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in Freedom Movement of Modern India by (67.5k points)

Mention the causes of social reform movment in India.

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The British administrative system influenced the Indian society. The Indian citizens reacted against the British empire and its expansion of colonial culture. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the movement which started in social and cultural life of India came to be known as Indian Renaissance.

On one a hand, efforts were made to eradicate various stereotyped customs which had emerged with the passage of time in socio – religious sphere, and on the other and, the spirit of dignity was imbibed in the mindset of the Indians by expressing the glorious past of India.

Due to an intense relationship between social behaviour and religious faith, religious reform was essential for social reform. The social reformers challenged the stereotyped customs and conventions on the basis of facts. In order to eradicate the Sati custom, Raja Ram Mohan Roy told the people that the custom had not been religiously accepted.

Dayananda Saraswati opposed the caste system based on birth on the basis of Vedic treatises. The social reformers were influenced by liberal and humane outlooks. The educated intellectual class was in its roots. The Indian intellectuals made efforts to determine the causes of misery and backwardness of the country and tried to make the country progressive.

Through social movements such as Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission and others, efforts were made for social and religious reforms. The major reasons for the emergence of social and religious reform movements.

1. Propaganda by Christian Priests: The main reason for the rise of social movement was the propaganda by Christian priests. Along with the British merchants, Christian priests and religious teachers started coming into India in large number after 1813 CE. The Christian Missionaries started criticizing Hinduism and started to convert the Indians to Christian.

For the protection of religion and culture, the need of socio-religious movements now seemed to be necessary. Efforts were made to eradicate the evils of the contemporary society and prevent the spread of Christianity.

2. Works of Asiatic Society of Bengal: European scholars such as William Jones, Max Muller and others studied Indian history, religion and literature and told the ancient Indian civilization is one of the greatest civilizations of the world. Asiatic society of Bengal translated several ancient Indian texts in English. The spirit of pride and dignity emerged among the Indians as they came to know about their glorious past.

3. The spread of western civilization: One of the reasons for Indian social reform or renaissance was the spread of western civilization in the country. Indian civilization came in contact with western civilization at the time while intellectualism and individualism were on the ideology of Europe.

The spread of western culture filled the Indian minds with suspician. They tried to save India from the influence of western culture. The social reformers inspired Indians to retain their faith in Indian religion and culture and made efforts to eliminate the stereotyped prevailing in the contemporary society.

4. Role of newspapers and magazines: Newspapers and magazines played an important role in Indian renaissance. The misbehaviour done by the British started to be published in the newspapers. The social reformers infused awareness in the society through newspapers and magazines.

5. Emergence of English educated middle class: An Engish educated middle class emerged on the basis of study of western societies and by getting information about social changes taking place over there, they infused spirit of social equality and unity amongst Indians.

Based on the above description, we can say that interaction with western civilization, with exchange of ideas, with the emergence of English education, with the works of Asiatic society, and the emergence of social and religion reformers, a new conciousness was communicated in the social, political and religious life of the Indians.

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