Tagore, Debendranath

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Tagore, Debendranath (1817–1905). Hindu reformer and leader of Brahmo Samāj. He was primarily interested throughout his life in religion and education, especially in the role both can play in social reform and national development. He thus helped to lay the foundations of modern Indian society and political structure. From 1843, he successfully led the Brahmo Samāj and founded Tattvabodhini Patrika, a journal of serious discussion, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the mother tongue, the need for the study of both science and religion, and the acceptance of both the best of Western culture and whatever was admirable in traditional Indian culture.