Shatata-Unnati
Continual improvement has been one of the defining characteristics of Hindu society. All major cultures have had evils in their histories, including Hindu societies, but the shining examples to enforce positive changes and adaptability to a changing world are the Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism.
'Abhyas' means inprovement. 'Kram-Parivartanam' is incremental reformation while 'Shodhanam' is refinement.
In an era wherein colonial norms meant imprisonment or executions for speaking out against imperial rule, Mahatma Gandhi challenged the ideas of forcing nations to be subservient, fighting oppression by violence, and purging one's own nation of evils (i.e., inequality and superstition.) Today, much of the world still looks to Gandhi's perseverance to bring positive change into society.
Whereas even in modern times, in most European Christian societies, witch-hunts and slavery were the norm, in Indian Hindu societies, widow-burning was the norm among certain communities (usually northwestern) and caste prejudice was prevalent. Both the Christian and Hindu communities worked to extinguish these and other evils. While
In modern India, most positive social changes within Indian Hindu societies came not first as enforcement or pressure from European rulers but from advocacy of forward-thinking Hindus. Raja Ram Mohan Roy had led the campaign to purge Hindu societies of Sati and caste prejudices. Roy worked with British imperial authority, specifically Lord William Bentinck to have sati outlawed. Roy himself was a religious leader that reiterated Upanishads for their principles.
Other institutions of positive social changes were mainly Hindu ones or were governed by Hindu religious leaders, not secular ones.
The Indian National Social Conference of 1887 was organized by Mahadev Govind Ranade, Rai Raghunath Rao, Narendra Nath Sen Gupta, and Janki Nath Ghoshal. Ranade was founder of the Prarthana Samaj, a religious group.
Arya Samajis, Brahmo Samajis, and Prarthana Samajis were the most vocal and active forces advocating:
1) Women's right to divorce (i.e., Brahmo Marriage Act 1872)
2) Property rights for women
3) Opposition to child marriages (i.e., Age of Consent Act 1891)
4) universal accessible education (built schools, including colleges and gurukuls)
5) caste-based reservations
The greatest champion on all of these sections for reforms was Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, 'Rajarshi', who affiliated with organizations but probably the Arya Samaj more than any other. In 1902 Pratap Singh Maharaj of Idhar (Gujarat) introduced and educated him about the Arya Samaj. He provided patronage to the Arya Samaj.[1] 
The king passed many policies for for the upliftment of untouchable, nomadic, non-Brahmin communities and for females.[1]
- ↑ Act of Free and Compulsory Primary education (1917), Widow remarriage act (1917), End of Balutedari (1918), Repeal of Kulkarni Watan (1918), Intercaste and Interreligious marriages and Sanctioning of registered marriage act (1919), Act relating to protection of Harassment of Women (1919), Divorce act (1919), Order on prohibition of Untouchability practice (1919), Illegitimate Childrens rights and Devadasi Prohibition act (1920); [https://www.indiejournal.in/article/rajarshi-shahu-maharaj-and-his-tryst-with-the-arya-samaj "Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj & his tryst with the Arya Samaj Lessons for our times" By Devkumar Ahire"] (Jun 26, 2023 6:42 PM)