The Brahmo Samaj is a monotheistic movement within Hinduism that was founded by Ram Mohun Roy and began in 1828 through meetings of Bengalis in Calcutta. Ram Mohun Roy set out with the goal to reform Hinduism from within, discarding some Hindu rituals and drawing on influences from both Islam and Christianity. Some of the Brahmo Samaj’s distinguishing features are its denouncement of polytheism, the caste system, and image worship, and the fact that it does not insist on belief in the cycle of death and rebirth or karma, accept the authority of the Vedas, or have faith in incarnations. Though it did not necessarily have a major following, the Brahmo Samaj had considerable success with social reform and its impacts were felt through the twentieth century. 

The foundation of the Brahmo Samaj is important to Haimabati Sen’s timeline because she was involved with a breakoff group of the Brahmo Samaj when she was in Calcutta. Looking to this movement’s origin is critical for understanding how it evolved over the course of her life and beyond. 

Sources:

“Brahmo Samaj | Hinduism.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahmo-Samaj. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Brahmo Samaj | Making Britain. http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/brahmo-samaj. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.