(i) An outstanding reformer in Bengal was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891).
(ii) While Rammohan Roy and others looked to western rationalist ideas to reform society, Vidyasagar argued that the Hindu scriptures were progressive.
(iii) He provided evidence from scriptures that there was no sanction for the burning of widows or for the prohibition on the remarriage of widows.
(iv) He wrote a number of polemical tracts and was the pioneer of modern Bengali prose.
(v) He played a leading role in promoting  education of girls and helped them in setting up a number of schools.
(vi) He dedicated his whole life for the betterment of the child widows of Hindu society.
(vii) The movement led by Vidyasagar, resulted in the Widows' Remarriage Reform Act of 1856.
(viii) This Act was intended to improve the lot of child widows and save them from perpetual widowhood.
(ix) It was also to the credit of Vidyasagar that the first age of consent was included in the Indian Penal code, which was enacted in 1860.
(x) The age for marriage was fixed as ten years. It was raised to twelve and thirteen years in 1891 and 1925 respectively.
(xi) Sadly, as reported in the Age of Consent Committee (1929), the law remained on paper and the knowledge of it was confined to judges, Lawyers and a few educated men.

Ramalinga Adigal was one of the greatest social reformists of Southern India. He is popularly known as Vallalar. He played a prominent role in the social and religious reform movement in Tamil Nadu.
Jeevakarunya:
(i) Ramalinga Adigal emphasised the bonds of responsibility and compassion between living beings.
(ii) He showed his compassion and mercy on all living beings including plants. This he called 'jeevakarunya'.
Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam:
(i) He established the Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam in 1865 and it was renamed 'Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Satya Sanga' which means 'Society for Pure Truth and Universal self-hood'.
Free feeding house:
(i) Ramalinga also established a free feeding house for everyone irrespective of caste at Vadalur, in the wake of a terrible famine in South India in 1866.

(i) Born to poor parents in Kerala, Narayana Guru (1854-1928) evolved into a poet and scholar in Malayalam, Tamil, and Sanskrit.
(ii) In his days the people of depressed classes had no access to temples, streets, public tanks and wells, and educational institutions.
(iii) Men and women belonging to lower castes were not allowed to wear the upper garments.
(iv) Disturbed by the terrible caste tyranny, that the lower caste people suffered, he dedicated his whole life for the betterment of the oppressed.
(v) He set up the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an organization to work for the uplift of the "depressed classes'. 
(vi) He established a grand temple at Aruvipuram and dedicated it to all.
(vii) His movement inspired a radical transformation of Kerala society, especially among the Ezhavas.
(viii) Thinkers and writers such as Kumaran Asan and Dr. Palpu were influenced by his ideas and carried forward the movement.

The reform movements of nineteenth century in the realm of religion fall under two broad categories.
Reformist Movement
i) Brahmo Samaj
ii) Prarthana Samaj
iii) Aligarh movement.
Revivalist movements
i) Arya Samaj
ii) The Ramakrishna Mission
iii) Deoband movement