- a. 1827
- b. 1829
- c. 1826
- d. 1927
Sati (the practice of widow burning) was legally abolished in 1829 by Regulation XVII under Governor-General Lord William Bentinck after reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy campaigned against it.
b
- a. Arya Samaj
- b. Brahmo Samaj
- c. Prarthana Samaj
- d. Adi Brahmo Samaj
Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj (1875) seeking to reform Hinduism by returning to Vedic principles and opposing idolatry and caste-based discrimination.
a
- a. Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
- b. Raja Rammohan Roy
- c. Annie Besant
- d. Jyotiba Phule
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaigned for widow remarriage and his efforts contributed to the passage of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act in 1856.
a
- a. Parsi Movement
- b. Aligarh Movement
- c. Ramakrishna Mission
- d. Dravida Mahajana Sabha
Rast Goftar (Rastgoftar) was a Parsi periodical associated with Parsi social reform and the Parsi community's reformist voice.
a
- a. Baba Dayal Das
- b. Baba Ramsingh
- c. Gurunanak
- d. Jyotiba Phule
The Namdhari (Kuka) movement was founded by Baba Ram Singh (often written as Baba Ramsingh), a 19th-century Sikh reformer.
b
- a. Mahadev Govind Ranade
- b. Devendranath Tagore
- c. Jyotiba Phule
- d. Ayyankali
Mahadev Govind Ranade was instrumental in founding social reform associations, including initiatives supporting widow remarriage; he is commonly credited with founding the Widow Remarriage Association.
a
Ramalinga Swamigal, commonly known as Vallalar, founded the Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sangam (often rendered in variants such as 'Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam'). He is known for his social and spiritual reform efforts in Tamil Nadu.
Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar)
Mahadev Govind Ranade (M. G. Ranade) is credited in the chapter as the leading reformer associated with institutions like the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
Mahadev Govind Ranade
Gulamgiri (Slavery) was written by Jyotirao (Jyotiba) Phule, critiquing caste oppression and social slavery.
Jyotirao (Jyotiba) Phule
The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 to carry forward the teachings and social service inspired by his guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta)
The Namdhari (Kuka) movement under Baba Ram Singh is often regarded as a precursor/forerunner to later Sikh reform movements such as the Akali movement, which sought reform and control of gurdwaras.
Namdhari Movement
The chapter names Iyothee Thassar as the leader associated with the Tamil publication Oru Paisa Tamilan (the chapter summary and questions reference Iyothee Thassar).
Iyothee Thassar
- a. i) is correct
- b. i) and ii) are correct
- c. i), ii) and iii) are correct
- d. i) and iii) are correct
Raja Rammohan Roy preached monotheism (i) and published tracts condemning social evils like sati and child marriage (iii). He opposed idolatry, so (ii) is incorrect. Therefore i) and iii) are correct.
d
Using the chapter context and the match‑list on the page: Oru Paisa Tamilan is a journal; Thiruvarutpa is the collection 'Songs of Grace' (by Ramalinga Adigal); Baba Dayal Das (Baba Dayal Singh) founded the Nirankari movement; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar led the campaign that resulted in the Widow Remarriage Reform Act (1856); Debendranath Tagore is associated with the Adi Brahmo Samaj.
1 → Journal; 2 → Songs of Grace; 3 → Nirankari; 4 → Widows Remarriage Reform Act; 5 → Adi Brahmo Samaj
- a. i) is correct
- b. ii) is correct
- c. i) and ii) are correct
- d. iii) and iv) are correct
Prarthana Samaj in Bombay was founded by Atmaram Pandurang (i) and it promoted social reforms including inter-dining and inter-caste marriage (ii). Statement iii) is incorrect as phrased (Phule worked for the upliftment of lower-caste people and especially women's education), and iv) is false (Prarthana Samaj originated in Bombay/Maharashtra, not Punjab).
c
- a. i) is correct
- b. i) and ii) are correct
- c. iii) is correct
- d. i) and iii) correct
Statements i) and ii) are correct: the Ramakrishna Mission (founded by Swami Vivekananda) is known for social service (i), and Ramakrishna himself emphasized direct spiritual experience often through ecstatic practices (ii). Statement iii) is incorrect because Ramakrishna did not found the Mission—his disciple Vivekananda did.
