Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Parmahansa Mandali was founded in Bengal by Swami Vivekananda 2. Prarthana Samaj was started in Maharashtra with the aim of reforming Hindu religious thought and practice Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Statement 1 is incorrect because the Paramahansa Mandali was founded in 1849 in Bombay (Maharashtra), not Bengal, by Dadoba Pandurang and Durgaram Mehtaji [5]. It operated as a secret society focused on breaking caste barriers and promoting monotheism [2]. Swami Vivekananda was associated with the Ramakrishna Mission, not the founding of this Mandali. Statement 2 is correct as the Prarthana Samaj was established in Bombay in 1867 by Atmaram Pandurang [6]. It aimed to reform Hindu religious thought and practice by preaching the worship of one God and seeking to free religion from caste orthodoxy and priestly domination [3]. Influenced by the Brahmo Samaj and the Bhakti tradition of Maharashtra, its prominent leaders included M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar, who worked extensively on social reforms like widow remarriage and education [4].

Sources

1. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Paramahansa Mandali > p. 214
2. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Mandali
3. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > The Prarthana Samaj (1867) > p. 300
4. [6] https://www.mcgm.gov.in/irj/go/km/docs/documents/D%20Ward/Heritage-Sites/86_Legacy%20of%20D%20Ward_Article_Prarthana%20Samaj.pdf
5. [3] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Religious Reform in Maharashtra > p. 217
6. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Prarthana Samaj > p. 212