Social-Religious Reforms Movement

Read the two statements given below about the Social reform movements. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828.

Reason (R): Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Answer

Explanation — Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in order to purify and reform Hinduism. Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.

Identify the achievements of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

P: Passing of Window Remarriage Act

Q: Formation of the Singh Sabhas at Lahore and Amritsar

R: Education for girls and the upliftment of women

S: Formation of Aligarh University

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and R

Reetu is preparing a project on 'Reform among Muslim Society'. Which of the following social reformers would MOST LIKELY be part of her project.?

1. Shaukat Ali
2. Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad
3. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
4. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Which of the following aspects is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Promotion of western sciences and culture among the Hindus.
2. Promotion of western sciences and culture among the Buddhists.
3. Promotion of western sciences and culture among the Muslims.
4. Promotion of western sciences and culture among the Christians.

Answer

Promotion of western sciences and culture among the Muslims.

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following leaders of the Social Reform Movements.

1. Narayana Guru
2. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
3. Swami Vivekananda
4. Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer

Jawaharlal Nehru

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: Swami Dayanand Saraswati opposed idol worship, caste system and religious creeds.

Statement II: His slogan was "Back to the Vedas" as he believed the Vedas contain the truth of science as well as truth of religion.

1. Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.
2. Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.
3. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
4. Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Answer

Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Which among the following statements is incorrect?

1. The work of the Theosophical Society was carried on in India by an Irish Lady called Annie Besant.
2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1896.
3. Swami Dayanand Saraswati opened the doors of the Arya Samaj to the Shudras and other depressed classes.
4. Lord Willian Bentick banned Sati in 1829.

Answer

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1896.

Identify the social reformers on the basis of given clues.

• Famous for the emancipation of oppressed sections of society in Kerala.
• Born in Ezhara family.

1. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
2. Swami Vivekananda
3. Kandukuri Veeresalingam
4. Narayana Guru

Answer

Narayana Guru

A law was passed in 1925 and the right of managing Gurudwaras was given to:

1. Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee
2. Akali Dal
3. Shiromani Akali Dal
4. Punjab Seva Dal

Answer

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee

Pick the odd one out from the following options:

1. Uprising of 1857, battle of Plassey and battle of Buxar.
2. Anglo-Maratha, Anglo-Wars Mysore and Anglo-French Wars.
3. French Revolution, American Revolution and American Civil war.
4. Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Dayanand Saraswati

Answer

French Revolution, American Revolution and American Civil war.

Fill in the blanks.

1. It was due to Raja Ram Mohan Roy's efforts that ..............., the Governor General of India, banned ............... in ............... .

2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar made a remarkable contribution to the ............... and uplift of ............... .

3. Swami Vivekananda wanted people of India to be ..............., ............... and self-reliant.

4. Swami Dayanand's slogan was ............... .

5. ............... founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875.

Answer

1. Lord William Bentinck, Sati, 1829

2. education of girls, women

3. fearless, self-confident

4. Back to the Vedas

5. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Match Column A with Column B.

Answer

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy's religious beliefs were based on the Bible.

2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, as Principal of the Sanskrit College, allowed lower castes to join his college.

3. Swami Vivekananda attended the Parliament of Religions held at New York in 1980.

4. The Singh Sabhas founded at Lahore and Amritsar were the first to start a reform movement among the Sikhs.

Answer

1. False
   Correct Statement — Raja Ram Mohan Roy's religious beliefs were based on the Vedas and the Upanishads.

2. True

3. False
   Correct Statement — Swami Vivekananda attended the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893.

4. True

What were the main aims of the reformers of the nineteenth century in India? Describe the reforms initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Answer

The main aims of the reformers of the nineteenth century in India were:

1. Abolition of social evils such as sati, female infanticide, child marriage, and caste discrimination.
2. Promotion of women’s rights — advocating widow remarriage, female education, and gender equality.
3. Spread of modern education — encouraging scientific thinking and rationalism rather than blind faith and superstition.
4. Religious reform — purifying religion by going back to its original texts and rejecting superstitions, rituals, and idol worship.
5. National awakening — inspiring unity, self-respect, and a sense of pride in India’s cultural heritage.

