Samaj Sudharak

Annabhau Sathe  was a social reformer  and writer from Maharashtra ,India.Sathe was born in the village of Wategeon near  Sangli in a family belonging to the Dalit Mang  community. The community has been identified by the Indian government as a Scheduled Caste Poverty had prevented Sathe from obtaining formal education. His brother Shankarbhau recounts in his biography of Sathe, titled Majhe Bhau Annabhau, that the family members worked as laborers at the site of  Kalyan  tunnel when it was being constructed.

Savitribai was born in naigaon village in satara district to mother laxmibai and father khandoji navse patil, who was the village chief. Savitribai at a tender age of just nine years was married to jyoti rao phule (age thirteen) in the year 1840, according to Hindu calender the tithi of their marriage was falgun vadya panchami, shakey 1765. Savitribai’s father-in-law, govindrao phule, was basically from phursungi with the last name khirsagar but the peshwa gifted him a horticultural land in pune, because of which he migrated to pune and started a horticultural business. This was why he acquired the last name phule . Many last names in India are acquired due to the family business). Savitribai’s husband jyotirao lost his mother at a very young age. His maternal cousin sister saguna nurtured him. Sagunaaau worked as a nanny of a british officer’s son. She therefore understood and was even able to converse in English. She used this knowledge to inspire jyotirao. Jyotirao was thus attracted towards education. Savitribai had been given a book by a christian missionary before her marriage which she brought with her to her in-laws house. This shows the attraction she had for words and books despite being uneducated. Savitribai setup a school for sagunaaau on 1st may 1847 in a backward community. This was their first school. Sagunaaau started teaching there happily and enthusiastically. A year later when a school was started in bhide wada in pune, sagunaaau was called there to teach. The first school had stopped working abruptly due to lack of acceptability for education for lower caste people in those days.

Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade(16 January 1842 – 16 January 1901) was a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer and author. He was a founding member of the Indian National Congress  and owned several designations as member of the Bombay legislative council, member of the finance committee at the center, and the judge of Bombay High Court.

A well known public figure, his personality as a calm and patient optimist would influence his attitude towards dealings with Britain as well as reform in India. During his life he helped establish the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and the Prarthana Samaj, and would edit a Bombay Anglo-Marathi daily paper, the Induprakask, founded on his ideology of social and religious reform.

Florence Nightingale 12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night. An Anglican, Nightingale believed that God had called her to be a nurse.

Ramakrishna was born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay and he  was a famous mystic of 19th-century India. His religious school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda – both were influential figures in the Bengali Renaissance as well as the Hindu renaissance during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of his disciples and devotees believe he was an Avatar or incarnation of God. He is also referred as "Paramahamsa" by his devotees, as such he is popularly known as Ramkrishna Paramhamsa.

Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy, to Alessandro Montessori and Renilde Stoppani (niece of Antonio Stoppani). At the age of thirteen she attended an all-boy technical school in preparation for her dream of becoming an engineer. At the time, she insisted specifically that she did not want to be a teacher because the teaching profession was one of the few that women were encouraged to take part in at the time. Montessori was the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome La Sapienza Medical School, becoming one of the first female doctors in Italy. She was a member of the University's Psychiatric Clinic and became intrigued with trying to educate the "special needs" or "unhappy little ones" and the "uneducable" in Rome. In 1896, she gave a lecture at the Educational Congress in Turin about the training of the disabled. The Italian Minister of Education was in attendance, and, sufficiently impressed by her arguments, appointed her the same year as director of the Scuola Ortofrenica, an institution devoted to the care and education of the mentally retarded. She accepted, in order to put her theories to the test. Her first notable success was to have several of her 8 year old students apply to take the State examinations for reading and writing. The "defective" children not only passed, but had above-average scores, an achievement described as "the first Montessori miracle." Montessori's response to their success was "if mentally disabled children could be brought to the level of normal children then (she) wanted to study the potential of 'normal' children"  to the level of normal children then (she) wanted to study the potential of 'normal' children"

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born on 14 July 1856 in Tembhu , a village in Satara district now in Sangli district of Maharashtra. Agarkar had his primary education from Karad (till 3rd Standard, English medium). After doing some clerical work in a court at Karad, he went to Ratnagiri but could not get education there. In 1878, he got his B. A. degree followed by later M. A. in 1880.

Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker.

A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled, and was outspoken in her opposition to war. A member of the Socialist Party of America and the Wobblies, she campaigned for women's suffrage, workers' rights, and socialism, as well as many other leftist causes.

Kiran Bedi  is an Indian social activist and a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. Bedi joined the police service in 1972 and became the first woman officer in the IPS. Bedi held the post of Director General at the Bureau of Police Research and Development before she voluntarily retired from the IPS in December 2007. Bedi was the host and judge of the popular TV ses and provides a platform for settling disputes between conseneries "Aap Ki Kachehri", which is based on real-life disputting parties.

