📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Major Organisations
| Organisation | Founder | Year / place |
|---|---|---|
| Atmiya Sabha | Raja Rammohan Roy | 1815, Calcutta |
| Brahmo Samaj (Brahmo Sabha) | Raja Rammohan Roy | 1828, Calcutta |
| Tattvabodhini Sabha | Debendranath Tagore | 1839 |
| Brahmo Samaj of India | Keshab Chandra Sen | 1866 |
| Young Bengal Movement | Henry Vivian Derozio | 1820s, Hindu College |
| Prarthana Samaj | Atmaram Pandurang (with M.G. Ranade) | 1867, Bombay |
| Satyashodhak Samaj | Jyotiba Phule | 1873, Pune |
| Arya Samaj | Swami Dayanand Saraswati | 1875, Bombay |
| Theosophical Society | Madame Blavatsky & Col. Olcott | 1875, New York; HQ Adyar (1882) |
| Ramakrishna Mission | Swami Vivekananda | 1897, Belur |
| Aligarh Movement (MAO College) | Sir Syed Ahmad Khan | 1875, Aligarh |
| Servants of India Society | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | 1905, Pune |
| SNDP Yogam | Sree Narayana Guru | 1903, Kerala |
📌 2. Key Reformers
- Raja Rammohan Roy — "Father of Modern India"; fought sati (abolished 1829, Bentinck); papers "Sambad Kaumudi", "Mirat-ul-Akhbar"; "Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin"; title "Raja" given by Mughal emperor Akbar II.
- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar — Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act 1856; girls' education.
- Dayanand Saraswati — "Go back to the Vedas"; Satyarth Prakash; shuddhi movement; DAV institutions (Lahore 1886).
- Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta) — Chicago Parliament of Religions (1893); birthday 12 January = National Youth Day.
- Jyotiba Phule — "Gulamgiri"; with wife Savitribai Phule opened a girls' school in Pune (1848).
- Sir Syed Ahmad Khan — Aligarh Movement; MAO College (1875) → Aligarh Muslim University (1920); journal "Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq".
- Annie Besant — Theosophical Society; Central Hindu College, Banaras (1898).
- Pandita Ramabai — Arya Mahila Samaj, Sharada Sadan; B.M. Malabari — Age of Consent Act 1891.
| Law | Year |
|---|---|
| Abolition of Sati (Bengal Regulation XVII) | 1829 |
| Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act | 1856 |
| Age of Consent Act | 1891 |
| Sarda Act (Child Marriage Restraint) | 1929 |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- "Go back to the Vedas" — Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj), not Rammohan Roy.
- The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Vivekananda (1897), not Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
📌 3. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha (Brahmo Samaj) in 1828.
Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha (Brahmo Samaj) in 1828.
Q2. When and where was the Arya Samaj founded? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Dayanand Saraswati founded it at Bombay in 1875.
Dayanand Saraswati founded it at Bombay in 1875.
Q3. Who wrote 'Satyarth Prakash'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Satyarth Prakash is Dayanand Saraswati's main work.
Satyarth Prakash is Dayanand Saraswati's main work.
Q4. Who founded the Ramakrishna Mission? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Vivekananda founded it in 1897, named after his guru.
Vivekananda founded it in 1897, named after his guru.
Q5. Under which Governor-General was sati abolished? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
William Bentinck banned sati in 1829, helped by Rammohan Roy's efforts.
William Bentinck banned sati in 1829, helped by Rammohan Roy's efforts.
Q6. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act (1856) came through the efforts of: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Vidyasagar's campaign led to the 1856 Act.
Vidyasagar's campaign led to the 1856 Act.
Q7. Who wrote the book 'Gulamgiri'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Jyotiba Phule wrote Gulamgiri (1873) on caste oppression.
Jyotiba Phule wrote Gulamgiri (1873) on caste oppression.
Q8. Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Jyotiba Phule founded it at Pune in 1873.
Jyotiba Phule founded it at Pune in 1873.
Q9. Who led the Aligarh Movement? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Sir Syed founded MAO College in 1875 to promote modern education.
Sir Syed founded MAO College in 1875 to promote modern education.
Q10. Where is the Indian headquarters of the Theosophical Society? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The HQ was set up at Adyar near Madras in 1882.
The HQ was set up at Adyar near Madras in 1882.
Q11. The 'Young Bengal Movement' is associated with: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Derozio, a Hindu College teacher, spread rationalism among students.
Derozio, a Hindu College teacher, spread rationalism among students.
Q12. Where did Vivekananda address the Parliament of Religions (1893)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
He gave his historic address in Chicago on 11 September 1893.
He gave his historic address in Chicago on 11 September 1893.
Q13. Who founded the Prarthana Samaj (1867)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Inspired by Keshab Chandra Sen, Atmaram Pandurang founded it in Bombay; Ranade joined later.
Inspired by Keshab Chandra Sen, Atmaram Pandurang founded it in Bombay; Ranade joined later.
Q14. Who conferred the title 'Raja' on Rammohan Roy? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Akbar II gave him the title and sent him to England.
Akbar II gave him the title and sent him to England.
Q15. The Sarda Act (1929) relates to: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Sarda Act fixed minimum marriage ages for girls and boys.
The Sarda Act fixed minimum marriage ages for girls and boys.
Q16. Who, with Savitribai Phule, opened a girls' school in Pune (1848)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule opened it in 1848.
Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule opened it in 1848.
Q17. SNDP Yogam (Kerala) was inspired by: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
SNDP Yogam was formed in 1903 on Sree Narayana Guru's ideals.
SNDP Yogam was formed in 1903 on Sree Narayana Guru's ideals.
Q18. Who published the journal 'Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq'? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Sir Syed published it for social reform.
Sir Syed published it for social reform.
Q19. Who founded the Servants of India Society (1905)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Gokhale founded it at Pune in 1905.
Gokhale founded it at Pune in 1905.
Q20. Who is called the 'Father of Modern India'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Rammohan Roy is so called for his social reform and modern education work.
Rammohan Roy is so called for his social reform and modern education work.