Reforms in South India in 19th Century

Veda Samaj (1864, Madras/Chennai)

• Inspired by Keshub Chandra Sen’s lecture on Brahmo Samaj in Madras in 1864.
• Founded in Chennai as a parallel to the Brahmo movement, but tailored to South India.

Beliefs and Reforms

• Monotheism: Believed in one God.
• Attacked orthodox rituals, caste distinctions, idol worship.
• Worked for widow remarriage and women’s education.
• Key figure: Chembeti Sridharalu Naidu.
  • He translated Debendranath Tagore’s Brahmo Dharma and other reformist texts into Telugu and Tamil, making the movement accessible.

👉 Veda Samaj thus created a bridge between Bengal’s reformist ideology and South Indian society.

The Theosophical Society (1875, India from 1879)

• Founded in New York, 1875 by:
  • Madam H.P. Blavatsky (Russia)
  • Colonel H.S. Olcott (USA)
• In 1879, they shifted headquarters to Adyar, Madras, which became the international centre of Theosophy.

Core Philosophy

• Preached universal brotherhood of humanity beyond race, creed, or caste.
• Advocated revival of ancient Indian religions and philosophies — Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism.
• Believed in karma, reincarnation, and drew on Upanishads, Vedanta, Yoga, and Samkhya traditions.
• Unlike missionaries, Theosophists openly praised Indian civilisation, giving Indians a sense of pride in their heritage.

Annie Besant (1847–1933): Theosophist and Nationalist

An extraordinary figure — Irish by birth, she became one of the leading voices of Indian nationalism, education, and women’s rights.

Role in Theosophical Society

• Joined in 1889, came to India in 1893.
• Became President of the Society after Olcott’s death (1907) and remained so until her death in 1933.
• Translated the Bhagavad Gita into English, linking Hindu revivalism with reform.

Educational Work

• Founded the Central Hindu School, Benaras (1898).
  • Later developed into Banaras Hindu University (1916) under Madan Mohan Malaviya.
• Founded Besant Theosophical College (1915) at Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.

👉 Fun fact: At Madanapalle in 1919, Rabindranath Tagore translated Jana Gana Mana into English (“Morning Song of India”), and Margaret Cousins (an Irish Theosophist) set it to music — the version that evolved into our national anthem.

Political Role

• Founded the journals Commonweal (1914) and New India (1914) to spread nationalist ideas.
• Launched the Home Rule League (1916), demanding dominion status for India.
• Arrested by the Madras Government in 1917 → her popularity soared.
• Became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress (Calcutta Session, 1917).

👉 Later, she disagreed with Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), as she believed in constitutional reform, not law-breaking, and drifted away from mainstream Congress politics.

Women’s Indian Association (WIA, 1917, Madras)

• Founded by Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sister Subbalakshmi, and Sarojini Naidu at Adyar, Madras.
• Aim: empower women socially, economically, and politically.

Reforms and Activities

• Fought against:
  • Child marriage
  • Devadasi system
  • Illiteracy
• Demanded female franchise (voting rights).
• Published Stri-Dharma, a monthly journal for women.
• In 1918, submitted a petition to the Southborough Committee, demanding women’s suffrage.

Significance of South Indian Reform

1. Veda Samaj: Local extension of Brahmo ideals — monotheism, anti-caste, social reform.
2. Theosophy: Gave Indians confidence in their traditions while promoting global brotherhood.
3. Annie Besant: The link between religious revivalism, social reform, and political nationalism.
4. WIA: Laid the foundation for the women’s movement in India, combining social reform with political rights.

✅ In short: While Bengal focused on rational critique, and Maharashtra on institutional social reform, South India’s reform was marked by a blend of spiritual revival (Theosophy), educational progress, and political nationalism — with Annie Besant standing at the centre of all three.