He was born in 1873 in the princely state of Jamkhandi in Karnataka, India, a member of a Marathi-speaking Maharashtrian family. His early childhood was influenced by a liberal family environment. The family friends and acquaintances came from all religions and castes. He was brought up to think that religion was not just a matter of a blind faith and meaningless rituals or pujas, but meant getting personally and emotionally involved in the service of God.

Mother Teresa   was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity at the time of her death had 610 missions in 123 countries including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counselling programmes, orphanages and schools. She received numerous awards including the Indian government's Bharat Ratna in 1980 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, but was also widely criticized for defects in her charity work.

Sane completed his primary education in palgad village of dapoli taluka in ratnagiri district. After his primary education, he was sent to pune to live with his maternal uncle for further education. However, he did not like his stay in pune and returned to palgad to stay at a missionary school in dapoli, about 6 miles from palgad. While at dapoli, he was quickly recognized as an intelligent student with good command over marathi and sanskrit languages. He was also interested in poetry. While he was in school at dapoli, the financial condition at home deteriorated rapidly and he could not afford to continue his education. Like his elder brother, he considered taking up a job to help with the family finances. However, on the recommendation of one of his friends, and with support from his parents, he enrolled at the aundh institution which provided free education and food for poor students. Here at aundh he suffered many hardships but continued his education. However, a plague broke out in aundh and all students were sent back home. Back in palgad, one night he overheard his parent's conversation in which his father suspected his dedication to education. Enraged and hurt by his father's suspicion, he immediately traveled to pune and enrolled as a student at the nutan marathi vidyalaya

Mahatma jyotirao govindrao phule occupies a unique position among the social reformers of maharashtra in the nineteenth century. While other reformers concentrated more on reforming the social institutions of family and marriage with special emphasis on the status and rights of women, jotirao phule revolted against the unjust caste system under which million of people had suffered for centuries. In particular, he courageously upheld the cause of the untouchables and took up the cudgels for the poorer peasants. He was a militant advocate of their rights. The story of his stormy life is an inspiring saga of a continuous struggle, which he waged relentlessly against the forces of reaction. What was remarkable was his ability to stand up against all kinds of pressure without faltering even once and act always according to his convictions. Though some keen observers of the social scene in maharashtra like narayan mahadeo parmanand did acknowledge his greatness in his lifetime, it is only in recent decades that there is increasing appreciation of his service and sacrifice in uplifting the masses.

Maharshi Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve (Marathi:) (18 April 1858 - 9 November 1962) was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. In honour of Karve, Queen's Road in Mumbai (Bombay) was renamed to Maharishi Karve Road

Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule are known as pioneers in promoting women's education . Inspired by Mahatma Phule's movement, Mr Karve decided to continue the work of promoting women's education in India. The Government of India awarded Dhondo Keshav Karve its highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year he turned 100 years old.

The appellation Maharshi, which the Indian public often assigned to Karve, means ”a great sage”. He was also sometimes affectionately called "AnnKarve"; in the Marathi-speaking community to which Karve belonged, the appellation "Ann" is often used to address either one's father or an elder brother

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (Hindi Gujarati: (Born:12 February 1824 – Died:30 October 1883.^[1] ) was an important Hindu religious scholar, reformer, and founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement. He was the first to give the call for Swarajya^[2] – "India for Indians" – in 1876, later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.^[3][4] Denouncing the idolatry and ritualistic worship prevalent in Hinduism at the time, he worked towards reviving Vedic ideologies. Subsequently the philosopher and President of India, S. Radhakrishnan, called him one of "makers of Modern India," as did Sri Aurobindo.^[5][6][7]

One of his notable disciples was Shyamji Krishna Varma, who founded India House in London and guided other revolutionaries. Others who were influenced by and followed him included Madam Cama, Pran Sukh Yadav, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Lala Hardayal, Madan Lal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Bhagat Singh, Swami Shraddhanand^[8] Sukhabodhananda,^[9] Mahatma Hansraj and Lala Lajpat Rai.^[10][11] One of his most influential works is the book Satyarth Prakash, which contributed to the Indian independence movement. He was a sanyasi (ascetic) from boyhood, and a scholar, who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas.

