Mahadev Govind Ranade devoted his entire life to the ________.

Correct option is B

​The correct answer is (B) Prarthana Samaj
​Explanation:
· Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842–1901), known as Judge Ranade, was one of India’s greatest social reformers and a prominent figure of the 19th-century socio-religious reform movement.
· He devoted his entire life to the Prarthana Samaj, a reformist organization founded in 1867 in Bombay, inspired by the ideas of the Brahmo Samaj.
· The main aim of Prarthana Samaj was to promote:

Monotheism
Opposition to idol worship
Social reforms such as widow remarriage
Women’s education
Removal of caste-based discrimination
· As a founding leader of the Samaj, Ranade played a critical role in shaping its reformist ideology and mobilizing public opinion against social evils.
· Ranade believed in "moderate reform through gradual change" and worked tirelessly for upliftment of society, especially women, lower castes, and economically weaker sections.
· Thus, Prarthana Samaj is the correct answer.
​Information Booster:
· Mahadev Govind Ranade co-founded several reformist and educational institutions such as:
 Widow Marriage Association (1861)
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
 Satyashodhak Samaj (in collaboration with Phule) — supportive role
· He was also a founding member of the Indian National Congress (INC).
· Often called the “Socrates of Maharashtra” due to his intellectual depth.
· He worked for the promotion of agriculture, industry, co-operative movements, and advocated economic nationalism.
​Additional Knowledge (Option-wise):
(a) Servants of India Society
· Founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905, not associated with Ranade’s lifelong work.
(c) Deva Samaj
· Founded by Shiv Narayan Agnihotri in 1887 in Punjab; unrelated to Ranade.
(d) Theosophical Society
· Founded in the USA in 1875 by Madame Blavatsky and Henry Olcott; Annie Besant later brought it to India. Ranade was not connected with it.​