Mahadev Govind Ranade and Social Reform Movement in Maharashtra

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The Brahmin led Movement for Social Reform in Bombay was careful to take into account resistance from the orthodox section of the Society. Social opprobrium and disapproval could often be personally costly to reformers. This was manifested in their need for social sanction and not mere legal sanction for reform. By supporting gradual social and Religious Reform they hoped to avoid a radical break with tradition. Mahadev Govind Ranade was the most prominent figure in this movement. He advocated against rebellion and revolt from the society fearing that such radicalism would do more harm than good to the cause of Social Reform. Other reformers however were critical of the evolutionary nature of reform proposed by Mahadev Ranade. Awaiting social sanction for the path of reform may make it sure but the pace would be excruciatingly slow to confer immediate benefits. Social Reform thus far had been restricted mainly to issues concerning the upper castes (like female education, widow remarriage etc).  Issues of caste and the Social Advancement of the lower castes rarely received attention. To leaders from lower castes like Mahatma Phule “the progress alone lines of least resistance” as advocated by Ranade often implied no progress at all. The close link between the Social and Political Movements in Bombay Presidency also resulted in social reforms being sidelined in favour of Political Reforms.