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The '''Buddhi Vardhak Sabha''' (Society for Advancement of Knowledge), also known as the '''Buddhi Vardhak Hindu Sabha''', was a socio-religious reform organization in [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai), in [[British India]]. It was founded in 1851 by the members of another Bombay reform association, the Jnayan Prasarak Mandali, whose members included Narmadashankar Dave ([[Narmad]]) and his fellow writers. The Jnayan Prasarak Mandali was a branch of the Students' Literary and Scientific Society of the Elphinstone Institution (now [[Elphinstone College]]).

The aim and object of the Buddhi Vardhak Sabha was to work for the social welfare of the [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] [[Hindus|Hindu]] people, and to awaken public opinion for social change through lectures, debates and writings. Other founding members included Pranlal Mathurdas, Mohanlal Ranchhoddas Jhaveri, [[Karsandas Mulji]], and [[Dalpatram]].

==History==
Bombay's [[Elphinstone College#History|Elphinstone Institution]] played an instrumental role in providing an intellectual background for the [[reform movement]]s in Western India. In June 1848, its students started the Students' Literary and Scientific Society. In September 1848, two other branches of this society were established, one Gujarati, and the other [[Marathi people|Marathi]]. The Gujarati branch was known as Jnayan Prasarak Mandali (Society for Promotion of Knowledge), and was presided by Ranchhoddas Girdharbhai Jhaveri. Most of the members of this Mandali were [[Parsis|Parsi]] students.<ref name="Raval1983">{{cite thesis|last=Raval|first=R. L.|title=Socio Religious Reform Movements in Gujarat During the Nineteenth Century|chapter=Reform Controversy and New Approach to Cultural Synthesis|year=1983|chapter-url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/46633/7/07_chapter%203.pdf|type=PhD thesis|location=Ahmedabad|publisher=School of Social Sciences, [[Gujarat University]]|pages=117–121|hdl=10603/46633|via=[[Shodhganga]]}}</ref>

In 1850, the young Hindu members of the Jnayan Prasarak Mandali felt that a special organization was necessary to devote more attention to Hindu welfare.<ref name="Ray1984">{{cite book|last=Karmerkar|first=Mani|editor-last=Ray|editor-first=N. R.|title=Public Associations in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9y1AAAAIAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Institute of Historical Studies|location=Calcutta|pages=216–224|chapter=The Buddhi Vardhak Sabha of Bombay — Its Contribution to Social Change in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century|oclc=13671846}}</ref> Accordingly, in June 1850, Narmad, with friends including Mayaram Shambhunath, Kalyanji Shivlal, and Narandas Kalyandas, founded the Juvan Purushoni Anyonya Buddhi Vardhak Sabha with the aim of furthering Hindu discussion of reforms. Narmad was its president.<ref name="Raval1983"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwUBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA61&dq=buddhivardhak#v=onepage&q=buddhivardhak&f=false|title=Proceedings of the Students' Literary and Scientific Society, Bombay, for the Years 1854-55 and 1855-56|last=India)|first=Students' Literary and Scientific Society (Bombay|date=1856|publisher=printed at the Bombay Gazette Press|pages=13|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Yashaschandra|first=Sitanshu|author-link=Sitanshu Yashaschandra|date=1987|editor-last=Dev|editor-first=Amiya|title=19th Century Gujarati Literature : A Study of its Contact with Western Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6cLAQAAMAAJ|journal=Jadavpur Journal of Comparative Literature|publisher=[[Jadavpur University]]|volume=25|page=51|issn=0448-1143}}</ref>

On 23 March 1851, the decision was made to broaden the society's focus, and change its name to Buddhi Vardhak Hindu Sabha. The first meeting was held that same day, and rules adopted. Pranlal Mathurdas was appointed as the first president of the Buddhi Vardhak Hindu Sabha, with Mohanlal Ranchhoddas Jhaveri and Kishorlal respectively as secretary and treasurer.<ref name="Raval1983"/> 70 members enrolled at the inaugural meeting, for a fee of [[Indian rupee|Rs]]. 2 per month.  According to the Sabha's rules, membership was restricted to Hindu people. Others, however, were invited to take part in the discussion.<ref name="Raval1983"/>

Over the next 20 years, the Buddhi Vardhak Hindu Sabha and its members played an important role in the social reform movements of Bombay city and other cities of [[Gujarat]].<ref name="Ray1984"/> The Sabha's status began to decline after 1876, with the gradual demise of its founders.<ref name="Ray1984"/>

==Publication==
In 1851, the Buddhi Vardhak Sabha began publication of a monthly journal, ''Buddhi Vardhak Granth'', of which Narmad assumed the editorship.<ref name="Ray1984"/> The first issue was published in 1851, the second and third issues appearing in 1953. Regular publication began from March 1856. Articles published dealt mainly with social issues.<ref name="Raval1983"/>

==Activities==
The main object of the Buddhi Vardhak Sabha was to awaken the social consciousness of Hindu people through debate, talks and writings. Prominent speakers were to be invited, and each meeting devoted to the discussion of a particular problem and consideration of how to solve it.<ref name="Ray1984"/>

In May 1851, the Sabha's members started Bombay's first schools for Hindu girls, one in the [[Fort (Mumbai precinct)|Fort]] area, and another near [[Bhuleshwar]]. Members of the Sabha, and students of the Elphinstone Institution, volunteered to teach in these girls' schools.<ref name="Ray1984"/> The Buddhi Vardhak Sabha offered prizes for the best essays written on topics of social importance.<ref name="Raval1983"/>

The Buddhi Vardhak Sabha's activities were supported by wealthy Gujarati patrons, including [[Mangaldas Nathubhoy|Sheth Mangaldas Nathubhai]], Laxmidas Khimji, and [[Gokuldas Tejpal]], and by [[Marathi people|Maharashtrian]] reformers like [[Dadoba Pandurang]], [[Atmaram Pandurang]], and [[Bhau Daji]].<ref name="Raval1983"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1851 in British India]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Social history of India]]
[[Category:History of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Defunct Hindu organizations]]

Buddhi Vardhak Sabha - Revision history

>Gazal world at 08:17, 16 January 2021