Reforms in Indian Society before Indepence

Women and Reforms

The social reformers of that period realized that no social reform is possible without first reforming the conditions of the women of the society. The condition of the women in the society was pathetic. Social evils like child marriage, female infanticide, the shameful treatment of the widows, the practice of kulinism that allowed a Brahmin to have as much wives, as he desired, the barbaric rite of 'Sati", in which the widow was burnt alive at the funeral pyre of his husband were in vogue in the society. Women had no right to inherit property of any kind and they had to remain in 'Purdah'.

    Many social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Keshab Chandra Sen, Dadabhai Naoroji, etc., raised their voice against the injustice meted out to the women and fought for their rights.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

    Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as the pioneer in the reform movement. He worked for the upliftment of women, supported women education and widow remarriage. He also opposed child marriage and polygamy.

    As the result of his consistent efforts, Lord Bentinck, the then Governor General of Bengal banned the practice of 'Sati" and a law to that effect was passed on 4th December, 1829.

    Raja Ram Mohan Roy also opposed the practice of 'Polygamy' under which a men could have more than one wife. He also advocated for women's right to inherit property.

Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was another social reformer who worked for the upliftment of the women. He succeeded in making the 'Widow Remarriage Act' passed in 1856. He even personally took part in the first widow remarriage that was performed in Calcutta in 1856.

    He also worked hard for the spread of women education. He was close associated with Lord Drinkwater Bethune who had started the first school for girls education in Calcutta(Kolkata) in 1849. In 1855, when he was made the Special Inspector of the Schools, he established a number of new schools including ones for girls. The British authorities did not like it and he had to resign from his post.

Keshab Chandra Sen

    Keshab Chandra Sen was a supporter and close associate of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He was against the 'Purdah system'. He had performed inter-cast marriage.

Dadabhai Naoroji

     Dadabhai Naoroji was a great performer. His area of work was Bombay(Mumbai). He fought for the legal status for women, uniform laws of inheritance and remarriage for the Parsis.

Other Reformers

      Other notable social reformers of the period were Jotirao Govindrao Phule and Gopal Hari Deshmukh Lokahitwadi, Ramabai Ranade of western India and Kandakuri Veeresalingam of south India.

      In the Year 1848, Jotirao Govindrao Phule opened a school for girls belonging to lower castes.In 1878, Kandakauri Veeresalingam formed the Rajahmundry Association and took up social issues like equality of all human beings, education for girls, remarriage of widows. etc.