The book explains the processes of social change and social transformation of Indian society from ancient to modern era. It focusses on the factors responsible for the growth and development of renaissance in Indian society. The traditional Indian society was based on values of holism, hierarchy, continuity, and transcendence. The renaissance has taken place on two levels: First, the combination and computation of traditional values which may be called orthogenetic changes, second, Indian society has also been in contact with other societies like Islamic and Christianity, which had great impact on Indian values, culture and style of life, which can be called heterogenetic changes. The intellectuals, activists and social reformers are creators of ideas and act as the causative factor in society. They are the builders of history. The book critically analyses the role of ‘Renaissance Man’ in Indian society. It gives a clear picture of ‘icons’ of renaissance and their role in transforming the society. The origin and meaning of renaissance is explained in historical perspective, with reference to European countries and in Indian traditional society. The book discusses the contribution of various social reformers, i.e. Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekanand, Narayan Guru, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Rammohun Roy, Jyotirao Phule, Erode Venkata Ramasamy Periyar, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Annie Besant, Rabindranath Tagore, Narendra Damodardas Modi and Bindeshwar Pathak. Overall, the book will give a holistic picture of the renaissance and provide readers an understanding of the processes of change and socio-cultural reforms in India. CONTENTS 1 Introduction 2 Historicity of Renaissance 3 Renaissance in Europe 4 British Rule and the Indian Value-System 5 Nature of Renaissance in Indian Society 6 Indigenous Changes in Cultural Traditions 7 Dreamers of Revivalism 8 Anti-Hierarchical Cultural Movements 9 Environmental Conscientization 10 Indian Renaissance and Social Transformation ABOUT THE AUTHOR / EDITOR Satyendra Tripathi is trained as a social scientist in India, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the USA. Formerly Professor on SBI Chair and Director of the Centre of Integrated Rural Development Programme as well as Head of the Department of Sociology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, he has worked in United Nations as UN Fellow in Asia-Pacific countries. While working with Sulabh International, he organized training programmes in Africa for the senior officials on Water and Sanitation in collaboration with Human Habitat Centre, Nairobi. His specialization is social change and development in developing countries. Kumar Dilip is the President of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, one of India’s largest and pioneering non-governmental organization working in the field of sanitation, water, environment, gender, and human rights for five decades. He overlooks the core operations at Sulabh and provides strategic leadership by introducing new development programmes, promoting research and development in critical sectors. As a development professional, Kumar is passionate about issues of hunger and livelihood. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he personally initiated programmes to provide humanitarian support to thousands of poor people. Educated in University of Delhi, he is the guest editor of Sulabh India and executive editor of Chakravak. He is also on the advisory committee of several civil society organizations working at the grassroots level across India.