Religious Reforms Movement – Free Modern History Notes for UPSC 2025

The Religious Reforms Movement refers to a series of socio-religious movements that emerged in various parts of India during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These movements sought to reform and modernize traditional religious practices and beliefs prevalent in Indian society. Influenced by a combination of indigenous traditions and Western thought, these reform movements aimed to address social injustices, promote rationality, and advocate for equality and human rights.

Wahabi Movement (1830-1860)

Leader: Syed Ahmed Barelvi from Rae Bareilly led the movement.
He was influenced by the teachings of Abdul Wahab of Arabia and Shah Waliullah, a saint from Delhi.
The movement’s roots were mainly religious in nature.
The Wahabi movement was centered in Patna but also had missions in Bombay, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, and Madras.
In Bengal, it evolved into a class struggle where peasants, despite communal differences, united against landlords.

Faraizi Movement (1838-48)

Shariatullah Khan and Dadu Mian led the initial anti-tax campaign against the British authorities.
Their group fearlessly confronted armed bands of landlords and indigo planters.
The movement brought together farmers across Bengal to resist landlord oppression and illegal taxation.
The Faraizi movement gained significant support in districts like Dhaka, Faridpur, Barisal, Mymensingh, and Comilla.

The Mohammedan Literary Society of Calcutta

Established in 1863 by Abdul Latif.
The goal was to promote modern education and eliminate practices like polygamy among affluent and middle-class Muslims.
Played a vital role in fostering unity between Hindus and Muslims.

Deoband Movement (1866)

Dar al-Uloom Deoband was founded in Deoband, British India, by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.
Generally, Deobandis have strongly opposed Sufi devotional practices.
The movement aimed to spread the clear teachings of the Quran and Hadith among Muslims.
It disagreed with the ideas promoted by the Aligarh Movement.
The primary goal was the moral and religious rejuvenation of the Muslim community.
The establishment of the Indian National Congress was supported by the movement.

Sayyid Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh School

Socio-religious reform movements among Indian Muslims began in the 1860s.
Sayyid Ahmed Khan (1817-98) urged Muslims to embrace modern scientific knowledge and reject outdated medieval thought.
He supported ending purdah, expanding women’s education, and denouncing polygamy.
He advocated for freedom of thought and tolerance.
He dedicated his life to advancing modern education and established the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875, later becoming Aligarh Muslim University.
He believed in the Quran’s authority and rationality for Muslims.
He condemned religious fanaticism and bigotry while promoting religious tolerance.
Some supporters abstained from the national movement, fearing divergence in goals.
The Aligarh Movement, initiated by him, led to a Muslim revival and served as a unifying force for Muslims across India.
It facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and the development of Urdu as a common language.
He advocated for the study of European science and technology.
He established the British Indian Association at Aligarh in 1866.
His work, “The Causes of the Indian Revolt” (1858), criticized British expansionism and advocated for Indian representation in governance and education.

Ahmadiyya Movement (1889)

The Socio-Religious Reform Movement was initiated in Punjab by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a prominent scholar and advocate for Islam.
As a result of this movement, numerous schools and colleges were established across the nation, promoting the universal and humanitarian aspects of Islam and advocating for unity between Hindus and Muslims.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founded the Ahmadiyya movement and community with the aims of defending and spreading Islam worldwide, and promoting Islamic principles of mercy, forgiveness, and compassion for all people.
The movement was named Ahmadiyya after the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s other name, Ahmad, which symbolizes qualities like tenderness, gentleness, love, and mercy.

Kuka Movement (Namdhari Movement, 1872)

The Socio-Religious Reform movement gained momentum among Sikhs under leaders like Bhagat Jawaharmal and Baba Balak Singh, eventually becoming a significant force under Baba Ram Singh, a disciple of Baba Balak Singh.
Baba Ram Singh emphasized the worship of one God through prayer and meditation, urging his followers to engage in constant worship as per the moral codes he established.
He also preached against social evils such as the caste system, infanticide, early marriage, and the practice of exchanging daughters in marriage, while advocating for simple and affordable Anand Marriage ceremonies.
Baba Ram Singh’s teachings resonated widely among Sikh communities, attracting considerable support.
The growing popularity of Baba Ram Singh’s mission raised concerns among modern European officials.

Singh Sabha Movement (1873)

This Socio-Religious Reform Movement emerged in the year following the persecution of the Kukas, representing a wider appeal among Sikh masses and leaving a significant impact.
The movement attracted supporters mainly from the educated middle class, who were also involved in various other social and religious movements in Punjab.
The primary focus of the Singh Sabha movement was on social and religious reform, achieved primarily through the promotion of education while avoiding discussions on political matters.
The Singh Sabha leadership, often comprising large landholders, avoided conflicts with British authorities, emphasizing the betterment of Sikh community interests.
They highlighted the decline of Sikh affairs compared to the prosperous era under Ranjit Singh’s rule and aimed to rejuvenate Sikh identity.
One of the movement’s key achievements was the establishment of Khalsa schools, colleges, and educational centers, notably including Khalsa College in Amritsar in 1892, which contributed to the advancement of Punjabi literature, Sikh education, and Gurmukhi, partly with British assistance.

Akali Movement (1920-1925)

The Socio-Religious Reform Movement among Sikhs began with the formation of two Singh Sabhas in Amritsar and Lahore in the 1870s.
In 1920, the movement gained momentum in Punjab.
The primary objective of the Akalis, a prominent group within the movement, was to reform the administration of Gurudwaras, Sikh shrines that had been mismanaged by corrupt and selfish mahants.
In 1921, Sikh masses, led by the Akalis, launched a powerful Satyagraha against the mahants and the government that supported them.
The pressure exerted by the Sikh community led to the passing of a new Sikh Gurudwaras Act in 1922, later revised in 1925.
With the aid of this Act and through direct action, the Sikhs gradually removed corrupt mahants from the gurudwaras.

The Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha by Dadabhai Naoroji

This prominent social reform society in Bombay, also called the Religious Reform Association, was founded by Naoroji Furdonji, Dadabhai Naoroji, S.S. Bengalee, and others.
Their aim was to challenge the traditional beliefs and practices within the Parsi community.
They worked towards modernizing Parsi customs, particularly in areas like women’s education, marriage, and overall social status.
They advocated for uniform laws regarding inheritance and marriage among Parsis.
Over time, the Parsis became one of the most Westernized groups in Indian society due to the influence of these reforms.

Also read about Socio-Religious Reform Movement After 1857.