Behari Lal Gupta

A visionary Indian social reformer who championed women's education and anti-caste equality

Behari Lal Gupta (1829–1898) was a pioneering Indian social reformer from Bihar who dedicated his life to dismantling caste barriers and promoting female education. A lawyer by profession, he co-founded the Indian Society for the Cultivation of Science (1876) and established one of India's first girls' schools in Patna. His Sadhana journal (1868–1878) became a platform for progressive ideas.

Gupta's advocacy against child marriage and untouchability influenced later reform movements. He collaborated with leaders like Keshub Chunder Sen to modernize Hindu society while preserving cultural identity. His legacy is documented in historical analyses like Social Reformer: Behari Lal Gupta's Contributions, highlighting his role in India's pre-independence social evolution.