Question

What was the name of the Sabha started by Debendranath Tagore?
a. Arya Samaj
b. Dharma Sabha
c. Tattvabodhini Sabah
d. Tattvabodhini Samaj

Answer 1

Hint: Debendranath Tagore was a Hindu Philosopher who pushed for religious changes. He was born on 15th May in the year 1817.

Complete Step by Step Answer: Debendranath Tagore was an active member of Brahmo Samaj. It was a body responsible for reforming Hinduism and Indian society.
He also founded the Brahmo religion, now known as Brahmoism. This was in the year 1848. He was the initiator of Shantiniketan in 1863. Tagore had rejected the Vedas since he didn’t believe that no scriptures, no matter how much they are respected, could be a complete guidebook as to how humans could behave and the society be run. He wanted to remove from Hinduism the abuses of lower castes and idol worship. Thus, he could not find a middle path between radical rationalism and fanatical Brahman conservatism. Then, he retired from public work.
Let us look at the options given.
Option a- Arya Samaj was a Hindu reform movement initiated by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. It was founded in the year 1875 on 10th of April. Thus, it is a wrong answer.
Option b- Dharma Sabha was an organization formed with the objective of countering the acts of social reforms carried on by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Henry Derozio. It was founded in the year 1829 by Radhakanta Deb. This is an incorrect option.
Option c- Tattvabodhini Sabah was a kind of a group started by Debendranath Tagore. It was formed as a result of splinter or fragmentation of Brahmo Samaj. This was founded to promote the Vedas and the Upanishads for a more rational and humanist form of Hinduism. In two years, it had over five hundred members. Hence, this is the right option.
Option d- Tattvabodhini Samaj was not an organization or group founded by Debendranath Tagore. It is a wrong answer.
Thus, the correct answer is option ‘c’.

Note: Debendranath Tagore wrote a book called Brahmo Dharma which is like a commentary on the Sanskrit scriptures.