Behramji Malabari’s name figures among the greatest social reformers in India. That he had to face several hardships during his childhood (because of poverty and the death of his parents) probably accounted for his sincere sympathy for the weak and the helpless, especially women. He realised the need for drastic but gradual changes in the social structure for up-liftment of the distressed.
He raised his voice against casteism, child marriage and advocated widow remarriage and equality of the sexes. He relentlessly worked with other social reformers such as Dadabhai Naoroji, M.G. Ranade and Dinshaw Wacha to initiate legislative enactments on social issues.(His efforts were rewarded by the enactment of the Age of Consent Act (1891) which forbade the marriage of girls before the age of 12. His Notes on Infant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood (1884) is a powerful condemnation of child marriage and forced widowhood. He also founded a social service organisation,Seva Sadan.
Apart from social service, Behramji achieved fame as a litterateur. His literary talents attracted notice while he was still at the university. Nitivinod (1875), a collection of Gujarati poems; the Indian Muse in English Garb (1876), a book of English verse; Gujaratand the Gujaratis, an account of his own province are a few of his noteworthy works. In addition, he frequently contributed to newspapers and journals, such as Bombay Gazette, Times of India, Indian Spectator and Voice of India.