Indian Social Thinkers and Reformers
This domain surveys Indian social thinkers and reformers, with a Maharashtra focus. Questions match a thinker to an institution, text, or reform.
Maharashtra reformers
- Jyotiba Phule (1827–1890): Satyashodhak Samaj (1873), Gulamgiri (1873), anti-caste and women's education.
- Savitribai Phule (1831–1897): first girls' school at Bhide Wada, Pune (1848), with Jyotiba; poet and teacher.
- Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (1874–1922): Kolhapur; backward-class reservations (1902), support for Satyashodhak ideas.
- M.G. Ranade (1842–1901): Prarthana Samaj, widow remarriage, gradualist social reform.
- G.G. Agarkar (1856–1895): rationalism, Sudharak, co-founder of Deccan Education Society.
- D.K. Karve (1858–1962): widow remarriage (1893), Widows' Home (1896), SNDT University (1916), Bharat Ratna (1958).
- B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956): Mahad Satyagraha (1927), Poona Pact (1932), Constitution, conversion (1956).
- Tarabai Shinde: Stri Purush Tulana (1882); Pandita Ramabai: Arya Mahila Samaj and Sharda Sadan.
Wider Sarvodaya line
Jayaprakash Narayan (1902–1979) carried Sarvodaya after Vinoba and called for Total Revolution in 1974.
Worked example
A question asks who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj. Phule, not Ambedkar. Ambedkar founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924) and led the Mahad satyagraha. Match the organisation, not just the cause.
Traps
- Crediting Karve with Pune University; he founded SNDT.
- Making Ranade a radical caste abolitionist; he was a gradualist reformer.
- Mixing Shahu's reservations with national policy; his order was in Kolhapur state.