b
- a. Assertion is correct but reason is not apt
- b. Assertion is correct and the reason is apt
- c. Both are wrong
- d. Reason is correct but assertion is irrelevant
Both statements are correct and the reason explains the assertion: Jyotiba Phule worked for social reform—he opposed child marriage and supported widow remarriage, and he established schools, orphanages and homes for widows to improve their condition.
b
The Brahmo principles emphasised by Debendranath Tagore centred on monotheism (one formless God), the negation of idolatry and ritualism, moral and ethical religion guided by reason and conscience, and opposition to caste‑based discrimination. (Students should consult the textbook passage for the precise textbook wording.)
1. Belief in one Supreme God; 2. Rejection of idol‑worship and image‑worship; 3. Emphasis on moral conduct and sincere devotion rather than ritual; 4. Equality of all human beings before God (rejection of caste privileges).
Key contributions:
- Advocated widow remarriage, women's education and removal of caste barriers.
- Opposed child marriage and ritualistic orthodoxy; promoted social morality based on reason.
- Worked through public institutions (helped found local public bodies and supported reformist associations influenced by Prarthana/Brahmo ideas) to mobilize opinion and press for legislative change.
- Emphasised economic improvement and cooperatives as part of social uplift.
Overall he used moderate, constitutional means—education, public opinion and legislation—to advance social reform.
Mahadev Govind Ranade promoted social and educational reform through moderation and legislation: he supported widow remarriage and women's education, fought caste discrimination and child marriage, encouraged inter-caste cooperation, helped form public bodies (e.g., Poona civic organizations) to voice public opinion, backed Prarthana Samaj ideals and cooperative economic measures, and worked to bring social change by combining moral persuasion with legal and institutional reform.
Major reforms and activities:
- Social equality: rejected caste distinctions and rituals that dehumanised people.
- Compassion and service: emphasised mercy to all living beings and organised free feeding (annadanam) to help the poor.
- Religious reform: advocated a formless, compassionate spirituality rather than idol worship; stressed inner purity and moral conduct.
- Cultural contribution: composed devotional Tamil poetry and spread his social-religious ideals through literature and public works.
Ramalinga Adigal (Vallalar) preached ‘Jeeva Karunyam’ (compassion to all life), opposed caste discrimination and ritualism, promoted equality and universal brotherhood, encouraged simple living, vegetarianism and service to the poor, founded feeding houses (annadanam) and humanitarian institutions at Vadalur, and promoted Tamil-language devotional literature.
Specific reforms promoted by Brahmo Samaj:
- Campaign against sati and social superstitions.
- Efforts to abolish child marriage and allow widow remarriage.
- Rejection of caste hierarchy, untouchability and ritualistic practices; promotion of monotheism and rational religion.
- Support for women’s education and greater social rights for women.
Brahmo Samaj worked to eradicate: sati, child marriage, caste discrimination and untouchability, rigid ritualism and idol-worship, restrictions on widow remarriage, and opposition to women’s education and social participation.
Major initiatives and impacts:
- Education: Established the first schools for girls and for children of lower castes (with Savitribai Phule), emphasising mass literacy.
- Satyashodhak Samaj (1873): Created a socio-political organisation to challenge caste privileges, promote equal rights and mobilise peasants and marginalized groups.
- Writings and critique: Authored works like Gulamgiri exposing caste-based social and economic exploitation.
- Social activism: Worked to end untouchability, supported widow remarriage and promoted rational, non-ritualistic social life.
- Legacy: Laid foundations for Dalit and women’s education and social movements in western India.
Jyotiba (Jyotirao) Phule worked for the education and social uplift of lower castes and women: he and Savitribai opened schools for girls and for lower-caste children, founded the Satyashodhak (Truth-seekers) Samaj to fight caste oppression, wrote critically about caste exploitation (Gulamgiri), and campaigned for equal rights, social dignity and against Brahminical domination.
Key circumstances that led to 19th-century social and religious reform movements:
- Contact with Western ideas: English education and Christian missionaries introduced notions of rationalism, equality, liberty and human rights which inspired Indian reformers.
- Social evils and orthodox practices: Practices such as sati, child marriage, purdah, and rigid caste restrictions harmed many; reformers campaigned against these.
