<P> In all fields of social reform, including abolition of the caste system and of the dowry system, emancipation of women, and improving the educational system, the Brahmo Samaj reflected the ideologies of the Bengal Renaissance . Brahmoism, as a means of discussing the dowry system, was a central theme of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's noted 1914 Bengali language novella, Parineeta . </P> <P> In 1866, Keshub Chandra Sen organised the more radical "Brahmo Samaj of India" with overtones of Christianity . He campaigned for the education of women and against child marriages . But he nonetheless arranged a marriage for his own underage daughter . The Brahmo Samaj of India split after this act of underage marriage generated a controversy and his pro-British utterances and leaning towards Christian rites generated more controversies . A third group, "Sadharan (ordinary) Brahmo Samaj", was formed in 1878 . It gradually reverted to the teaching of the Upanishads but continued the work of social reform . The movement, always an elite group without significant popular following, lost force in the 20th century . </P> <P> After the controversy of underage marriage of Keshub Chunder Sen's daughter, the Special Marriages Act of 1872 was enacted to set the minimum age of 14 years for marriage of girls . All Brahmo marriages were thereafter solemnised under this law . Many Indians resented the requirement of the affirmation "I am not Hindu, nor a Mussalman, nor a Christian" for solemnising a marriage under this Act . The requirement of this declaration was imposed by Henry James Sumner Maine, legal member of Governor General's Council appointed by Britain . The 1872 Act was repealed by the Special Marriage Act, 1954 under which any person of any religion could marry . The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applies to all Hindus including followers of the Brahmo Samaj . In India the statutory minimum age of marriage for followers of Brahmo Samaj is the same as for all Indians, viz., 21 years for males and 18 years for females . It is also the age of marriage in Bangladesh . </P> <P> It also supported social reform movements of people not directly attached to the Samaj, such as Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar's movement which promoted widow remarriage . </P>

Where is the first branch of 'brahma samaj' started in kerala