Unveiling “Socio-Religious Reform Movements” in the early 19th Century Bengal through Krishna Mohan Banerjea’s play The Persecuted

Abstract

This paper examines the socio-religious reform movements that unfolded in early 19th-century Bengal, as exemplified in the inaugural Indian drama in English, "The Persecuted or Dramatic Scenes Illustrative of Present State of Hindu Society in Calcutta (1831)." The inquiry revolves around defining the Socio-religious reform movement, highlighting its advocacy for changes in social behavior and its tradition of protest and dissent as vehicles for societal and religious reform. The analysis establishes that "The Persecuted" carries distinct overtones of the socio-religious reform movement, predominantly conveyed through the character 'Banylal,' the play's protagonist. The paper concludes by asserting that the acts of breaking dietary taboos and opposing superstitions within the play serve as vivid reflections of the Socio-religious reform movement prevalent in early 19th-century Bengal.