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Social Reformers of India | ICSE Class 8 History

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History & CivicsICSE Class 8 · Socio-Religious Reforms

Social Reformers and Their Contributions (ICSE Class 8 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In the 19th century reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj, abolition of sati 1829), Vidyasagar (widow remarriage 1856), Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj 1875), Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission 1897), Jyotiba Phule (Satyashodhak Samaj 1873), Annie Besant, Veeresalingam, Sree Narayana Guru, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Singh Sabhas worked against social evils and for education, equality and rational thought.

Follow the arrow of time and match each reformer to his key reform or organisation, from Roy's ban on sati to Vivekananda's mission.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Bengal). Called the 'father of modern India'. Founded the Brahmo Sabha (1828), later the Brahmo Samaj: one God, no idol worship, no meaningless rituals. Campaigned against sati, showing it had no true religious basis; Lord William Bentinck banned it in 1829. Supported women's rights including property rights, opposed polygamy and child marriage, backed modern Western education alongside Indian learning, and ran newspapers and journals.

2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Bengal). Sanskrit scholar and principal of the Sanskrit College, Calcutta. Used ancient texts to argue for widow remarriage, leading to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856. Promoted girls' schools and supported J.E.D. Bethune's school; opened the Sanskrit College to non-Brahmins; opposed child marriage and polygamy; wrote the Bengali primer Barna Parichay.

3. Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda. Dayanand founded the Arya Samaj (1875, Bombay), strong in Punjab and north India; 'Go back to the Vedas'; wrote Satyarth Prakash; opposed idol worship, birth-based caste discrimination and child marriage; supported widow remarriage and women's education; his followers set up DAV schools and colleges. Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta), disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, spoke on Vedanta at the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago (1893), founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897) to serve the poor and sick, taught that service to humanity is service to God, criticised caste distinctions and urged youth to be self-confident.

4. Jyotiba Phule and Annie Besant. Phule (Maharashtra) fought caste discrimination; with his wife Savitribai opened a girls' school in Pune (1848); founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873); wrote Gulamgiri (1873) comparing caste oppression with slavery; opened schools for children of all castes and supported widows. Annie Besant, a London-born reformer of Irish descent, came to India in 1893 and led the Theosophical Society (Adyar) from 1907; praised India's culture; founded the Central Hindu College at Benares (1898), which later became part of Banaras Hindu University; started the Home Rule League (1916) and became the first woman president of the Congress (1917).

5. Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Sree Narayana Guru. Veeresalingam (Andhra), father of the Telugu renaissance: widow remarriages, girls' schools, opposed child marriage and dowry, wrote in Telugu journals. Sree Narayana Guru (Kerala), born in the Ezhava community: 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind'; consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram (1888), challenging the rule that only Brahmins could do so; opened temples to all; inspired the SNDP Yogam (1903).

6. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Singh Sabhas. Sir Syed urged Muslims to take up modern education and science; founded the Scientific Society (1864) to translate Western works into Urdu; MAO College at Aligarh (1875), which became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920; journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq; criticised superstition. The Singh Sabhas (first at Amritsar, 1873; Lahore, 1879) aimed to restore the purity of Sikh religion, promote education (Khalsa College, Amritsar, 1892) and Punjabi, and encourage social reform.

7. Common features. Use of reason and sometimes ancient texts to argue for change; focus on women's education and status; opposition to caste discrimination and child marriage; modern education; institutions and journals to spread ideas. The syllabus asks for contributions in brief.

Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others: key facts

Roy and Vidyasagar
  • Brahmo Sabha 1828
  • Sati banned 1829
  • Widows' Remarriage Act 1856
Dayanand and Vivekananda
  • Arya Samaj 1875
  • Chicago 1893
  • Ramakrishna Mission 1897
Phule and Besant
  • Girls' school Pune 1848
  • Satyashodhak Samaj 1873
  • Central Hindu College 1898
  • Congress president 1917
Others
  • Aruvippuram 1888
  • SNDP 1903
  • MAO College 1875
  • Singh Sabha 1873
  • Khalsa College 1892

How to answer Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others questions

For each reformer, answer in the order: region, organisation with date, key reform, writings or institutions.

  1. 1Learn the dates of Acts and organisations.
  2. 2Link reformers to a theme: women, caste, education, religion.
  3. 3In comparison questions, name two reformers per theme.
  4. 4Remember to use neutral and respectful language about all communities.

Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A school that opened its doors

Suppose a village school in the 1850s admits girls and children of all castes for the first time, using local-language primers, with the help of a reformer and her husband.

Which reformer's work does this resemble, and which two aims does it serve?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It resembles Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule's girls' school at Pune (1848) and schools for all castes.
  2. Aims: women's education and caste equality.
  3. Using primers in the local language links to Vidyasagar's Barna Parichay in Bengali.

Answer: Phule and Savitribai; women's education and caste equality.

Memory hook: Open the door to all.

Tricks to remember Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Roy = sati

    Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the abolition of sati (1829).

    Use it when: Roy.

  • Vidyasagar = widows

    Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act 1856.

    Use it when: Vidyasagar.

  • Dayanand Vedas; Vivekananda service

    Go back to the Vedas; service to humanity is service to God.

    Use it when: Slogans.

Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Roy · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State three contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Founded the Brahmo Sabha (1828), later the Brahmo Samaj.
  2. Campaigned against sati, which was banned in 1829.
  3. Supported women's rights and modern education.

