Which amongst the following statements about the Indian social reformers of the 19th century is INCORRECT?

The incorrect statement is: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj.

Let us analyze each statement step-by-step to understand the historical context:

1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and the Brahmo Samaj:
This statement is incorrect. The Brahmo Samaj was founded by the prominent social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy (along with Dwarkanath Tagore) in Kolkata in 1828 (initially started as the Brahmo Sabha). Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a legendary 19th-century educator and social reformer who is best known for championing the cause of widow remarriage, leading to the passage of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856, and for his contributions to women's education and Bengali prose, but he was not the founder of the Brahmo Samaj.

2. The Aligarh Movement:
This statement is correct. The Aligarh Movement was started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875. In the same year, he established the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, which later evolved into the Aligarh Muslim University, aiming to reform Muslim society through modern education.

3. Mahadev Govind Ranade and Poona Sarvajanik Sabha:
This statement is correct. Mahadev Govind Ranade was one of the key founding members and leaders associated with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, which was established in 1870 to represent the grievances of the people to the British government.

4. Dayanand Saraswati and Arya Samaj:
This statement is correct. Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875 as a reform movement to promote the authority of the Vedas and reject social evils like idol worship and the caste system.