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Q69 (IAS/2016) History & Culture › Modern India (Pre-1857) › Socio-religious reform movements Official Key

Consider the following : 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (2 and 3 only).

The Calcutta Unitarian Committee was established in 1823 by Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore, and William[2] Adam[1], not by Keshab Chandra Sen. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.

In 1868, Keshub laid the foundation stone of his new church - the Tabernacle of New Dispensation[4] on 24th January[3], confirming his association with its establishment. Statement 2 is correct.

Keshub Chandra Sen established the Indian Reform[6] Association, which was formed on 29th October,[5] 1870 with Keshab Chandra Sen as President. Statement 3 is correct.

Since Keshab Chandra Sen was associated with the establishment of only the Tabernacle of New Dispensation (2) and the Indian Reform Association (3), but not the Calcutta Unitarian Committee (1), the correct answer is option B - 2 and 3 only.

Sources
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Q. Consider the following : 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association Keshab Chandra Se…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10

This is a classic 'Timeline & Association' trap. The question separates the 'Early Phase' (Rammohun Roy) from the 'Later Phase' (Keshab Chandra Sen). If you only memorized 'Brahmo Samaj' broadly without noting the specific schisms (Adi vs. India vs. Sadharan) and their unique institutions, you would struggle.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Calcutta Unitarian Committee?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"1823 Establishment of the Calcutta Unitarian Committee by Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore, and William Adam"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names the founders of the Calcutta Unitarian Committee without mentioning Keshab Chandra Sen.
  • Shows the committee was established in 1823 by Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore, and William Adam, implying Sen was not involved.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The calcutta Unitarian Committee was established by Rammohan Roy, Dwrkanath Tagore and William Adam"
Why this source?
  • States the Calcutta Unitarian Committee was established by Rammohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore and William Adam.
  • Also associates Keshab Chandra Sen with other institutions (Tabernacle, Indian Reform Association) but not with the Calcutta Unitarian Committee.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 211
Strength: 5/5
“In 1867, Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. Earlier, the Brahmo ideas spread in Maharashtra. A precursor of the Prarthana”
Why relevant

States Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay (1867), showing he took part in founding new reform organisations outside his immediate base.

How to extend

A student could infer that since Sen co-founded societies elsewhere, it is plausible he might also have been involved in founding other bodies in Calcutta and should therefore check records of the Calcutta Unitarian Committee for his name or correspondence.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
Strength: 4/5
“The Brahmo Samaj experienced another phase of energy, when Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-1884) was made the acharya by Debendranath Tagore soon after the former joined the Samaj in 1858. Keshab (also spelt Keshub) was instrumental in popularising the movement, and branches of the Samaj were opened outside Bengal—in the United Provinces, Punjab, Bombay, Madras and other towns. Unfortunately, Debendranath did not like some of Sen's ideas which he found too radical, such as cosmopolitanisation of the Samaj's meetings by inclusion of teachings from all religions and his strong views against the caste system, even open support to inter-caste marriages. Keshab Chandra Sen was dismissed from the office of acharya in 1865.”
Why relevant

Notes Sen's role in popularising the Brahmo Samaj and opening branches in multiple provinces, indicating a pattern of organizing and institutional expansion.

How to extend

Combine this pattern with knowledge that Unitarians and liberal Christian groups sometimes collaborated with Brahmo leaders to search archival lists of founders/meetings for Sen's participation.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
Strength: 4/5
“After his death there was a steady decline but for the new lease life given to it by Devendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore). After him the organization was taken forward by Keshab Chandra Sen from 1857. The strength of the organization is known from the number of branches it had in 1865, 54 Samajas (fifty in Bengal, two in North West Province, one each in Punjab and Madras). In Tamil Nadu, Kasi Viswanatha Mudaliar was an adherent of the Samaj and he wrote a play titled Brahmo Samaja Natakam to expound the ideas of the Samaj. He also wrote a tract in support of widow remarriage.”
Why relevant

Gives the scale of organisational growth under Sen (54 Samajas by 1865), implying he actively promoted and established formal bodies and committees.

