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History SocialandReligiousReformMovement

The document outlines the social and religious reform movements in nineteenth century India, highlighting the backwardness of society, caste discrimination, and the impact of superstitions. Key reformers such as Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Vivekananda are discussed for their contributions to social change, women's rights, and religious tolerance. The document also mentions the establishment of various organizations and movements aimed at promoting education and reforming societal norms.

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6 views

History SocialandReligiousReformMovement

The document outlines the social and religious reform movements in nineteenth century India, highlighting the backwardness of society, caste discrimination, and the impact of superstitions. Key reformers such as Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Vivekananda are discussed for their contributions to social change, women's rights, and religious tolerance. The document also mentions the establishment of various organizations and movements aimed at promoting education and reforming societal norms.

Uploaded by

anandshanker679
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BISHOP COTTON BOYS’ SCHOOL, BENGALURU

HISTORY NOTES – STANDARD NOTES


SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENTS
I. Answer the following questions:
1. Discuss the social and religious conditions of nineteenth century India.
Ans: - The Indian society was socially backward in the nineteenth century.
- Society was divided into numerous castes and sub castes.
- Rigid rules restricted intermixing among people of different social status.
- People had blind faith in superstitions and meaningless religious rituals.
- Women suffered due to the presence of social evils.
- The lower castes faced social discrimination.
- Some were treated as untouchables. They were not allowed to enter public
Places.
2. Explain the contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy as a religious reformer.
Ans: - Raja Rammohan Roy favoured monotheism.
- He opposed idol worship and meaningless rituals.
- He published Bengali translations of the Vedas and the Upanishads to prove
his point.
- He organised Atmiya Sabha in 1814 to spread rational religious ideas.
3. Discuss the contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy as a social reformer.
Ans: - Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, to campaign
against social evils such as sati, child marriage, female infanticide and caste
discrimination.
- He demanded the right of inheritance of property for women.
- The Samaj’s campaign against sati won the support of Governor-General
William Bentinck, who made the practice illegal in1829.
4. Write a short note on the work/ achievements of the following social and
religious reformers.
a. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Ans: - Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar strongly discouraged caste discrimination
and opened the Sanskrit College to people of all castes.
- He helped Drinkwater Bethune establish the first Indian school for girls in
1849.
- Vidyasagar actively promoted widow remarriage.
- He authored Barna Parichaya, which simplified the learning of the Bengali
language.
b. Jotirao Govindrao Phule:
- Jotiba Phule fought against caste discrimination.
- He started a school for girls of the depressed castes.
- In 1873, he established the Satyashodhak Samaj to win equal rights for all.
- He even organised marriages without the help of priests.
c. Swami Dayanand Saraswati:
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati believed in monotheism and discouraged idol
worship, social inequalities and child marriage.
- He encouraged education of women and widow remarriage.
- He established Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875. Membership was open to all
castes.
- Dayanand Saraswati popularised the slogun ‘Go back to the Vedas’.
- He began the Shuddhi movement to reconvert Hindus who converted to other
religions.
- He published Satyarth Prakash which contains the essence of his teachings.
d. Ramakrishna Paramhansa:
- Ramakrishna Paramhansa spread the message of single minded devotion to
God and promoted religious tolerance.
- He preached in the language of the common people.
- His simplicity and devotion attracted many followers.
- Great reformers like Keshab Chandra Sen and Dayanand Saraswati received
spiritual guidance from him.
e. Swami Vivekananda:
- Swami Vivekananda / Narendranath Dutta was a favourite disciple of
Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
- Swami Vivekananda mastered Western and Indian philosophies.
- Vivekananda held the society responsible for the welfare of the downtrodden.
- He attacked superstition, narrow mindedness and weakness in all forms.
- Vivekananda established Ramakrishna Mission in 1887 to Ramakrishna’s
teachings and to reform society through education and social service.
f. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan:
- Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wanted to remove backwardness from the muslim
community.
- He started a reform movement called the Aligarh movement.
- He attacked the purdah system, polygamy, and the muslim system of divorce.
- He promoted women’s education and established English medium schools.
- He set up the scientific society at Aligarh to spread rationalism.
- He established the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh which
later became the Aligarh Muslim University.
g. Dadabhai Naoroji:
- Dadabhai Naoroji was one of the Parsi reformers.
- He set up the Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha, a religious reform association,
in 1851.
- He introduced the newspaper Rast Goftar to spread modern ideas.
- Naoroji also helped set up the Widow Marriage Association.
6. Who was Annie Besant? Mention the contributions of Annie Besant.
Ans: Annie Besant was an active member of the Theosophical Society.
- She promoted the Boy Scout Movement in India.
- As a member of the Theosophical Society, she tried to revive Hinduism based
on the philosophy of the Upanishads.
- Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu School at Varanasi which later
became Benaras Hindu University.
II. Find the answers to the following questions:
1. Who began the Young Bengal movement? Mention the social issues
taken up by them.
2. Discuss the work of Brahmo Samaj under the leadership of Keshab
Chandra Sen.
3. What were the contributions of Mahadev Govind Ranade?
4. Who established Prarthana Samaj? When? Name the social issues taken
up by them.
5. Discuss the work of Theosophical Society in India.

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