Who was the founder of the Indian Reform Association, established in 1870 to promote social and educational reforms?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian Reform Association, founded in 1870, was an important organisation that aimed to promote social, educational, and religious reforms in colonial India. It emerged from debates within the Brahmo movement and reflected the growing desire among Indian elites to modernise society. Knowing who founded this association helps students understand the network of reformers active in the nineteenth century and the evolution of reform movements beyond a single individual.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The association mentioned is the Indian Reform Association.
• It was established in 1870 as a reform oriented body.
• We are asked to identify its founder.
• Options list several prominent nineteenth century reform leaders.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall the role of Keshab Chandra Sen in the Brahmo movement and his efforts to expand reform activity through a broader, more inclusive platform. Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Indian Reform Association to carry forward social and educational reforms that went beyond purely religious questions. Although he was influenced by earlier reformers like Rammohan Roy and worked alongside figures such as Debendranath Tagore, the specific organisational initiative of the Indian Reform Association is attributed to him.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Keshab Chandra Sen was a prominent leader within the Brahmo Samaj in the later nineteenth century. Step 2: Remember that he sought to extend reform work into areas like education, women's rights, and social practices through a broad based organisation. Step 3: Note from history that in 1870 he founded the Indian Reform Association with these objectives. Step 4: Examine the options and identify Keshab Chandra Sen among the listed leaders. Step 5: Choose Keshab Chandra Sen as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting books on nineteenth century social and religious reform movements. These texts usually discuss the Indian Reform Association in the context of the Brahmo Samaj and credit Keshab Chandra Sen as its founder. While other leaders like Debendranath Tagore and Rammohan Roy played crucial roles in the broader reform tradition, they are not identified as founders of this particular association. This repeated attribution in multiple sources supports the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Debendranath Tagore was a key Brahmo Samaj leader and spiritual figure, but he did not found the Indian Reform Association. Rammohan Roy was the pioneering reformer behind the early Brahmo movement and social reforms such as the abolition of sati, yet he died decades before 1870. Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj, a different reformist organisation with Vedic revivalist aims. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar worked for widow remarriage and education but did not create the Indian Reform Association. Therefore, these options do not match the specific organisational role mentioned in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may assume that any famous reformer from the period must have founded every major association, leading them to pick Rammohan Roy or Vidyasagar by default. Others might confuse the Brahmo Samaj itself with the Indian Reform Association and choose Debendranath Tagore. To avoid such errors, learners should carefully differentiate between various organisations, their founding years, and their key founders, keeping a concise chart of reform societies and associated leaders.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Keshab Chandra Sen.