How to extend

Use this as a reason to inspect organisational founding dates and minutes of Calcutta committees from the period to see if Sen's leadership role extended to a Unitarian committee.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > 19.6 Reform Movements in Tamilnadu > p. 305
Strength: 3/5
“As we saw earlier, the reform movements of the north India had its own impact on Tamilnadu. Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj had their branches. Keshab Chandra Sen visited Madras and lectured here. But Tamilnadu also saw its own reform movements.”
Why relevant

Records that Keshab Chandra Sen visited and lectured in Madras, indicating he travelled and engaged with reform networks outside Bengal.

How to extend

Given his mobility and networking, a student might look for evidence of his involvement in urban Calcutta committees (such as Unitarian groups) in travel accounts, lecture notices or society membership lists.

Statement 2
Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Tabernacle of New Dispensation?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"On the occasion of the anniversary festival on 24th January, 1868, Keshub laid the foundation stone of his mandir called the Tabernacle of New Dispensation."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states Keshub (Keshab Chandra Sen) laid the foundation stone of the Tabernacle of New Dispensation.
  • Provides a specific date (24th January, 1868) linking Sen to the establishment event.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"1868 Keshub laid the foundation stone of his new church - the Tabernacle of New Dispensation on 24th January."
Why this source?
  • Chronology entry records Keshub as laying the foundation stone of the Tabernacle of New Dispensation in 1868.
  • Describes the Tabernacle as Keshub's 'new church', directly associating him with its establishment.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In 1868, Keshub laid the foundation stone of his new church, the Tabernacle of New Dispensation"
Why this source?
  • States that in 1868 Keshub laid the foundation stone of his new church, naming it the Tabernacle of New Dispensation.
  • Directly ties the Tabernacle's founding to Keshab Chandra Sen in a biographical context.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
Strength: 5/5
“The Brahmo Samaj experienced another phase of energy, when Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-1884) was made the acharya by Debendranath Tagore soon after the former joined the Samaj in 1858. Keshab (also spelt Keshub) was instrumental in popularising the movement, and branches of the Samaj were opened outside Bengal—in the United Provinces, Punjab, Bombay, Madras and other towns. Unfortunately, Debendranath did not like some of Sen's ideas which he found too radical, such as cosmopolitanisation of the Samaj's meetings by inclusion of teachings from all religions and his strong views against the caste system, even open support to inter-caste marriages. Keshab Chandra Sen was dismissed from the office of acharya in 1865.”
Why relevant

States Sen promoted 'cosmopolitanisation of the Samaj' by including teachings from all religions—a pattern of creating syncretic/reformist religious practices.

How to extend

A student could check whether any of Sen's syncretic initiatives carried the name 'New Dispensation' or 'Tabernacle' in biographies or contemporary reports of his interreligious programmes.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 211
Strength: 5/5
“In 1867, Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. Earlier, the Brahmo ideas spread in Maharashtra. A precursor of the Prarthana”
Why relevant

Records that Sen helped found the Prarthana Samaj (1867), showing he did establish or co‑found new religious/reform organizations.

How to extend

Use this pattern (he founded new societies) to investigate primary sources for other organizations he may have founded, looking for the specific title 'Tabernacle of New Dispensation'.

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Brahmo Samaj > p. 216
Strength: 4/5
“The Brahmo tradition of Raja Rammohun Roy was carried forward after 1843 by Devendranath Tagore, who also repudiated the doctrine that the Vedic scriptures were infallible, and after 1866 by Keshub Chandra Sen. The Brahmo Samaj made an effort to reform Hindu religion by removing abuses, by basing it on the worship of one God and on the teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads, and by incorporating the best aspects of modern western thought. The Brahmos were also great social reformers. They actively opposed the caste system and child-marriage and supported the general uplift of women, including widow remarriage, and the spread of modern education to men and women.”
Why relevant

Describes Sen's role carrying forward the Brahmo tradition and incorporating diverse teachings and modern thought—consistent with starting new movements/forms of worship.

How to extend

Compare names and descriptions of Brahmo offshoots and Sen's projects in period newspapers or his own writings to see if one was called the 'Tabernacle of New Dispensation'.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
Strength: 4/5
“After his death there was a steady decline but for the new lease life given to it by Devendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore). After him the organization was taken forward by Keshab Chandra Sen from 1857. The strength of the organization is known from the number of branches it had in 1865, 54 Samajas (fifty in Bengal, two in North West Province, one each in Punjab and Madras). In Tamil Nadu, Kasi Viswanatha Mudaliar was an adherent of the Samaj and he wrote a play titled Brahmo Samaja Natakam to expound the ideas of the Samaj. He also wrote a tract in support of widow remarriage.”
Why relevant

Notes that under Sen the Brahmo Samaj expanded widely (many branches beyond Bengal), indicating organizational activity and institution‑building.

