SSC
The Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha (Religious Reform Association), founded in 1851 to reform Zoroastrianism and Parsi society, was founded by Naoroji Furdonji and:
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Answer: Option D — Dadabhai Naoroji
Detailed Solution
The Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha ("Religious Reform Association" or "Guides of the Mazdayasnan Path") was founded in Bombay in 1851 by Naoroji Furdonji, Dadabhai Naoroji, S. S. Bengalee (Sorabji Shapurji Bengalee) and other Parsi reformers.
About the Sabha:
- Its aim was the "regeneration of the social conditions of the Parsis and the restoration of the Zoroastrian religion to its pristine purity".
- It wanted to remove the superstitions and customs that had entered Parsi religion and society.
- It worked for women's education, the removal of the purdah, the reform of marriage customs (such as child marriage and lavish expenditure on weddings), and the modernisation of Parsi society.
- It encouraged the study of the ancient Zoroastrian scriptures.
- Its ideas were spread through journals and public meetings.
About Naoroji Furdonji:
- He was a Parsi reformer, interpreter and public worker of Bombay.
- He was also associated with the Bombay Association (1852) and other public bodies.
Results of the Parsi reform movement:
- The Parsis became one of the most educated and progressive communities in India.
- Parsi women were among the first Indian women to receive modern education.
- Parsi reformers founded schools, colleges and associations, and many Parsis became leaders in business, the professions and politics.
About Dadabhai Naoroji:
- He was a teacher, businessman, economist and political leader.
- He was called the "Grand Old Man of India".
Why not the other options?
- ✗Pherozeshah Mehta, Jamsetji Tata and Dinshaw Wacha were other famous Parsis, but they did not found this Sabha.
Quick tip
Remember: Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha (Bombay, 1851; Parsi religious reform) = Naoroji Furdonji, Dadabhai Naoroji, S. S. Bengalee.
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Socio-Religious Reform Movements — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Socio-Religious Reform Movements, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
In the 19th century, reformers worked to remove social evils and revive Indian society. This topic covers organisations such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical Society, Satyashodhak Samaj and the Aligarh Movement, along with their founders and the social reforms they achieved. Questions usually ask who founded an organisation and when, or which reformer is linked to a reform. For example, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj and campaigned against sati, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar championed widow remarriage, and Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj. A table of organisation, founder, year and place covers most questions. Practise the socio-religious reform movements questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.