Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and the Prarthana Samaj

• Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade established the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and the Prarthana Samaj in 1867 in Bombay to bring about religious reforms.
• It sought to remove caste restrictions, abolish child marriage, the shaving of widows’ heads, the heavy cost of marriages and other social functions; encourage education of women and promote widow remarriage.
• Like Bramha Samaj, it advocated the worship of one God. It condemned idolatry and the domination of the priestly castes in religious matters.
• He introduced vernacular languages in the University curriculum which made higher education accessible to Indians.