How to extend

Given his active institution‑building, check regional records (e.g., Madras, Bombay) for establishment records or announcements of any 'Tabernacle' linked to Sen.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > 19.6 Reform Movements in Tamilnadu > p. 305
Strength: 3/5
“As we saw earlier, the reform movements of the north India had its own impact on Tamilnadu. Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj had their branches. Keshab Chandra Sen visited Madras and lectured here. But Tamilnadu also saw its own reform movements.”
Why relevant

Mentions Sen lectured in Madras and influenced reform movements outside Bengal—shows he promoted ideas publicly and possibly launched new local initiatives.

How to extend

Search contemporaneous Madras/Tamil sources or lecture accounts for references to a 'New Dispensation' or a 'Tabernacle' created by or announced during his tours.

Statement 3
Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Indian Reform Association?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"On his return to India he established the Indian Reform Association"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states Keshub (Keshab) established the Indian Reform Association on his return to India.
  • Describes the association's areas of activity, linking it directly to his initiatives.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Indian Reform Association was formed on 29th October, 1870 keshab Chandra Sen as President."
Why this source?
  • States the formation date of the Indian Reform Association and names Keshab Chandra Sen as President.
  • Connects the association to Sen's secular and reform activities after his visit to Great Britain.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Keshub establishes the Indian Reform Association"
Why this source?
  • Chronology entry records that Keshub (Keshab) establishes the Indian Reform Association.
  • Places the establishment in the timeline of Keshab's activities, supporting his direct association.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
Strength: 4/5
“The Brahmo Samaj experienced another phase of energy, when Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-1884) was made the acharya by Debendranath Tagore soon after the former joined the Samaj in 1858. Keshab (also spelt Keshub) was instrumental in popularising the movement, and branches of the Samaj were opened outside Bengal—in the United Provinces, Punjab, Bombay, Madras and other towns. Unfortunately, Debendranath did not like some of Sen's ideas which he found too radical, such as cosmopolitanisation of the Samaj's meetings by inclusion of teachings from all religions and his strong views against the caste system, even open support to inter-caste marriages. Keshab Chandra Sen was dismissed from the office of acharya in 1865.”
Why relevant

Shows Keshab Chandra Sen was a leading organiser in the Brahmo Samaj who expanded branches beyond Bengal, indicating active role in founding and promoting reform organisations.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern (Sen as an organiser who set up branches) to check contemporary records or lists of founders/members of the Indian Reform Association in those same regions and years.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 211
Strength: 5/5
“In 1867, Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. Earlier, the Brahmo ideas spread in Maharashtra. A precursor of the Prarthana”
Why relevant

Records Sen's direct participation in founding another reform body (Prarthana Samaj), demonstrating he did found or help establish reform associations.

How to extend

From this example of Sen founding an association, a student could plausibly examine founding documents or membership lists of the Indian Reform Association for his name or for similar collaborator networks.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Significance of Reform Movements > p. 237
Strength: 3/5
“On the whole, however, whatever the net outcome of these reform movements, it was out of this struggle that a new society evolved in India. ● Reform Movements: Among Hindus Bengal Raja Rammohan Roy and Brahmo Samaj Debendranath Tagore and Tattvabodhini Sabha Keshub Chandra Sen and Brahmo Samaj of India Prarthana Samaj Derozio and Young Bengal Movement Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Western India Bal Shastri Jambekar Students' Literary and Scientific Societies Paramhansa Mandalis Jyotiba Phule and Satyashodhak Samaj Gopalhari Deshmukh 'Lokahitawadi' Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Servants of India Society Southern India Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Movement Vokkaliga Sangha Justice Movement Self-respect Movement Temple Entry Movement All India • Summary: Ramakrishna Movement and Vivekananda Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj Theosophical Movement • Summary: ● Among Muslims Wahabi/Walliullah Movement Ahmadiyya Movement Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh Movement Deoband Movement ● Among Parsis Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha”
Why relevant

Places Keshab Chandra Sen within a broader list of 19th-century Indian reform movements and organisations, showing the common practice of forming societies named 'Samaj' or associations.