Answer: Brahmo Samaj, sati abolition, women's rights and education.

Example 2: Match · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Match: (a) Arya Samaj (b) Satyashodhak Samaj (c) Ramakrishna Mission (d) SNDP Yogam with the founder or inspirer.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) Dayanand Saraswati.
  2. (b) Jyotiba Phule.
  3. (c) Vivekananda.
  4. (d) Sree Narayana Guru (inspired).

Answer: (a) Dayanand (b) Phule (c) Vivekananda (d) Narayana Guru.

Example 3: Vidyasagar · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe how Vidyasagar worked for widow remarriage and women's education.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. He used ancient texts to argue that widows could remarry; his campaign led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856.
  2. He helped open many girls' schools in Bengal and supported J.E.D. Bethune's school.
  3. He opened the Sanskrit College to non-Brahmin students and wrote primers such as Barna Parichay.

Answer: Widows' Remarriage Act 1856, girls' schools, Sanskrit College opened, Barna Parichay.

Example 4: Tackling caste · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Compare the approaches of Jyotiba Phule and Sree Narayana Guru to caste discrimination.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Phule opened schools for all castes, founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) and wrote Gulamgiri comparing caste oppression with slavery.
  2. Narayana Guru gave the message 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind', consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram (1888) and opened temples to all.
  3. Both stressed education and equality.

Answer: Phule: schools and writing; Narayana Guru: temples and message of one caste.

Example 5: Common thread · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Identify three themes common to the reformers in this chapter and give two reformers for each theme.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Women's education and status: Vidyasagar and Veeresalingam (also Roy, Phule).
  2. Opposition to caste discrimination: Phule and Sree Narayana Guru (also Dayanand, Vivekananda).
  3. Modern education and reason: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Answer: Women, caste and modern education, with two reformers each.

Where students lose marks in Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Mixing reformers and organisations

    Arya Samaj given to Roy.

    Do this: Make a pair table: person - region - body - date.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Omitting dates of Acts

    The Act is named without a year.

    Do this: Sati ban 1829; Widows' Remarriage Act 1856.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Writing a biography

    Long life stories instead of contributions.

    Do this: Write contributions only; the syllabus says in brief.

    Usually costs: Time.

  • Mistake: Giving Vidyasagar the sati credit

    Roy and Vidyasagar mixed.

    Do this: Sati: Roy; widows: Vidyasagar.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Learn a one-line identity for each of the ten reformers.
  • Use dates only where the chapter gives them.
  • Be respectful and neutral about all religious traditions.
  • Group reformers by theme for comparison questions.

Practice questions on Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act was passed in:
    (a) 1829
    (b) 1856
    (c) 1875
    (d) 1897

    Hint

    Vidyasagar.

    Answer

    (b) 1856.

  2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    Who wrote Satyarth Prakash?

    Hint

    Arya Samaj founder.

    Answer

    Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Name the college founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875 and the university it later became.

    Hint

    At Aligarh.

    Answer

    Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College; it became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What were the Singh Sabhas? State two of their aims.

    Hint

    Punjab, 1873.

    Answer

    Reform bodies among the Sikhs (first at Amritsar in 1873, another at Lahore in 1879). Aims: to restore the purity of the Sikh religion, and to promote education, including Khalsa College (1892), and Punjabi language and literature.

  5. Q5 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

    Assertion (A): Annie Besant helped Indians feel pride in their heritage.
    Reason (R): She praised India's ancient culture and religions and led the Theosophical Society.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

    Hint

    Cause of pride.

    Answer

    (a).

  6. Q6 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe the contributions of Vivekananda in four points.

    Hint

    Chicago and mission.

    Answer

    He spoke on Vedanta and the harmony of religions at the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago (1893), earning respect for Indian thought; founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897) to serve the poor and sick; taught that service to humanity is service to God; criticised caste distinctions and urged youth to be self-confident.

  7. Q7 · 3 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

    Source-based. "I do not believe that sati has any basis in the ancient texts." (i) Who is most likely to have said this? (ii) What action followed in 1829? (iii) Name one organisation he founded.

    Hint

    Bengal.

    Answer

    (i) Raja Ram Mohan Roy. (ii) Lord William Bentinck banned sati. (iii) The Brahmo Sabha, later the Brahmo Samaj (1828).

  8. Q8 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Which reforms of the nineteenth century do you consider most important for women? Select two and justify.

    Hint

    Think of law and education.

    Answer

    The ban on sati (1829) protected women's lives; the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act (1856) gave widows the legal right to remarry. Both are justified as legal changes that improved women's position; girls' education (Phule, Vidyasagar, Veeresalingam) gave long-term empowerment.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Father of the Telugu renaissance?Show answer

    Kandukuri Veeresalingam.

  2. 2.Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj?Show answer

    Jyotiba Phule (1873).

  3. 3.Who was the first woman president of the Congress (1917)?Show answer

    Annie Besant.

  4. 4.Where was the first Singh Sabha?Show answer

    Amritsar, 1873.

  5. 5.Founder of the Arya Samaj?Show answer

    Swami Dayanand Saraswati, 1875.

Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others: frequently asked questions

Why is Roy called father of modern India?

Because of his role in social reform, women's rights and modern education.

What did Gulamgiri mean?

It means slavery; Phule's book compared caste oppression with slavery.

What is the Aligarh Movement?

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's movement for modern education among Muslims.

What is the SNDP Yogam?

An organisation inspired by Sree Narayana Guru for education and social equality (1903).