Prarthana Samaj
Modern History › Reform Movements and Their Leaders · Topic 12.2
The Prarthana Samaj was founded in Bombay in 1867 by Atmaram Pandurang with the help of Keshab Chandra Sen. Led later by Mahadeo Govind Ranade, R.G. Bhandarkar and N.G. Chandavarkar, it stressed monotheism but worked mainly for social reform, relying on education and persuasion and on the bhakti tradition of Maharashtra.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Reform Movements and Their Leaders
At a Glance
- What it is A reform society in Bombay inspired by Brahmo ideas
- Founded 1867, by Atmaram Pandurang, with Keshab Chandra Sen’s help
- Leaders M.G. Ranade, R.G. Bhandarkar, N.G. Chandavarkar
- Method Education and persuasion, not confrontation
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Reform Movements and Their Leaders
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the category on reform movements and their leaders. The previous topic covered the Brahmo Samaj. The Prarthana Samaj is its counterpart in western India. The next topic covers the Young Bengal Movement. Previous topic: Raja Rammohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj.
How Was the Prarthana Samaj Founded?
In 1867 Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. Brahmo ideas had earlier spread in Maharashtra. A precursor was the Paramahansa Sabha, something like a secret society to spread liberal ideas and encourage the breakdown of caste and communal barriers, a society that appears in Western Indian Reformers: Jambhekar, Paramahansa Mandali, Lokahitawadi and Agarkar. The parent movement is described in Raja Rammohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj, where Keshab Chandra Sen’s role is also told.
Who Led the Prarthana Samaj?
Mahadeo Govind Ranade (1842-1901) joined the Samaj in 1870, and much of its popularity and work was due to his efforts. His efforts gave the Samaj an all-India character. Other leaders were R.G. Bhandarkar (1837-1925) and N.G. Chandavarkar (1855-1923).
| Leader | Dates | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Atmaram Pandurang | Founder, 1867 | Founded the Samaj in Bombay with Keshab Chandra Sen’s help |
| Mahadeo Govind Ranade | 1842-1901 | Joined in 1870; the main force behind its work and its all-India character |
| R.G. Bhandarkar | 1837-1925 | Leader of the Samaj |
| N.G. Chandavarkar | 1855-1923 | Leader of the Samaj |
What Were Its Aims and Methods?
The emphasis was on monotheism, but on the whole the Samaj was more concerned with social reform than with religion. The Prarthana Samaj was very attached to the bhakti cult of Maharashtra. It relied on education and persuasion, not on confrontation with Hindu orthodoxy. It had a four-point social agenda.
- Caste Disapproval of the caste system
- Women’s education Promotion of education for women
- Widow remarriage Support for the remarriage of widows
- Age of marriage Raising the age of marriage for both males and females
What Did Ranade, Karve and Vishnu Shastri Do?
Dhondo Keshav Karve and Vishnu Shastri were champions of social reform with Ranade. Along with Karve, Ranade founded the Widow Remarriage Movement as well as the Widows’ Home Association, with the aim of providing education and training to widows so that they could support themselves. The details of these efforts and the laws that came from them are told in Reform Movements and the Position of Women.
| Feature | Brahmo Samaj | Prarthana Samaj |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Bengal | Maharashtra (Bombay) |
| Religious base | Reason and the Vedas and Upanishads | Monotheism with the bhakti tradition of Maharashtra |
| Main focus | Religious and social reform | More social reform than religion |
| Method | Preaching, press, petitions | Education and persuasion |
As an analytical point, the contrast with the Brahmo Samaj shows how a reform movement adapted to local culture. By linking its monotheism to the older Maharashtra bhakti tradition rather than to a new break, the Prarthana Samaj avoided an open clash with orthodoxy, and it concentrated on practical work on which others could agree. That choice also explains why it was seen as a reformist, not a revivalist, movement, as in Aligarh Movement Revivalist…">Two Streams of Reform: Reformist and Revivalist.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Direct facts The founder, year and leaders are standard Prelims items
- Comparison Brahmo and Prarthana Samaj are often compared
- Link to Ranade It introduces Ranade, who also led the Social Conference
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Young Bengal Movement and Henry Vivian Derozio. Next topic: Young Bengal Movement and Henry Vivian Derozio.