How to extend

A student could use the common naming/organisational pattern to search period sources (newspapers, pamphlets) for an 'Indian Reform Association' and see if Sen appears among reform leaders.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 10: Beginning of Modern Nationalism in India > Beginning of Modern Nationalism in India ✫ 245 > p. 245
Strength: 3/5
“The Indian Association of Calcutta (also known as the Indian National Association) superseded the Indian League and was founded in 1876 by younger nationalists of Bengal led by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose, who were getting discontented with the conservative and pro-landlord policies of the British Indian Association. The Indian Association was the most important of pre-Congress associations and aimed to "promote by every legitimate means the political, intellectual and material advancement of the people." It set out to— (i) create a strong public opinion on political questions, and (ii) unify Indian people in a common political programme. It protested against the reduction of age limit in 1877 for candidates of the Indian Civil Service examination.”
Why relevant

Describes formation of other political/association bodies (Indian Association of Calcutta) by contemporary reformers, demonstrating a pattern of forming named associations to advance reform causes.

How to extend

Given this pattern, a student could check timelines and founders of mid-19th-century associations (like Indian Reform Association) to test whether Sen—active in that milieu—was involved.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > 19.6 Reform Movements in Tamilnadu > p. 305
Strength: 3/5
“As we saw earlier, the reform movements of the north India had its own impact on Tamilnadu. Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj had their branches. Keshab Chandra Sen visited Madras and lectured here. But Tamilnadu also saw its own reform movements.”
Why relevant

Notes that Keshab Chandra Sen travelled and lectured outside Bengal (e.g., Madras), implying a national-level reform presence that could align with involvement in pan-Indian associations.

How to extend

Using this evidence of national activity, a student might look for records of the Indian Reform Association's geographic scope and founding figures to see if Sen's national work overlaps.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Reform Movement Genealogy'. They don't just ask about the main body; they ask about the precursors (Unitarian Committee) and the offshoots (New Dispensation). Always memorize the 'Before' and 'After' organizations of a major movement.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Standard/Moderate. Solvable by Spectrum/NCERT if you tracked the specific names of organizations, not just the movements.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The Schisms of the Brahmo Samaj (1866 and 1878) and the specific institutions built by the splinter groups.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map the Founder-Institution pairs: Rammohun Roy (Atmiya Sabha 1814, Unitarian Committee 1823); Debendranath Tagore (Tattvabodhini Sabha 1839); Keshab Chandra Sen (Sangat Sabha 1860, Indian Reform Association 1870, Naba Bidhan 1880); Anandamohan Bose (Sadharan Brahmo Samaj 1878).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Use 'Chronological Validity' as a filter. The Unitarian Committee was a precursor to the Brahmo Sabha (1828). Keshab joined the movement in 1857. He physically could not have established a committee that existed before he was born.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Keshab Chandra Sen's leadership in the Brahmo Samaj
💡 The insight

Several references state Keshab was made acharya and 'took forward' the Brahmo Samaj, showing his central leadership role in that reform movement.

UPSC often asks about key figures of socio-religious reform movements and their roles. Mastering who led which reform body helps answer questions on causes, influence and organisational changes; link this with questions on social reform, religious revivalism and the Bengal renaissance. Learn by mapping leaders to organisations and their major reforms (e.g., leadership, doctrinal changes).

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Calcutta Unitari..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Geographic spread and branches of the Brahmo Samaj
💡 The insight

References note that under Keshab the Samaj opened branches outside Bengal (UP, Punjab, Bombay, Madras) and give branch counts for 1865.

Questions probe the reach and influence of reform movements (regional spread, urban centres). Knowing where a movement expanded and its organisational strength helps explain its social impact and political linkages. Prepare by tabulating movements vs. regions and noting branch/network data from sources.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Calcutta Unitari..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Keshab Chandra Sen and the founding of allied reform groups (Prarthana Samaj)
💡 The insight

One reference explicitly says Keshab helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay (1867), showing his role beyond the Brahmo Samaj.

