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Parsi Reform Movement
- Furdunji Naoroji, S.S.Bengali founded the Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha (Parsis’ Reform Society) in Mumbai in 1851.
- Newspaper: Rast Goftar (The Truth Teller).
- The leaders of the Sabha criticized elaborate ceremonies at betrothals, marriages and funerals.
- They opposed both infant marriage and the use of astrology.
- Behrramji Malabari organized a campaign for legislation against the practice of child marriage and started a newspaper in the name “Mahapav Balya Vivah”.
- The community produced many leaders such as Pherozeshah Mehta and Dinshaw Wacha who played a big role in the early Congress.
Sikh Reform Movement
Nirankari Movement
- Founder: Baba Dayal Das,
- The worship of god as Nirankar (formless).
- Rejection of idols, rejection of rituals associated with idolatry
- Reverence for the authority of Guru Nanak and of the Adi Granth formed the essence of his teachings.
- He reiterated the prohibition on meat-eating, and liquor consumption.
The Namdhari Movement
- Founder: Baba Ram Singh,
- The Namdharis insisted on wearing the symbols of Sikhism except the Kirpan (sword).
- Instead Baba Ram Singh wanted his followers to carry a lathi.
- It considered both men and women equal and accepted widow remarriage.
- It prohibited the dowry system and child marriage.
Singh Sabha – Amritsar
- Its main objective was to restore the purity of Sikhism.
- With the support of British, it established Khalsa College for the Sikhs in Amritsar.
- Singh Sabha was a forerunner of Political Movement the Akali Movement (1873).