9. OTHER SIGNIFICANT HINDU REFORM MOVEMENTS

SWAMI NARAYAN SECT

It was founded by Swami Sahajanand (1781-1830) in Gujarat. His original name was Gyanashyana. He was against the lavish and luxurious practices of Vaishnanism. He prescribed a moral code for his followers and advocated vegetarianism. He advised people to give up liquor, drugs, and other intoxicants and advocated a pure and simple life. The main focus of the sect was social unity and harmony. It encouraged widow remarriage and discouraged the institution of sati, female infanticide, etc.

RADHASWAMI MOVEMENT

It was founded by Tulsi Ram popularly known as Shiva Dayal Saheb (Swami Maharaj) in 1861, near Agra. He advocated that the guru is supreme and asked his disciples to remain in the company of pious people (Satsang). He stated that there was no need to renounce worldly life for spiritual attainment

DEVA SAMAJ

It was founded by Shiv Narayana Agnihotri in 1887 in Lahore. His teachings were compiled in a book entitled Deva Shastra. Deva Samaj diverged from the doctrines of the Brahmo Samaj very soon and also developed its own ideas and philosophies

SARWADESHIK HINDU SABHA

It was founded to counter the influence of the Muslim League. Earlier Punjab Hindu Conference was founded in 1909. It was renamed Sarwadeshik Hindu Sabha in 1915 and in 1921, it was again renamed as Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha.

JAT PAT TODAK MANDAL

It was founded by Bhai Parmanand in Lahore in 1922. He condemned the caste system and untouchability. It was popular in Punjab.

THE SERVANTS OF INDIAN SOCIETY

The liberal leader of INC Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the society in 1905. The aims of the society are as under

• To train national missionaries for the service of India.
• To promote the true interests of all Indians by constitutional means.
• To prepare a cadre of selfless workers for the cause of the country.

SOCIAL SERVICE LEAGUE

Narayan Malhar Joshi founded the league in Bombay. Joshi also founded the All India Trade Union Congress in 1920. The aims of the league are as
under

• To secure for the masses better and more reasonable conditions of life and work.
• It organized many schools, libraries reading rooms, day nurseries and
  cooperative societies.
• Provide legal aid and advice to the poor and illiterate.
• Excursions for slum dwellers; and, Sanitary work, medical relief, and boy’s club and scout corps.

INDIAN SOCIAL CONFERENCE

It was founded by MG Ranade and Raghunath Rao. The conference met annually from its first session in Madras in 1887, at the same time and venue as the INC. It focussed attention on the social issues of importance. It is called the Social Reform Cell of the INC.
It must be noted here that the Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose. This separate body is known as Indian Social Conference.
Its main focus was on the abolition of polygamy and cultism and it encouraged intercaste marriages. It also pledged to fight child marriages.

ORTHODOX HINDU SOCIETIES

Resistance from orthodox Hindus against the Progressive Reform Movement was natural and on expected lines. Some important orthodox Hindu societies were as follows

• Dharma Sabha founded by Radhakanta. Deb in 1830 in order to counter the ideas of Brahmo Samaj. It advocated the status quo and opposed the abolition of sati.
• Bharat Dharma Mahamandal founded by Pandit Din Dayal Sharma at Haridwar in 1887. Its main objective was to bring together orthodox Hindu elements and to work for the preservation of Sanatan Dharma. He founded Hindu College, Delhi on 5th May 1899. Its offshoot was Sanatan Dharma Sabha. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was closely associated with it.

RAHANUMAI MAZDAYASNAN SABHA

Rahanumai Mazdayasnan Sabha or Religious Reform Association was founded by Western-educated progressive Parsis like Naoroji Furdoonji, Dadabhai Naoroji, JB Wacha, SS Banglee, KR Cama in 1851, with the objective of social regeneration of Parsis, removal of Purdah System, raising the age of marriage and education of women.
Rast-Gofter (meaning voice of truth) propagated the message of the association. Even Parsi religious rituals and practices were reformed and Parsi creed was redefined.