The Indian National Social Conference

• Founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao, the Indian Social Conference met annually from its first session in Madras in 1887 at the same time and venue as the Indian National Congress.
• It focussed attention on the social issues of importance; it could be called the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress, in fact. The Conference advocated inter-caste marriages, opposed polygamy and kulinism. It launched the ‘Pledge Movement’ to inspire people to take a pledge against child marriage.