18 Questions
What were some activities that women engaged in for reform during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Editing magazines and founding schools
Why were some Hindu nationalists and orthodox Muslims concerned about the changes in women's behavior?
They feared it would lead to corruption of Hindu culture
What was one of the demands that women's political pressure groups pushed for in the early 20th century?
Female suffrage
Which prominent leaders supported demands for greater equality and freedom for women in the 20th century?
Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose
What did Tarabai Shinde question in her book, Stripurushtulna?
The different treatment of men and women in society
What did nationalist leaders promise regarding suffrage after Independence?
Full suffrage for all men and women
What was one of the concerns that many people had about schools for girls in the mid-nineteenth century?
Girls would be taken away from their homes.
How did most educated women in the nineteenth century receive their education?
At home by liberal fathers or husbands
In which region were schools for girls established by the Arya Samaj during the latter part of the nineteenth century?
Punjab
What did aristocratic Muslim households in North India primarily teach women to read?
Religious texts like the Koran in Arabic
Which reformer reinterpreted verses from the Koran to advocate for women's education?
Mumtaz Ali
When did the first Urdu novels start to be written?
Late nineteenth century
What was one of Raja Rammohun Roy's main goals in spreading Western education in India?
Advocating for greater freedom and equality for women
In the pre-printing age, how were social customs and practices discussed when books were not easily available?
Through oral discussions and debates
Which term best describes Raja Rammohun Roy's approach towards societal changes?
Radical
What did Raja Rammohun Roy criticize regarding the treatment of women in society?
Restricting women to domestic chores and preventing their education
What was a common theme among the discussions initiated by Indian reformers like Raja Rammohun Roy?
Advocating for women's rights and societal reforms
Why did people like Raja Rammohun Roy engage in debates and discussions in the new cities?
To advocate for social, political, economic, and religious changes
Study Notes
Women's Reform Movement in India
- By the end of the 19th century, women themselves were actively working for reform, writing books, editing magazines, founding schools and training centers, and setting up women's associations.
- They formed political pressure groups to push for laws on female suffrage, better healthcare, and education for women from the early 20th century.
Opposition to Women's Reform
- Many Hindus and Muslims were worried about the impact of Western influences on their cultures and family values.
- They believed that women adopting Western ways would corrupt their cultures and erode family values.
Support for Women's Reform
- Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose supported demands for greater equality and freedom for women.
- Nationalist leaders promised that there would be full suffrage for all men and women after Independence.
Education for Women
- Many reformers believed that education for girls was necessary to improve the condition of women.
- Schools for girls were established by reformers like Vidyasagar in Calcutta and Jyotirao Phule in Maharashtra.
- Initially, many people opposed education for girls, fearing it would take them away from home and lead to corruption.
Notable Figures
- Tarabai Shinde wrote about the inequalities faced by women in her book, Stripurushtulna.
- Rashsundari Debi secretly learned to read and write in the flickering light of candles at night.
- Raja Rammohun Roy founded the Brahmo Sabh (later Brahmo Samaj) to bring about social change and promote Western education in the country.
Explore the role of women in reform movements in India during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Learn about the actions taken by women to bring about social change, such as writing books, establishing schools, and organizing women's associations.
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