When the Company introduced new changes in every aspect of life, it created a conflict between the old and the new traditions and institutions. Some Indian scholars, thinkers and social activists began to think that old Indian traditions were the cause of India’s defeat, i.e.,

the domination of the Company on India. Therefore, they were in favour of abandoning outdated customs.

In the Hindu community, the custom of sati continued to be observed and the Company in its early days did not make any effort to ban it, fearing that it might create discontent among the Hindus which would be a threat to the English rule. But, as a result of new changes, some reformers in the Hindu community realised that sati, prohibition of widow’s marriage and themarriage of minor children were customs which were keeping the Hindu society backward.

The man who raised his voice against these customs was Raja Ram Mohan Rai (1774-1833). He organised a reform movement known as the Brahmo Samaj, in 1828, with the intention to bring changes in the Hindu society.

He convinced the Hindu community, that for progress and growth, it was necessary to abandon old customs and practices.

Therefore when, in 1829, the English government banned the custom of sati, there was no resistance against it because of the teachings and propaganda of the Brahmo Samaj. In 1856, a law was passed allowing a widow to remarry. Marriage of minor children was also forbidden.

In the 19th century, there was an anti-slavery movement in England. Although there was no slavery in India, it was banned in 1848 and along with it human sacrifice was also forbidden.

Besides these religious and social reforms, the government also took steps which benefited common people, such as to improve the irrigation system and to build new roads. The Grand Trunk Road was the result of the developmental efforts during that time.

The workers of the Company were highly impressed by two movements which emerged in England — one of them was a religious movement known as Evangelical whose idea was to convert Indians into Christianity, which subsequently made them civilised. In 1813, Christian missions were allowed to come to India to preach. These missions in order to lure people to convert, founded schools, hospitals and orphanages.

The second movement was Utilitarianism. Its philosophy was that to make India civilised, there was a need to implement laws and reform in its social institutions.

Indian society started to change as a result of the reforms and because of the new thinking of the educated Indian class, which abandoned outdated institutions and customs, and embraced the process of modernisation.