His 'principal forte was social and religious reform. He relied Upon legislation to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual sessions alongside the Indian National Congress.' The reference in this passage is to

1. The passage describes a leader whose 'principal forte was social and religious reform', relied on legislation for social ills like child marriage and the purdah system, and inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference which met alongside the Indian National Congress. 2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a key social reformer, focusing on widow remarriage and women's education, primarily in Bengal. 3. Behramji Merwanji Malabari was a Parsi reformer known for his campaign against child marriage and for widow remarriage, leading to the Age of Consent Act, 1891. He relied heavily on influencing legislation. 4. Mahadev Govind Ranade was a prominent judge, scholar, and social reformer from Maharashtra. He was a key figure in the Prarthana Samaj and advocated for reforms against child marriage, for widow remarriage, and women's education. He was instrumental in founding the Indian National Social Conference in 1887, which held its sessions concurrently with the Indian National Congress to discuss social issues nationally. This description fits Ranade perfectly. 5. B. R. Ambedkar was a monumental social reformer, jurist, and politician, focusing on caste annihilation and rights for the Dalits, much later than the period implied by the founding of the Social Conference alongside the early INC.