TOPIC 5.11 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL UPRISINGS
1.The Kuka Movement
The Kuka Movement marked the first major reaction of the people in the Punjab to the new political order initiated by the British after 1849. The Namdhari Movement, of which the Kuka Movement was the most important phase, aimed at overthrowing British rule.
The Namdharis were also known as “Kukas” because of their trademark style of reciting the “Gurbani” (Sayings/Teachings of the Guru). This style was in a high-pitched voice called “Kook” in Punjabi. Thus, the Namdharis were also called “Kukas”.
Satguru Ram Singh, son of a poor carpenter, who was born on 3rd February, 1816 in a small village of Bhaini, around 7 kilometres away from Ludhiana, founded the Namdhari Sect on 12th April, 1857 at Bhaini Sahib.
He asked his followers to boycott everything which bore the stamp of the British Government. In course of time, Baba Ram Singh became a secular chief of Kukas
The Government arrested many Kukas and either hanged them or imprisoned them. There was a serious outbreak in 1872, when some of the Kukas went out of Ram Singh’s control and decided to attack Malerkotla and occupied it. The government took it seriously and many of the Kuka ring-leaders were blown away from the cannon mounts. Despite the fact that Ram Singh had informed the government that some wrongdoers used his name, the Government concluded that Ram Singh’s real motive and ambition was to reign and acquire dominions, upon a religious pretext. The result was that he was captured and sent into exile in Burma.
2.Brahmo Samaj
Founded by Raja Rammohan Roy (1771- 1833).
He is regarded as the first great leader and reformer of modern India. He was one of the earliest propagators of modern education.
He started Atmiya Sabha in 1814. Brahmo Sabha in 1828 and Brahmo Samal in 1830.
He was deeply influenced by monotheism, anti-idolatry of Islam, Sufism, ethical teachings of Christianity, liberal and rationalist doctrine of the West.
He laid emphasis on human dignity and criticised social evils.
He launched a movement for the abolition of Sati through his journals Sambad Kaumudi (1819), Precepts of Jesus in 1820.
He was a gifted linguist. He knew more than a dozen languages including Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English, French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He was opposed to the Sanskrit system of education.
He gave enthusiastic assistance to David Hare, who founded the famous Hindu College In Calcutta in 1817.
Established a Vedanta College (1825), in which courses both in Indian and Western, Social and Physical sciences were offered.
He wrote A Gift to monotheists or ‘Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin’ in Persian in 1809.
Other important leaders of Brahmo Samaj were Devendranath Tagore, who joined in 1848 and Keshab Chandra Sen in 1858.
Later, there was a split and in 1866-Devendranath Tagore founded Adi Brahmo Samaj and TattvaBodhini Sabha and Brabmo Samaj of IndIa was founded under the leadership of Keshab Chandra Sen.
Anand Mohan Bose started Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.
Dadoba Pandurang and Atmaram Pandurang founded the Prarthana Samaj.
Brahmo Ideas
The purpose of Brahmo Samaj was to purify Hinduism and to preach monotheism. It was opposed to idol worship, priesthood and ritualistic worship; Emphasised on worship through prayer, meditation and reading from the upanishads
3.Arya Samaj
The first Arya Samaj unit was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born in 1824 in Gujarat. His original name was Mula Shankar.
He was known as the earliest Neo-nationalist. He looked at the Vedas as ‘India’s Rock and Ages’. His motto was to go back to the Vedas and India for the Indians.
Arya Samaj stood for four-fold Varna System determined by merit and not by birth; for equal rights for men and women.
Opposed untouchability, caste discrimination, child marriage and supported widow remarriage and intercaste marriages.
He wrote three books-Satyartha Prakash, Veda-Bhashya Bhumika and Veda Bhashya.
In 1886, Lala Hansraj instituted Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) school in Lahore. In 1902, Gurukul Pathshala was established at Haridwar.
After the death of Dayanand in 1883, differences occurred in the Gurukul section and DAV section. While the Gurukul section laid emphasis on the traditional pattern of education, the DAV stood for the spread of English education.
The Arya Samaj started the Shuddhi Movement to convert non-Hindus to Hinduism. Other prominent Arya
Samajists were Lala Hansraj, Pt Guru Dutt, Lala Lajpat Rai and Swami Shraddhanand.
4. Ramakrishna Mission
It was established by Swami Vivekanand to carry on humanitarian relief and social work after the death of his Guru Ram Krishna Parauihansa in 1897.
