Sadharan Brahmo Samaj

The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
Bengali: সাধারণ ব্রহ্ম সমাজ
PredecessorBrahmo Samaj
Established15 May 1878 (146 years ago) (1878-05-15)
FoundersAnanda Mohan Bose, Umesh Chandra Dutta, Sivnath Sastri
Founded atCalcutta, British India
TypeReligious organisation
PurposeEducational, Philanthropic, Religious studies, Spirituality
HeadquartersKolkata, West Bengal, India
Official languages
Bengali, English
Main organ
Governing Body & Council Body
AffiliationsBrahmoism
Websitethesadharanbrahmosamaj.org

The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj or Universal Brahmo Samaj is a division of Brahmoism formed as a result of schisms in the Brahmo Samaj first in 1866 and then another in 1878.[1]

Due to ideological differences, Keshab Chandra Sen, one of Brahmo Samaj's key leaders, formed a separate organisation called the Bramho Samaj of India in 1866. The new society was most influential in the struggle for social reform by encouraging education of women, campaigning for the remarriage of widows and for legislation to prevent child marriages.[2]

When Sen arranged for his daughter to marry the Prince of Cooch Behar, both parties were well under age. He was thus violating his own reformist principles, and many of his followers rebelled, forming a third samaj - Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, in May 15, 1878, at the Town Hall in Kolkata.[3] Ananda Mohan Bose, Shibchandra Deb and Umeshchandra Datta were the key leaders of it. Debendranath Tagore was actively involved with the organisation.[4] The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj gradually reverted to the teaching of the Upanishads and carried on the work of social reform.[2]

  1. ^ Oman, John Campbell (1907). The Brahmans, Theists and Muslims of India: Studies of Goddess-worship in Bengal, Caste, Brahmaism and Social Reform. Fisher Unwin. p. 131.
  2. ^ a b "Keshab Chunder Sen | Indian Social Reformer & Hindu Philosopher | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Keshab Chunder Sen | Indian Social Reformer & Hindu Philosopher | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Sadharan Brahmo Samaj takes West Bengal government to court". The Hindu. 20 May 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 July 2023.