Socio-Religious Reform Movements in India

Reformist

Seeks to bring reforms and end social evils.

Revivalist

Aims to revive traditional practices and beliefs.

Untouchability

Social discrimination against certain castes in India.

Superstition

Irrational beliefs lacking scientific basis.

Polygamy

Practice of having multiple marriages simultaneously.

Purdah System

Seclusion of women from public observation.

Polytheism

Worship of multiple deities or gods.

Sati System

Historical practice of widow self-immolation on husband's funeral pyre.

Widow Remarriage Act

1856 law allowing widows to remarry in India.

Age of Consent Act

1891 law prohibiting child marriage under 12 years.

Sarda Act

1930 law setting minimum marriage age: 18 for boys, 14 for girls.

Downward Filtration Theory

Education model benefiting upper classes primarily.

Wood's Dispatch

1854 document reforming Indian education system.

SNDT University

First university for Indian women, established in 1916.

Brahmo Samaj

Religious reform movement founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Mahad Satyagraha

1927 protest against caste discrimination led by B. R. Ambedkar.

Self Respect Movement

Movement against caste discrimination initiated by E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker.

Arya Samaj

Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 for social reform.

Ramkrishna Mission

Founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 for spiritual service.

Aligarh Movement

Initiated by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for Muslim education.

Deoband Movement

1868 Islamic reform movement focusing on education.

Faraizi Movement

1818 movement advocating for the rights of peasants.

Wahabi Movement

19th-century revivalist movement in Islam led by Syed Ahmed Barelvi.

Justice Movement

1917 initiative for social equality in Kerala.

Ladies Social Conference

Women's reform group founded by Ramabai Ranade.

Vidhva Vivaha Uttejaka Mandala

Association promoting widow remarriage in India.

Satyasodhak Samaj

Founded by Jyotiba Phule to fight caste discrimination.

Paramhansa Mandali

Founded in 1849 for social reform in Maharashtra.