Role of Socio-Religious reforms Movement in Indian Nationalism

How Social and religious reforms contributed to the growth of nationalism in India?

1. The socio-religious reformed movement of the 19th century played a very important role in creating circumstances responsible for the birth of Indian Nationalism.
2.  The 19th century was the age of the emergence of numbers of the social religious Reform movement in the form of Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Paramhans mandala. These movements were led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Debendranath Tagore, Kesav Chandra Sen, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar and etc.
3. The reform movement in the 19th century was liberal and progressive. They propagate a reasonable and liberal outlook among the people. The reformers examine the existing beliefs and practices in the light of new knowledge. As a result of these reforms made by Indian reformers, the level of awakening increases among the people. And this Awakening gradually got transformed into nationalism.
4. The reformers of the 19th century attack the decisive social religious practices such as casteism, untouchability, and intolerance. The doctrine of humanism and social equality were propagated by them among the people. As a result of this, the sense of social Unity gained strength and Indians begin to feel that they were part of one larger family.
5. Swami Dayananda Saraswati was the first who used the word “Swaraj” and declared Hindi as the national language of India.
6. The reformers of the 19th century highlighted common elements present in diverse Indian culture. The glorious past of India was presented in front of people. As a result of this, a sense of unity developed among Indians, and a sense of Pride got infused in the heart and mind of the people. This gradually paved the way for the birth of Indian Nationalism.

Reform movement of 19th century represented Indian Renaissance. These Reform movement were religious in character, but nationalist in content. The reformers were busy in the task of making of a new Indian nation and they ultimately succeeded in it when Indian Nationalism emerged in this scene.