Which prominent figure was among the early leaders of the

Solution

Mahadev Gobind Ranade was indeed a pioneering leader of the Prarthana Samaj, joining this significant religious and social reform organization in 1867 and later becoming associated with the Poona Prarthana Samaj in 1869. Born in Niphad, Maharashtra, Ranade received his education at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and emerged as a distinguished jurist, social reformer, and author. The Prarthana Samaj advocated monotheism, rejected idol worship, and promoted social reforms including women's education and opposition to child marriage. By contrast, Keshab Chandra Sen was affiliated with the Brahmo Samaj rather than the Prarthana Samaj, Balak Singh founded the Namdhari movement in Punjab, and Swami Sahajanand was primarily involved in peasant movements, not with the Prarthana Samaj.