Which intellectual founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha to promote Vedantism and oppose Christianity?

Bihar NHM CHO-2025

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: Bihar NHM CHO-2025

Explanation

Debendranath Tagore founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha on October 6, 1839, in Calcutta.
The Sabha's primary objective was to promote a rational and humanistic interpretation of the Upanishads (Vedantism).
It was established to counter the influence of Christian missionaries by reviving pride in Hindu philosophy and culture.
The Sabha published the influential 'Tattvabodhini Patrika' to spread its ideas and promote the Bengali language.

Option A: He was a social reformer and Indologist based in Maharashtra, not associated with the Bengal-based Tattvabodhini Sabha.
Option B: He was a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance, but his primary focus was on social reforms like widow remarriage and women's education, not founding the Tattvabodhini Sabha.
Option C: He is known as the 'Father of Marathi journalism' and his reform activities were centered in the Bombay Presidency.

Visual 1: Portrait - A portrait of Debendranath Tagore to help learners associate the name with a historical figure.
Visual 2: Timeline - A timeline of 19th-century social reform movements in India, showing the Tattvabodhini Sabha in relation to the Brahmo Samaj and other key organizations.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Founding of the Tattvabodhini Sabha and 19th-century Indian social reform movements as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the roots of modern Indian intellectual and religious thought helps in appreciating the diverse cultural and philosophical context of the nation.
The Tattvabodhini Sabha's focus on rational interpretation of ancient texts was a precursor to later social and political movements that sought to modernize India while retaining its cultural identity.
What if the question asked about the founder of the Brahmo Samaj? The answer would be Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who founded it in 1828. Debendranath Tagore later revitalized it, merging his Tattvabodhini Sabha into it in 1859.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Tattvabodhini Sabha', 'Vedantism', and 'oppose Christianity'. This points to a specific socio-religious reform movement.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question asking for the founder of a specific organization.
Associate the Sabha with its geographical context, which is Bengal. This helps eliminate reformers from other regions like Maharashtra (Bombay Presidency).
Evaluate the options based on this context. KT Telang and Bal Shastri Jambhekar were primarily active in Maharashtra.
Consider the remaining options. While Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a major reformer in Bengal, he is most famous for other specific reforms (like widow remarriage). This makes Debendranath Tagore the most likely founder of the Tattvabodhini Sabha.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Founding of the Tattvabodhini Sabha and 19th-century Indian social reform movements.
Stem keywords: Tattvabodhini Sabha, Vedantism, oppose Christianity
Lead-in keywords: Which intellectual founded
Negative lead-in flag: false

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