UPSC questions frequently test cross-regional links among reform movements and collaborations between leaders. Understanding these connections enables answers on diffusion of ideas and ideological kinships (e.g., Brahmo-Prarthana links). Study by tracing founder networks and notable collaborations mentioned in primary sources.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 211
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Calcutta Unitari..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Keshab Chandra Sen's leadership in the Brahmo Samaj
💡 The insight

Multiple references show Sen was made acharya, led the Samaj, introduced radical ideas, and was later dismissed—key to questions about his organizational roles.

Understanding Sen's formal position and influence within the Brahmo Samaj helps answer questions on leadership, reform trajectories, and intra-movement conflicts. This is high-yield for UPSC topics on 19th-century social-religious reformers and their institutional roles; study primary timelines and major actions (appointments, dismissals) to answer attribution questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Brahmo Samaj > p. 216
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Tabernacle of Ne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Brahmo Samaj's reform agenda and geographic spread
💡 The insight

References document the Samaj's reform commitments (anti-caste, widow/inter-caste marriage support) and branches opened outside Bengal—context for Sen's activities.

Mastering the reform aims and geographic expansion of reform movements allows candidates to place individual reformers and institutions in context—useful for comparative questions on social reform movements and regional influence. Link this to social reform topics (women's rights, caste, education) and map-based questions on movement diffusion.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Brahmo Samaj (1828) > p. 300
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Brahmo Samaj > p. 216
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Tabernacle of Ne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Offshoots influenced by Brahmo leaders: the Prarthana Samaj
💡 The insight

Evidence shows Keshab Chandra Sen helped found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay, illustrating how Brahmo ideas seeded related organisations.

Knowing how reform ideas propagated into new organisations helps answer questions about networks and institutional legacies of 19th-century reformers. This is useful for essays and mains questions comparing movements; prepare by linking founders, locations, and ideological continuities.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 211
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Tabernacle of Ne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Keshab Chandra Sen's leadership in the Brahmo Samaj
💡 The insight

Several references state Keshab (Keshub) Chandra Sen became acharya and was a leading figure who popularised the Brahmo Samaj.

High-yield for UPSC modern India: questions often ask key leaders of socio-religious reform movements and their roles. Understanding Sen's leadership, reform ideas, and conflicts within Brahmo Samaj helps answer questions on reformist ideology, intra-movement splits, and personalities. Study by mapping leader → organization → major reforms and notable events (e.g., dismissal in 1865).

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Keshab Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj > p. 210
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > SUMMARY > p. 307
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Significance of Reform Movements > p. 237
🔗 Anchor: "Was Keshab Chandra Sen associated with the establishment of the Indian Reform As..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Sangat Sabha' (1860). This was Keshab's spiritual fraternity that discussed spiritual discipline. Also, the 'Victoria Institution' (college for women) founded under the auspices of the Indian Reform Association is a likely future target.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Generational Gap' heuristic. 'Unitarian' implies the early, rationalist influence of Western Christianity on Rammohun Roy (1820s). 'New Dispensation' implies the later, syncretic, devotional phase of Keshab (1880s). They belong to different historical generations. If you know Roy founded the Unitarian Committee, Option A and D are dead. Option B is the only logical survivor.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link the Indian Reform Association to GS-1 (Society) and GS-2 (Polity). Keshab's pressure led to the Native Marriage Act (Act III of 1872), which was an early precursor to the Special Marriage Act—a key point for debates on the Uniform Civil Code.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2006 · Q71 Relevance score: 2.44

Who among the following established the Calcutta Unitarian Committee ?

IAS · 2005 · Q24 Relevance score: -0.41

Consider the following statements : 1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Bethune School at Calcutta with the main aim of encouraging education for women. 2. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first graduate of the Calcutta University. 3. Keshav Chandra Sen’s campaign against Sati led to the enactment of a law to ban Sati by the then Governor General. Which of the statements is/are correct?

IAS · 2017 · Q37 Relevance score: -3.07

Consider the following pairs : 1. Radhakanta Deb - First President of the British Indian Association 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty - Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha 3. Surendranath Banerjee - Founder of the Indian Association Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?

CDS-I · 2014 · Q12 Relevance score: -4.36

Consider the following statements regarding Indian Ocean Rim Association : 1. The 13th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Association was held in November 2013 in Perth. 2. India was elected Chair of the Association from 2013 to 2015. 3. There are twenty member nations in the Association. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2009 · Q94 Relevance score: -4.60

In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta ?