The Prarthana Samaj's Quest for Social Reform: Awakening Change!

The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was an important platform for the social reform movement in Maharashtra. It was formed in 1870 to provide a forum where people from different backgrounds could unite and work for social change.

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Aim of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

It aimed to bring people together and work for the social and educational progress of the city of Pune.

• When the Sabha was founded, Pune was a small city. There were many social problems like untouchability and illiteracy. Many people could not read or write. The economic condition of people was also poor.
• The founders of Poona Sarvajanik Sabha wanted to change this. They wanted to improve society through education. They knew that if more people studied and become educated, they could get good jobs. Then the economic condition of people will improve.
• So the main aim of founding Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was to educate people and spread awareness about issues like untouchability. The founders believed that through education and awareness, society can progress.
• The Sabha started many schools to give free education to children. They opened schools for boys, girls, and all castes. They broke the practice of untouchability and allowed students of all castes to study together.
• The Sabha also opened libraries so that people could read good books. They organized lectures on topics of public interest. They highlighted issues like women's education and equality. All these efforts were made to educate people and bring reforms to society.
• The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha showed the path of social progress through education. They aimed to enlighten the minds of people in Pune so that they could think independently and work for the betterment of society.
• The Sabha believed that the real progress of society depends on the moral and intellectual development of individuals. So their main focus was on education and awareness, not just political or economic reforms.
• The efforts of Poona Sarvajanik Sabha set an example for other cities. They showed how social organizations can work to improve society from the grassroots level through education. Their aim to reform society by enlightening the minds of people remains relevant even today.

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Poona Sarvajanik Sabha Feature

Some main features of the Sabha are as follows:

• Focus on education: The Sabha focused on giving education to people as they believed it was the best way for social reform. They started many schools to provide free education to boys, girls, and all castes. They opened libraries and organized lectures to spread knowledge.
• Breaking social barriers: The schools run by the Sabha admitted students of all castes and broke the practice of untouchability. They allowed students from various social backgrounds to study together and interact. This helped reduce prejudices in society.
• Participation of women: The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha encouraged the participation of women in their activities. They highlighted the importance of women's education and equality. Many educated women joined the Sabha and worked to reform society.
• Grassroots approach: The Sabha focused on reforming society from the grassroots level. They started with basic issues like providing education and awareness. They believed real progress comes from empowering the common people through knowledge.
• Voluntary nature: The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was run by the voluntary efforts of its members. They worked selflessly for the social upliftment of people in Pune. The financial needs of the Sabha were met through membership fees and donations.
• Non-political: The Sabha was a non-political social organization. Their focus was on social reform through education and awareness, not political activism. They wanted to enlighten the minds of people rather than engage in party politics.
• Promoting Indian values: The Sabha promoted Indian traditions and values along with Western education. They believed a synthesis of Indian culture and modern education could truly reform society.
• Setting an example: The successful work of Poona Sarvajanik Sabha in the field of education and social reform set an example for other cities. Their grassroots approach to social reform through knowledge inspired many similar organizations.

In summary, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was a pioneering social organization that worked for the upliftment of people through education. Their grassroots, voluntary and non-political approach focused on reforming society by enlightening the minds of people. They broke social barriers and encouraged the participation of women. The Sabha's work set an example for others to follow in the field of social reform through knowledge.

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Principles of Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha started in 1870. They wanted to help improve society and education in Pune City. The Sabha worked based on some important principles.

• Principle of education for everybody - The Sabha believed in giving education to all groups of people. They opened schools for boys, girls, and all castes. They thought education was the best way for social change.
• Principle of no discrimination - The Sabha functioned on the principle of no discrimination and equality. They let students from all castes and backgrounds join their schools. They worked to end untouchability and reduce social prejudice.
• Principle of helping women - The Sabha knew that educating women and giving them more power helps society progress. They encouraged educated women to join their work and talked about equal rights for men and women.
• Principle of beginning from the bottom - The Sabha thought real social change happens by giving common people knowledge through schools, libraries, and talks. Their focus was working from the bottom by doing these things.
• Principle of voluntary social work- The Sabha worked on the principle of freely doing social work. The members came from different places but worked together to help people in Pune. They used membership fees and donations, not government money.
• Principle of non-political social work - The Sabha functioned as a non-political social group. Their focus was on social change through education and awareness, not joining parties.
• Principle of bringing together culture and modern education - While promoting modern education, the Sabha also tried to keep Indian culture and traditions, which they thought built good character. They wanted a mix of Indian values and Western education for true social change.

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Conclusion

The principles adopted by Poona Sarvajanik Sabha focused on giving education to all, reducing social discrimination, helping women, and changing society from the bottom through voluntary social work in a non-political manner. Their principles were based on values of equality, no discrimination, inclusion, and bringing together culture and modern ideas to guide their pioneering social reform work through knowledge.

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