6.1 The Brahmo Movement

The Brahmo Movement, Devndranath Tagore and Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar

2020-04-26 19:45:49

  • @ Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) believed that the divisions, sub divisions, religious rites, ceremonies etc had impeded the political and social development of the Hindus.
  • undertook the Indian Renaissance in the newly emerging middle class western educated intellectuals.
  • the father of Indian Renaissance and the maker of Modern India.
  • 'Gift to Monotheists' and 'Precepts of Jesus' .
  • Tranlsated into Bengali the Vedas and 5 Upanishads .
  • Formed the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 along with this he also founded Atmiya Sabha in 1814 . He established the Vedanta College in 1825.
  • The Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha was formed in 1836 by associates of Raja Rammohan Roy.
  • Criticised idolatory, sati, polygamy and concubinage, casteism and advocated widow remarriage

Dr Macnicol : RR was herald of new age.

  • Accepted monotheism as propounded by Upanishads. God per him was shapeless, invisible, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

Brahmo Sabha/Samaj

  • @ Founded in 1828 with the objective as the worship and adoration of Eternal, Unsercheable, Immutable being who is the author and preserver of Universe
  • Did not believe in any scriptures as authority.
  • Idolatory was not allowed, no priesthood or sacrifices.
  • Worship was through prayers, meditation, reading of Upanishads.
  • Promotion of Charity, morality, piety, benevolence, virtue and stregthening of bond b/w all men.
  • & Not intended to estd new religion, only wanted to purge Hinduism of evil practices
  • limited to the intellectuals.
  • ! Orthodox Hindus led by Radhakant Deb estd Dharma Sabha to counter it.

Zacharias says that RR and BS for starting point of all reform movt whether religion, society or politics.

  • Discarded faith in avatars, denied that any scripture could enjoy status of ultimate authority transcending human reason and conscience
  • Took no definite stand on doctrine of Karma and transmigration of soul and left it for individual to decide.
  • In Social matters : it attacked dogmas and superstitions, condemned prevailing prejudice against going abroad, worked for abolition of Purdah, Sati, untouchability and casteism.

Debendranath Tagore 1817-1905

  • @ joined in 1842, gave the movt definite form and shape
  • headed Tattvabodhini Sabha that engaged in spiritual truth
  • informal association b/w TS and BS gave them new strength in membership and purpose.
  • BS was to be a reformist movt within Hinduism and outside he criticsed Christian missionaries for their criticism of Hinduism and attempted conversion.
  • He condemned idol worship, discouraged pilgrimage, ceremonials and penances.
  • Branches estd in diff towns and BS spread towards countryside in Bengal.

Keshab Chandra Sen and Brahmo Samaj

  • joined the Brahmo Samaj in 1858 his ideas were too radical. 
  • DT appt him as Acharya of BS
  • Branches of Samaj opened outside Bengal in UP, Panjab, Bombay, Madras etc
  • @ Under his influence Christians, Muslims, Parsis started participating in BS meetings, scriptures of every sect were being read.
  • was against the caste system and advocated intercaste marriage.
  • For DT is was too radical and he dismissed him in 1865.
  • ! founded the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866 and the older one came to be known as Adi Brahmo Samaj.
  • Further split occured when certain follower started regarding as an incarnation others accused him of authotariarism.
  • When he married his minor daughter to minor Maharaja of Cooch behar his followers namely Ananda Mohan Bose , Shibachandra Deb and Umesh Chandra Datta felt disgusted and founded the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in 1878.

PYQs

Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement, Devendranath Tagore, Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

  1. "Ram Mohan Roy presents a most instructive and inspiring study for the New India of which he is the type and pioneer." Comment. [1982, 20m]
  1. "Ram Mohan thus presents a most instructive and inspiring study for the New India of which he is the type and pioneer." Comment. [1986, 20m]
  1. "The contact of the new Indian middle class with the West proved to be a catalyst. The social and religious movements launched by Ram Mohan or Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar have to be understood in this context." -- Elucidate. [2012, 10m]
  1. "The chief value of Raja's (Raja Rammohan Roy) labours seems to lie in his fight against the forces of medievalism in India." Critically examine. [2017, 10m]

Devendranath Tagore

2020-04-27 15:08:26

Debendranath Tagore

  • headed and established the Tattvabodhini Sabha in 1839 before joining Brahmo Samaj.

    Debendranath Tagore 1817-1905

    • @ joined in 1842, gave the movt definite form and shape
    • headed Tattvabodhini Sabha that engaged in spiritual truth
    • informal association b/w TS and BS gave them new strength in membership and purpose.
    • BS was to be a reformist movt within Hinduism and outside he criticsed Christian missionaries for their criticism of Hinduism and attempted conversion.
    • He condemned idol worship, discouraged pilgrimage, ceremonials and penances.
    • Branches estd in diff towns and BS spread towards countryside in Bengal.
  • #todo

Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar

2020-04-27 15:08:32

  • Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
    • modern Bengali alphabet 'Borno Porichoy', upper caste hindu society reform
    • eg widow remarriage, child marriage, polygamy -
    • his actions led to the passing of The Hindu remarriage act passed 1856

  • Weekly newspaper in 1858 : Som Prakash.