• Lived: 1823-1892.

• Background: Social reformer and rationalist from Maharashtra.

• Position: Served as a judge under the British Raj.

• Publications: Wrote for the weekly Prabhakar under the pen name Lokahitawadi on social reform issues.

• Views: Criticized the caste system and questioned religion's opposition to social reform.

• Contributions: Started a weekly Hitechhu and played a key role in founding the periodicals Gyan Prakash, Indu Prakash, and Lokahitawadi.

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

• Role: Co-founder of the New English School, the Deccan Education Society, and Fergusson College.

• Position: Principal of Fergusson College.

• Journalism: First editor of Kesari, the journal started by Lokmanya Tilak.

• Publications: Later founded his own periodical, Sudharak, which addressed issues of untouchability and the caste system.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• Background: Great scholar and reformer, blending Indian and Western thought.

• Position: Became the principal of Sanskrit College in 1850.

• Reforms: Led the movement in support of widow remarriage, resulting in its legalization.

• Advocacy: Opposed child marriage and polygamy, and worked for women's education.

• Achievements: Helped organize 35 girls' schools and was a pioneer of higher education for women.

• Legacy: Secretary of Bethune School in Calcutta, which played a key role in the movement for women's education.

Balshastri Jambhekar

• Lived: 1812-1846.

• Contribution: Pioneer of social reform through journalism in Bombay.

• Activism: Criticized brahminical orthodoxy and tried to reform popular Hinduism.

• Publications: Started the newspaper Darpan in 1832, using it to advocate for social reforms such as widow remarriage and a scientific approach to life.

• Works: Started Digdarshan in 1840, which published articles on science and history.

• Other Contributions: Founded the Bombay Native General Library and the Native Improvement Society, which led to the formation of the Students Literary and Scientific Library.

• Education: First professor of Hindi at Elphinstone College and director of the Colaba Observatory.