Dayananda advocated the doctrine of karma and skepticism in dogma, and emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya (celibacy) and devotion to God. The Theosophical Society and the Arya Samaj were united from 1878 to 1882, becoming the Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj.^[12] Among Maharishi Dayananda's contributions are his promoting of the equal rights of women, such as the right to education and reading of Indian scriptures, and his translation of the Vedas from Sanskrit into Hindi so that the common person might be able to read them

Shahu was born on 26 june 1874 as yeshwantrao ghatge, eldest son of appasaheb ghatge, chief of kagal (senior) by his wife radhabai, a daughter of the raja of mudhol [karnataka]. He was adopted by anandibai, widow of raja shivaji iv, in march 1884. Several generations of inter-marriage had ensured that shahu's family was connected intimately with the ruling dynasty of kolhapur, which is apparently what rendered him a suitable candidate for adoption, despite his not being a male-line member of the bhonsle dynasty. A council of regency was appointed by the british government of india to oversee affairs of state during shahu's minority and during that time he was tutored in administrative affairs by sir stuart fraser. Shahu was invested with ruling powers upon coming of age in 1894. There is one college named rajaram college built by shahu maharaja.

Justice mahadev govind ranade (marathi:) (hindi:) (16 january 1842 – 16 january 1901) was a distinguished indian scholar, social reformer and author. He was a founding member of the indian national congress^[1] and owned several designations as member of the bombay legislative council, member of the finance committee at the center, and the judge of bombay high court. ^[2]

A well known public figure, his personality as a calm and patient optimist would influence his attitude towards dealings with britain as well as reform in India. During his life he helped establish the poona sarvajanik sabha and the prarthana samaj, and would edit a bombay anglo-marathi daily paper, the induprakask, founded on his ideology of social and religious reform.

Karmaveer bhaurao patil (september 22, 1887 - may 9, 1959) was a social activist and educationist in maharashtra, india. Strong advocate of education of the masses, he was the founder of rayat education society, one of the most important educational institution in maharashtra. Bhaurao played an important role in educating people from backward castes and also the poor masses by coining the philosophy earn and learn. He was also a prominent member of satyashodhak samaj (truth seeker's society) founded by mahatma jotirao phule. The people of maharashtra honoured him with the epithet of karmaveer (king of actions) and the government of india awarded him with padma bhushan in 1959.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Marathi:  [bimraw ramdiambekr]; 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, economist, editor. He was also the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution.^[2] Born into a poor Mahar (considered an Untouchable caste) family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna – the categorization of Hindu society into four varnas – and the Hindu caste system. He converted to Buddhism and is also credited with providing a spark for the conversion of hundreds of thousands of untouchables to Theravada Buddhism. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1990.

Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first outcastes to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar gained a reputation as a scholar and practiced law for a few years, later campaigning by publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's so-called untouchables. He is regarded as a Bodhisattva by some Indian Buddhists, though he never claimed himself to be a Bodhisattva.^[3]

Swami ramanand tirtha or swami ramanand teerth,(marathi: ),(telugu:) (1903–1972), was an indian educator and social activist who led the hyderabad liberation struggle, during the reign of the last nizam. He was the main leader of the hyderabad state congress.

Vinoba bhave (marathi:),vinayak narahari bhave (september 11, 1895 - november 15, 1982) often called acharya (in sanskrit means teacher), was an indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the bhoodan andolan. He is considered as a national teacher of india and the spiritual successor of mahatma gandhi. ^[1]

Murlidhar devidas amte, popularly known as baba amte (marathi:) (january 11, 1914 – february 9, 2008) was an indian social worker and social activist known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from leprosy. ^[1]

Raja ram mohan roy (bengali:) (22 may 1772 – 27 september 1833) was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for indian society under british rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India. ^[1] he, along with dwarkanath tagore and other bengalis, founded the brahmo sabha in 1828, which engendered the brahmo samaj, an influential indian socio-religious reform movement during the bengal renaissance. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration, and education, as well as religion. He is known for his efforts to abolish the practice of sati, the hindu funeral practice in which the widow immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre.

Pandurang Mahadev Bapat (November 12, 1880 – November 28, 1967), popularly known as Senapati Bapat, was a major figure in the Indian independence movement.

Educated in Edinburgh, Bapat learned bomb-making skills during his association with the India House in London, although he later claimed that none of his bombs ever killed anyone, but were rather intended solely to draw attention to the cause. Despite these claims, he was suspected of involvement in the deaths in the Alipore bomb case of 1908, and he went underground for four years.

While in hiding, Bapat travelled the country, and discovered that the majority of the Indian population did not realize that their country was under foreign rule. At this point, his focus shifted from overthrowing the British government to educating the population. After four years of teaching, he was captured and imprisoned - the first of three jail sentences he served. His second jail sentence was for vandalism of the Tata Mulshi Dam construction project in defense of those whose homes were threatened by the dam; rather than be captured for this, he turned himself in. His third jail sentence was for speaking at a public gathering held by Subhash Chandra Bose.^[1]

On August 15, 1947 - Indian Independence Day - Bapat was given the honor of raising the Indian national flag over the city of Pune for the first time. A famous public road in Pune as well as in Mumbai are named in his honour.