change religion"
  • He started a weekly, Hitechhu, and also played a leading role in founding the periodicals, Gyan Prakash, Indu Prakash and Lokahitawadi.
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
  • Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (1856-1895), educationist and social reformer from Maharashtra.
  • Criticised the blind dependence on tradition and false glorification of the past.
  • Co-founder of the New English School, the Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College.
  • First editor of Kesari, started by Lokmanya Tilak. Later started own periodical, Sudharak.
  • Against untouchability and the caste system.
Servants of India Society
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915).
  • train national missionaries for the service of India.
  • Hitavada began to be published to project the views of the society.
  • After Gokhale’s death (1915), Srinivasa Shastri took over as president.
  • Providing ashram type of schools for tribal girls and balwadis at many places
Social Service League
  • follower of Gokhale, Narayan Malhar Joshi, founded Social Service League in Bombay.
  • Organised many schools, libraries, reading rooms, day nurseries and cooperative societies,
  • 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.
  • Found All India Trade Union Congress (1920).

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