Key People and Terms
- Prarthana Samaj The 1867 prayer society of Bombay
- Paramahansa Sabha A secret precursor society to spread liberal ideas
- Bhakti cult The devotional tradition of Maharashtra
- Widows’ Home Association A body for the education and training of widows
- Atmaram Pandurang The founder of the Prarthana Samaj
- Persuasion Reform by argument and education, not confrontation
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Founded 1867, Bombay, by Atmaram Pandurang, helped by Keshab Chandra Sen.
- Leaders: Ranade (joined 1870), Bhandarkar, Chandavarkar.
- Four points: caste, women’s education, widow remarriage, marriage age.
- Method: education and persuasion.
- Attached to bhakti of Maharashtra.
Do Not Confuse With
- Prarthana Samaj and Paramahansa Mandali The Paramahansa Sabha was a precursor secret society; the Samaj was open
- Prarthana Samaj and Brahmo Samaj Prarthana: Bombay, 1867, social focus; Brahmo: Bengal, 1828
- Ranade and Karve Ranade was the leader; Karve worked with him on widows’ causes
Memory Hook
Bombay’s Brahmo cousin: Atmaram founded, Ranade led, bhakti rooted.
Mains Angle
Questions ask to compare the Brahmo and Prarthana Samaj. These points add depth.
- Local roots It linked itself to the bhakti tradition
- Practical agenda Four social aims
- Leadership Ranade gave it an all-India character
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Compare the Prarthana Samaj with the Brahmo Samaj.”
How to Answer
- Origin Founded in 1867 with Brahmo help.
- Leaders Ranade, Bhandarkar, Chandavarkar.
- Agenda Monotheism and four social aims.
- Conclude Note the difference of region and method.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Prarthana Samaj?
Atmaram Pandurang founded the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay in 1867, with the help of Keshab Chandra Sen. Brahmo ideas had earlier spread in Maharashtra, and the Paramahansa Sabha had acted as a precursor, so the Samaj became a centre of liberal reform in western India.
Who were the leaders of the Prarthana Samaj?
Mahadeo Govind Ranade, who joined in 1870 and gave the Samaj an all-India character, R.G. Bhandarkar and N.G. Chandavarkar were its leaders. Dhondo Keshav Karve and Vishnu Shastri worked with Ranade for social reform, mainly through education and persuasion.
What was the social agenda of the Prarthana Samaj?
The Samaj had a four-point agenda: disapproval of the caste system, women's education, widow remarriage, and raising the age of marriage for both males and females. It was more concerned with social reform than with religion.
How was the Prarthana Samaj different from the Brahmo Samaj?
The Prarthana Samaj was based in Bombay and attached to the bhakti tradition of Maharashtra. It relied on education and persuasion, not confrontation with orthodoxy, and was more concerned with social reform than religion, so it counts as reformist, not revivalist.
What was the Paramahansa Sabha?
The Paramahansa Sabha was a precursor of the Prarthana Samaj, something like a secret society to spread liberal ideas and encourage the breakdown of caste and communal barriers, in Maharashtra. Open bodies like the Prarthana Samaj later carried on its aims through persuasion, not secrecy.
What did Ranade and Karve do for widows?
Ranade, along with D.K. Karve, founded the Widow Remarriage Movement and the Widows' Home Association. Their aim was to provide education and training to widows so that they could support themselves, giving high-caste widows training and an interest in life.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Prarthana Samaj was founded in Bombay in 1867.
Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang.
2 M.G. Ranade founded the Prarthana Samaj.
Atmaram Pandurang founded it; Ranade joined in 1870.
3 The Prarthana Samaj relied on confrontation with Hindu orthodoxy.
It relied on education and persuasion.
4 The Prarthana Samaj was attached to the bhakti cult of Maharashtra.
It stressed monotheism.
5 Raising the age of marriage was part of its four-point social agenda.
The others were caste, women's education and widow remarriage.
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