Atmaram pandurang biography
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Prarthana Samaj: History, Founder, Principles & Impact
Prarthana Samaj meaning “Prayer Society” in English was a reformist movement established in 19th century India. It aimed to challenge traditional social and religious practices that were prevalent at that time. It involved a blend of democratic and individualistic Western beliefs and the members were believers of theism. This article will delve into the history, founders and leaders along with the objectives and impact of Prarthana Samaj in Indian Society.
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History of Prarthana Samaj
Prarthana Samaj emerged in the mid-19th century in the city of Bombay (now known as Mumbai). The movement was founded by Atmaram Pandurang who was a social reformer and intellectual. Inspired by the ideas of the Brahmo Samaj which was a similar movement in Bengal, Atmaram Pandurang sought to address social and religious issues prevalent in Indian society. Though the approach of the Samaj was not as extreme
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Atmaram Pandurang
Indian physician and social reformer
Atmaram Pandurang or Atmaram Pandurang Turkhadekar (or just Turkhad in English publications[1]) (1823 – 26 April 1898) was an Indian physician and social reformer who founded the Prarthana Samaj and was one of the two Indian co-founders (the other being Sakharam Arjun) of the Bombay Natural History Society.[2] A graduate of Grant Medical College, he was a brother of Dadoba Pandurang (9 May 1814 – 17 October 1882), a scholar of Sanskrit and Marathi. Atmaram Pandurang served briefly as sheriff of Bombay in 1879.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Atmaram was born to Pandurang Yeshwant and Yashodabai. He went to the Elphinstone Institution (along with fellow student Dadabhai Naoroji) where he studied mathematics beneath Bal Gangadhar Shastri Jambhekar (1812-1846).[4] He then joined the newly opened Grant Medical College and was in the first batch of students that included Dr Bhau
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Prarthana Samaj
Hindu socio-cultural reform movement
Prarthana Samaj or "Prayer Society" in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Bombay, India, based on earlier reform movements. Prarthana Samaj was founded by Atmaram Pandurang in 31 March 1867 when Keshub Chandra Sen visited Maharashtra, with an aim to make people believe in one God and worship only one God. It became popular after Mahadev Govind Ranade joined. The main reformers were the intellectuals who advocated reforms of the social system of the Hindus. It was spread to southern India by noted Telugu reformer and writer, Kandukuri Veeresalingam.
History
[edit]The movement was started as a movement for religious and social reform.[citation needed]. The precursor of the Prarthana Samaj in Mumbai was the Paramahamsa Sabha, a secret society for the furtherance of liberal ideas by Ram Balkrishna Jaykar and others in Mumbai. It was secret in order to avoid the wrath of the powerful