Indian Reformers
India has produced numerous social reformers who have played a significant role in making India a more progressive and forward looking country. These social reformers have fought against several social evils such as Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage, casteism et al. Here is a brief profile of famous Indian social reformers.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy ( May 22, 1772 - September 27, 1833 )
Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known as the 'Maker of Modern India'. He was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj, one of the first Indian socio-religious reform movements. He played a major role in abolishing the role of Sati. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on May 22, 1772 in village Radhanagar in the District of Murshidabad in Bengal. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was against idol worship and orthodox Hindu rituals. He stood firmly against all sort of social bigotry, conservatism and superstitions. In 1814, Raja Ram Mohan Roy formed Atmiya Sabha. Atmiya Sabha tried to initiate social and religious reforms in the society. He also supported education, particularly education of women. In 1828, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the 'Brahma Samaj'. Through 'Brahma Samaj, he wanted to expose the religious hypocrisies and check the growing influence of Christianity on the Hindu society.
Srinivasa Ramanujan (December 22, 1887 - April 26, 1920)
Srinivasa Ramanujan was a mathematician par excellence. Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu. At age of 16 his life took a decisive turn after he obtained a book titled" A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics". Ramanujan independently discovered results of Gauss, Kummer and others on hypergeometric series. Ramanujan's own work on partial sums and products of hypergeometric series have led to major development in the topic.
Vinoba Bhave (September 11, 1895 - November 15, 1982)
Vinoba Bhave was reverently called as Acharya Vinoba Bhave. He was considered as Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual successor. His Bhoodan (Gift of the Land) movement started on April 18, 1951 attracted the attention of the world. Vinobha Bhave’s original name was Vinayak Narahari Bhave. He was born in a Brahmin family on September 11, 1895 at the village of Gagoda in Kolaba district of Maharashtra. Launched Bhoodan and Sarvodaya movements; awarded with Bharat Ratna
Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 at Cuttack, in Orissa. Subhash was an excellent student and after school joined the Presidency College, Calcutta. Subhash joined the congress and rose to its Presidentship in 1938 a post he held for 2 years. The name of Subhas Chandra Bose is an integral part of the history of India’s fight for freedom. Subhas was arrested and lodged in jail for participating in Gandhiji’s Salt Satyagraha (1930). On 26 January1941, he suddenly disappeared from his house to supplement the struggle going on at home from outside.
Annie Besant
Born in London to Irish parents. Having been influenced by the Indian culture and civilization, she left for Indian in 1893. She became a staunch supporter of Indian Independence Movement and her contribution to India's freedom struggle was remarkable. She founded the Home-Rule League. She established Indian Boy Scouts Association. She died at the age of 86.
Bankin C Chatterjee
The composer of the National song 'Vande Mataram'. Considered to be a leading litterateur of Bengali literature. He was born in 1838 at Kantal-para, West Bengal. He wrote 'Anandmath' in 1882. In his book 'Kamala Kanter Daftar', he highlighted the social evils that prevailed in the society pertaining to injustice to the poor and he advocated remedial measures to balance the degree of equality between have and have-nots in the society. All his works bear unmistakable stamp of nationalism and Indian culture.