His original name was Narendranath Dutt. He was born in Calcutta in 1863.
He stressed on social action and proclaimed the essential oneness of all religions and condemned any narrowness in religious matters.
He attended the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893 and published two papers Prabhudha Bharata in English and Udbodhana in Bengali.
He urged people to inculcate the spirit of liberty, equality and free thinking.
He worked for emancipation of women.
He emerged as a preacher of Neo Hinduism. He advocated the Doctrine of Service-the service of all human beings. He was considered as the Spiritual Father of the Modern Nationalist Movement.
Irish woman Margaret Noble (Sister Nivedita) popularised the Ramakrishna Mission after Vivekananda’s death.
5. The Prarthana Sabha
Prominent leaders were Dr Atmaram Pandurang and RG Bhandarkar and NG Chandavarkar.
It rejected idolatry, denied the vedas, and adopted the method of Congregational Worship.
6.Young Bengal Movement
During the late 1820 and early 1830,’ there emerged a radical intellectual trend among the youth in Bengal, which came to be known as the ‘Young Bengal Movement’.
It was founded by Henry Louis Vivian Derozlo. He was a teacher in Hindu College in Calcutta.
They believed in truth, freedom and religion. Supported women’s education.
Derozio edited the papers-Calcutta Gazette and India Gazette.
Swami Narayan Sampradaya
Founded by Swami Sahajananda in Gujarat to protest against luxurious practices of Vaishnavism.
7.Indian Reform Association
Founded by Keshab Chandra Sen in Calcutta in 1870.
Objective was to create public opinion against child marriages and for legalising the Brahma form of marriage. Promoted intellectual and social status of women.
8.Theosophical Society
Founded by Madame HP Blavatsky and Col HS Olcott in New York in 1875.
In 1882 its headquarters were shifted to Advair (Tamil Nadu).
The Theosophical Society of India was founded by Annie Beasant. She founded Central Hindu College in 1898, which later became Banaras Hindu University in 1916.
They drew inspiration from Indian thought and culture. It advocated the revival and strengthening of the ancient religions of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. It accepted the law of Karma and was inspired by Upanishada. Sankhya, Yoga and Vedanta.
9.Deccan Education Society
Founded by MG Ranade, VG Chibdonkar. GG Agarkar in Pune 1884.
Objective was to contribute to the cause of education and culture in Western India. The society founded the Ferguson College,
10.Seva Sadan
Founded by Behrami M Malabari in Bombay in 1885.
Campaign against child marriage, enforced widowhood and care for socially exploited women.
11.Indian National Social Conference
Founded by MG Ranade and Raghunath Rao in Bombay in 1887.
Focus was to abolish polygamy and Kuhinism and promote inter caste marriages. The conference is also referred to as the Social Reform Cell of the INC.
12.Madras Hindu Association
Founded by Viresalingam Pantalu in Madras in 1892. Movement concerned with the plight of women and to combat the devadasi system.
13. Bharat Dharma Mahamandal
Founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Pandit Din Dayal Sharma in Varanasi (1929).
It was an organisation of orthodox Hindus.
14.The Servants of India Society
Founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in Bombay (1905).
Worked for famine relief, tribal welfare.
15.Khudai Khidmatgar Movement
Here are three concise points about the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement:
Foundation and Leadership:
The Khudai Khidmatgar Movement, also known as the "Servants of God" or "Red Shirt Movement," was founded by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in 1929 in the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). It aimed to promote non-violent resistance against British colonial rule, inspired by Gandhian principles.
Social and Political Objectives:
The movement focused on social reform, emphasizing education, rural development, and the upliftment of the Pashtun community. Politically, it sought independence from British rule, advocating for the rights and welfare of the Pashtun people within the broader Indian independence struggle.
Non-Violent Resistance:
The Khudai Khidmatgars were known for their strict adherence to non-violence, even in the face of brutal repression by the British authorities. Members wore distinctive red shirts as a symbol of their commitment and participated in peaceful protests, boycotts, and civil disobedience to achieve their goals.
Started by Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan in NWFP (1929)
16.Lokahitawadi
Started by Gopal Hari Deshmukh. He advocated Western education and free education for upliftment of women. As a votary of national self-reliance, he attended Delhi durbar in 1876, wearing hand spun Khadi cloth.