- Decline of traditional institutions: Decline of older patronage systems and economic changes under colonial rule weakened traditional authorities and opened space for reform.
- Rise of a new middle class: A Western-educated urban middle class (lawyers, teachers, clerks) became the main support base for reform movements, seeking social progress and moral uplift.
- Printing and print culture: Newspapers, journals and tracts spread reformist ideas widely.
- Indigenous religious awakening: Many reformers sought to purify religion (e.g., Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj) by removing superstitions and idolatry while retaining ethical core.
- Political/legal opportunities: British administration and law provided avenues (e.g., legislation against sati, widow remarriage act) to institutionalize reforms.
Together these factors created an environment in which social and religious reformers campaigned for change, set up schools, journals and associations, and influenced public opinion and legislation.
See solution
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:
- Emphasised that all religions lead to the same truth; promoted religious tolerance.
- Practised and taught devotion (bhakti) and direct spiritual experience; criticised empty ritualism and caste arrogance.
- Inspired disciples by his personal holiness and emphasis on compassion for all beings.
Swami Vivekananda:
- Internationalised Indian spiritual thought at the 1893 Chicago Parliament of Religions, raising India’s moral and intellectual prestige.
- Founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897) to undertake education, healthcare, relief work and upliftment of the poor — applying ‘‘practical Vedanta’’ (service as worship).
- Promoted modern education, self-confidence, social equality and unity; encouraged women’s education and the uplift of marginalized communities.
Impact on regeneration:
- Moral and spiritual revival that rejected superstition and caste arrogance.
- Institutionalised social service and philanthropy through the Mission and affiliated centres.
- Inspired national self-respect and reformist leadership among youth, contributing to social and cultural renewal in late 19th–early 20th century India.
Ramakrishna taught the unity of religions, experiential spirituality and compassion; he rejected narrow ritualism and caste prejudice. Swami Vivekananda systematised these ideas into a social programme: he spread Vedanta worldwide (1893 Parliament of Religions), founded the Ramakrishna Mission to combine spirituality with service, promoted education, uplift of the poor, interfaith harmony and national self-confidence. Together they rekindled spiritual values that supported social reform, service to humanity, and modern national regeneration.
Main contributions (with examples):
- Abolition of Sati: Raja Rammohan Roy led the campaign that resulted in the legal ban on sati (1829), saving many widows from immolation.
- Widow remarriage and women’s rights: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaigned for and helped pass the Widow Remarriage Act (1856) for Hindu widows.
- Female education: Social reformers like Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule opened the first girls’ schools (Pune, 1848); Pandita Ramabai established schools and hostels for widows and girls.
- Opposition to child marriage and purdah: Reformers criticized child marriage and seclusion; they urged raising the marriageable age and promoting women’s social participation.
- Socio-religious movements: Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj and others promoted women’s education, property rights, and moral uplift; they provided platforms for debate and change.
- Social welfare and institutions: Reformers founded women’s shelters, orphanages, and vocational schools to rehabilitate and empower women.
Impact and limitations:
- Immediate impact: increased literacy among women, legal safeguards (e.g., reforms on widow remarriage), and public visibility for women’s issues.
- Long-term legacy: created a new public discourse on gender equality and trained a generation of women leaders and educators.
- Limitations: reforms often benefited upper-caste urban women first; conservative resistance and limited reach in rural areas slowed change.
Conclusion: 19th-century reformers initiated critical social reforms for women that combined legal change, education and social service; their efforts formed the basis for later feminist and reform campaigns in India.
19th-century reformers played a crucial role in improving the status of women by campaigning against oppressive practices, promoting female education, and pushing legal and social change. Their work included abolition of sati, promoting widow remarriage, founding girls’ schools, opposing child marriage and purdah, and creating institutions to support women’s welfare. Though limited by social constraints, these reforms laid the foundation for wider women’s rights movements in the 20th century.
Activity guidance: Assign students different reformers (e.g., Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule, Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Debendranath Tagore, Mahadev Govind Ranade). Have each student prepare a short monologue covering: background, main reforms advocated, key actions (journals, schools, associations), and impact. Include mock debates between reformers and orthodox opponents, and end with a short reflection on how the reforms changed society. Encourage costumes/props and limit each role-play to 3–5 minutes.
See solution