Social Change and Religious Reform in Colonial India: Their Role in the Freedom Struggle

Abstract

The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in India witnessed a profound transformation in the spheres of society, culture, and religion, as reformers and visionaries responded to the challenges of colonial rule and the need for national regeneration. Social and religious reform movements emerged as powerful forces that sought to eradicate regressive practices such as caste discrimination, sati, child marriage, and gender inequality, while simultaneously promoting education, rational thought, and spiritual renewal. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Jyotiba Phule, and others spearheaded efforts that combined moral and cultural revival with a growing spirit of nationalism. Religious reform movements such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Aligarh Movement, and Ramakrishna Mission emphasized a reinterpretation of traditions to align with modern values. These efforts not only reshaped Indian society but also provided the ideological foundation for the freedom struggle by instilling self-confidence, unity, and a sense of cultural pride among Indians. This paper explores how social change and religious reform in colonial India played a pivotal role in strengthening the nationalist movement, highlighting their contribution to the creation of a modern, democratic, and inclusive vision of India.