Word: vivekananda
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Under the impact of rationalism and religious competition, reform began. Its first leaders were Ramakrishna (1836-86) and his disciple, Vivekananda (1863-1902). Mystical Ramakrishna, who said he reached union with God through Islam and Christianity as well as Hinduism, presented Vedanta as a religion of direct experience rather than mere traditional observance. Vivekananda injected a new sense of social responsibility by stressing Hinduism's teaching that God is in every man. Mahatma Gandhi (whom Agnostic Nehru once called "terribly Hindu") showed India how practical and effective religion could be even in the field of politics. Nehru carried...