The Paramhansa Mandali was founded by Dadoba Pandurang and Mehtaji Durgaram. It was a secret society that worked for the abolition of caste.

After the split in 1866, the original group led by Debendranath Tagore became the 'Adi Brahmo Samaj', while Keshub Chandra Sen formed the 'Brahmo Samaj of India'.

Behramji M. Malabari, a Parsi social reformer, founded the Seva Sadan in 1885 to ensure the welfare of socially discarded and exploited women.

In 1888, Sri Narayana Guru defied caste restrictions by installing a Shiva idol at Aravippuram, asserting the right of lower castes to worship.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha (Society of Friends) in Calcutta in 1815 to propagate monotheistic doctrines.

Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu School in Benaras in 1898, which later became the nucleus for the Banaras Hindu University founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Sri Narayana Guru, a social reformer from Kerala, gave this famous slogan to promote social equality and spiritual unity.

Jyotiba Phule wrote 'Ghulamgiri' (Slavery) in 1873, dedicating it to the people of the United States who had abolished slavery.

E.V. Ramasamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, started the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to fight for the rights of the backward castes and oppose Brahminical dominance.

The Veda Samaj was established by K. Sridharalu Naidu in 1864. It was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj of Bengal.