UPSC CSE 2021 Main GS Paper 1
Question 2
Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj.
Answer
The socio-religious reform movements in India were a response to the colonial rule and the social and religious ills that plagued the Indian society in the 19th century. They aimed to reform Hinduism and promote rationalism, humanism, and social justice. Two of the most influential movements were the Young Bengal and the Brahmo Samaj.
Young Bengal
The Young Bengal movement was started by a group of radical students and teachers of Hindu College in Calcutta, led by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-1831), a Eurasian poet and educator.
The Young Bengal movement was influenced by the ideas of the French Revolution, the English Romantic poets, and the utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham and James Mill.
The Young Bengal movement challenged the orthodox Hindu customs and traditions, such as caste system, child marriage, sati, polygamy, idolatry, and superstition. They advocated for women's education, widow remarriage, social equality, and freedom of thought and expression.
The Young Bengal movement also participated in social service, such as distributing food and medicine to the poor, organizing schools and libraries, and publishing newspapers and journals.
The Young Bengal movement faced severe opposition from the conservative sections of the society and the government. Many of them were expelled from Hindu College, ostracized by their families, and persecuted by the authorities. Derozio himself died of cholera at the age of 22.
The Young Bengal movement was short-lived but left a lasting impact on the intellectual and cultural life of Bengal. Some of its prominent members were Ramgopal Ghosh, Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee, Peary Chand Mitra, Radhanath Sikdar, and Ramtanu Lahiri.
Brahmo Samaj
The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833), a social reformer and scholar who is regarded as the father of modern India. He was assisted by Dwarkanath Tagore (1794-1846), a wealthy businessman and philanthropist.
The Brahmo Samaj was based on the principles of monotheism, rationalism, universalism, and humanism. It rejected polytheism, idolatry, ritualism, priesthood, caste system, and scriptural infallibility. It upheld the Vedas and Upanishads as sources of spiritual knowledge but subjected them to reason and conscience.
The Brahmo Samaj also campaigned for social reforms, such as abolition of sati, promotion of women's education and rights, legalization of widow remarriage, opposition to child marriage and polygamy, and improvement of the condition of the lower castes.
The Brahmo Samaj underwent several splits and transformations under different leaders. Some of them were:
Debendranath Tagore (1817-1905), son of Dwarkanath Tagore, who revived the Brahmo Samaj after Ram Mohan Roy's death and introduced the Brahmo Dharma or creed in 1848. He also established the Tattvabodhini Sabha or Truth-Seeking Society in 1839 to propagate Brahmo doctrines.
Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-1884), who became the leader of the Brahmo Samaj in 1866 after Debendranath Tagore's retirement. He introduced new rituals such as Brahmo marriage and initiation ceremonies. He also founded the Indian Reform Association in 1870 to work for political and social reforms. He broke away from the Brahmo Samaj in 1878 after violating his own principle of opposing child marriage by marrying his 14-year-old daughter to Maharaja Nripendra Narayan of Cooch Behar. He formed a new sect called Naba Bidhan or New Dispensation.
Anandamohan Bose (1847-1906), who led another faction of the Brahmo Samaj called Sadharan Brahmo Samaj or General Brahmo Samaj in 1878 after Keshab Chandra Sen's split. He was a lawyer, scholar, educator, and politician. He founded the City College in Calcutta in 1881 and became one of the founders of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
Movement - Young Bengal
Founder - Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, Radical students and teachers of Hindu College.
Features - Influenced by French Revolution, English Romanticism, utilitarianism, Challenged orthodox Hindu customs and traditions, Advocated for women's education, widow remarriage, social equality, Participated in social service, Published newspapers and journals.
Significance- Faced opposition from conservatives and authorities - Short-lived but impactful - Promoted intellectual and cultural awakening in Bengal.
Movement- Brahmo Samaj
Founder - Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Features - Social reformer and scholar- Assisted by Dwarkanath Tagore- Based on monotheism, rationalism, universalism, humanism- Rejected polytheism, idolatry, ritualism, priesthood, caste system, scriptural infallibility- Upheld Vedas and Upanishads as sources of spiritual knowledge- Campaigned for social reforms such as abolition of sati, promotion of women's education and rights, legalization of widow remarriage, opposition to child marriage and polygamy, improvement of the condition of the lower castes- Underwent several splits and transformations under different leaders.
Significance- Influenced by Western ideas and culture- Pioneered religious and social reforms in India- Laid the foundation for modern Hinduism- Contributed to the Bengal Renaissance and the Indian freedom movement.