- became major religious movement based on monotheism among the upper caste WEMC (UC-WEMC) Bengali
- so specific, failed to reach masse
- after Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dwarka Nath Tagore (DNT) gave organizational strength
- 1860s: Bijoy Krishna Gowswami reconciled BS with vaishnavism
- Keshava Chandra Sen (KCS) v/s DNT & split in BS
- KCS was radical reformer while DNT was gradualist
- KCS wanted reforms @ caste & women
- KCS against domination of BS by UP and also supported inter-caste marriage, attacked caste system
- These issues were too sensitive for DNT who feared alienation from masses
- KCS tried mass mvmt by spreading Brahmoism among masses outside calcutta and bengal
- wanted Brahmoism as new religion
- differences led to split in 1866
- KCS set up up Brahmo Samaj of India
- DNT set up Adi Brahmo Samaj
- KCS let do Brahmo Marriage Act by Mayo
- intercaste, widow marriage legal
- but failed, as precondition of leaving hinduism
- 1878: split in KCS’ BSoI led to Sadharan Brahmo Samaj
- reason: KCS married off his minor daughter (controversy!)
- Brahmo Samaj overall failed due to multiple splits and ideological / organizational differences