Rānadé, Mahādev Govind

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Rānadé, Mahādev Govind (1842–1901). Indian lawyer and judge, who because of his keen powers of perception and analysis, became the leader of many social, political, industrial, and religious movements in Mahārāṣṭra. He regarded much in traditional Hinduism as destructive and enervating. He supported the Hindu widow's remarriage movement and started Prārthanā Samāj at Bombay (Prayer Society, modelled on Brahmo Samāj). He was a pioneer of reforming Hinduism, and of finding the inspiration within Hinduism for the reform of itself.