The reforms initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy are given below:

Religious Reforms Initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy —

• Founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to purify and reform Hinduism.
• Opposed idol worship and the caste system.
• Advocated the worship of one God.
• Published Bengali translations of the Vedas and principles of the Upanishads to educate people about their religion.

Social Reforms Initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy —

• Fought against the evil custom of Sati, leading to its ban by Lord William Bentinck in 1829.
• Championed women’s rights, opposing child marriage and polygamy.
• Supported widow remarriage and demanded inheritance rights for women.

Educational Reforms Initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy —

• Supported western education and sought a balance with traditional Indian teaching.
• Started his own school in Calcutta and helped David Hare in opening the Hindu College, which later became the Presidency College.
• Founded the Vedanta College in 1825 for teaching both western sciences and Indian learning, promoting rational and scientific thinking.

What are the main teachings of the Arya Samaj? How did they help in the spread of education in India?

Answer

The main teachings of the Arya Samaj are given below:

1. Opposed idol worship, caste system, religious creeds, child marriage, purdah system.
2. Preached social equality by opening the doors of the Arya Samaj to the Shudras and other depressed classes.
3. Encouraged the study of Sanskrit and Vedas along with English education and Western sciences. The Arya Samaj opened many schools and colleges for boys and girls.
4. Advocated the superiority of the Vedas and thus created a feeling of self-confidence, self-respect and national pride. Swami Dayanand believed the Vedas contain the truth of science as well as truth of religion.

Contribution to the Spread of Education in India —

1. The Arya Samaj opened many schools and colleges for boys and girls, known as DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) Schools.
2. Promoted modern education alongside traditional learning, combining Western sciences with Indian knowledge.
3. Helped in the upliftment of women and weakening of the caste system through education.

How did Swami Vivekananda spread the ideas of his Guru Ramakrishna? What was his religious philosophy?

Answer

Swami Vivekananda spread the ideas of his Guru Ramakrishna in the following ways:

1. Preaching in India and Abroad: He carried the message of his Guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, not only in India but all over the world.
2. World Parliament of Religions (1893): Represented Hinduism at Chicago and made a great impact, reviving the image of spiritual India.
3. Founding of Ramakrishna Mission (1897): Established schools, colleges, hospitals, and orphanages to serve common people and spread his Guru’s teachings practically.

His religious philosoply was:

1. He believed in unity and oneness of all religions.
2. He believed that serving humanity is a form of worship and spiritual practice.

Mention the social and educational reforms started by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.

Answer

Social Reforms by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan —

1. Worked to raise the status of women in society.
2. Advocated the removal of Purdah and spread of education among women.
3. Condemned the customs of polygamy and easy divorce.

Educational Reforms by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan —

1. Encouraged Muslims to receive English education and learn Western sciences and culture.
2. Founded the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875, which later became Aligarh Muslim University.
3. Had many Western books translated into Urdu for the benefit of Muslims.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a great advocate of women's rights and worked all his life for improving their status in India. He was greatly interested in the education of women. He helped Bethune to set up on one of the first schools for girls in Calcutta in 1849, called the Bethune School. He also led a campaign against child marriage and polygamy. It was due to his efforts that the Government passed the Widow Remarriage Act in 1856, drafted by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General. As the Principal of Sanskrit College in Calcutta, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar encouraged lower castes to join his college. He introduced the study of western thought in his college. Vidyasagar made remarkable contribution to education of girls and the upliftment of women.

(i) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar made great contribution towards the education of ............... .

1. women
2. children
3. students of lower caste
4. students of higher caste

(ii) The Bethune School was founded in ............... .

1. 1830
2. 1850
3. 1836
4. 1849

(iii) The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in ............... .

1. 1856
2. 1855
3. 1853
4. 1852

Answer

(i) women

(ii) 1849

(iii) 1856