Chapter 9: Social and Religious Awakening in India - PDF

Chapter 9: Social and Religious Awakening in India ​ I. Introduction​ Impact of British Rule: The realization of being colonized by a handful of foreigners exposed deep-rooted weaknesses within Indian society. This triggered introspection among Indian visionaries.​ Key Ar...

Chapter 9: Social and Religious Awakening in India ​ I. Introduction​ Impact of British Rule: The realization of being colonized by a handful of foreigners exposed deep-rooted weaknesses within Indian society. This triggered introspection among Indian visionaries.​ Key Areas of Focus: ○​ Social reformers targeted the exploitation and discrimination against women and the inequalities perpetuated by the caste system. ○​ Western Influence: Exposure to Western culture and rational thought played a significant role in prompting social reforms. ​ II. Position of Women in Indian Society​ Social Evils: ○​ Sati Pratha: The practice of widows being burned alive on their husband's funeral pyres. ○​ Female Infanticide: The killing of newborn female infants. ○​ Child Marriage: Marrying young children, often before puberty. ○​ Condition of Widows: Widows faced social isolation, restrictions on remarriage, and were often treated poorly. ○​ Polygamy: Men were allowed to have multiple wives, further marginalizing women. ○​ Emergence of Reformers: Thinkers and reformers arose to combat these evils and advocate for women's rights, emphasizing the need to shed backwardness. ​ III. Crusade Against Sati ○​ Sati Pratha Details: An illegal and inhumane practice, particularly prevalent in Bengal. ​ Raja Rammohan Roy's Role: ○​ Arguments Against Sati: Roy argued that Sati had no sanction in ancient texts. ○​ Direct Action: He visited burning ghats to persuade relatives against forcing widows to commit Sati and organized groups to prevent forced Sati. ○​ Writings: He raised awareness through his writings. ​ British Government Intervention: ○​ Initial Reluctance: The British initially hesitated to interfere due to religious considerations. ○​ William Bentinck's Ban (1829): Governor-General William Bentinck, influenced by reformers like Roy, passed a law banning Sati. ○​ Brahmo Samaj: ○​ Foundation (1830): Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj to reform Indian society using Western rationalism, scientific approaches, and principles of human dignity and social equality. ○​ Modern Education Advocacy: Roy advocated for modern Western education to promote freedom and equality in India. ​ IV. Position of Widow and Widow Remarriage​ Widow's Plight: ○​ Young Widows: Due to child marriage and polygamy, many young women became widows at an early age. ○​ Restrictions: Widows faced severe restrictions, including prohibitions on remarriage and limitations on their diet and social activities. ​ Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Contribution: ○​ Advocacy for Remarriage: Vidyasagar strongly condemned the misery and oppression of Hindu widows. ○​ Scriptural Justification: He studied ancient texts to argue that widows could remarry. ○​ Widow Remarriage Act (1856): Vidyasagar's efforts led to the British government passing the Widow Remarriage Act. ○​ Right to Property Act (1874): Widows gained the right to their husband's property but could not dispose of it. ​ V. Child Marriage ○​ Historical Context: Child marriage was practiced as a perceived safety measure during foreign invasions, aiming to protect young girls from exploitation. ○​ Reformers' Efforts: ○​ Advocacy Against Child Marriage: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Dayanand Saraswati advocated for the abolition of child marriage. ○​ Legislative Measures: ○​ Age of Consent Act (1891): Initially restricted physical relations with girls under 12. ○​ Child Marriage Restraint Act (1929) (Sarda Act): Fixed the minimum marriage ages at 14 for females and 18 for males. ​ VI. Female Infanticide and Foeticide Definitions: ○​ Female Infanticide: The practice of killing a girl child after birth. ○​ Female Foeticide: The illegal practice of killing the fetus of an unborn baby girl. ○​ British Government Action: ○​ Female Infanticide Act (1870): Gave provincial governments the power to prevent the killing of baby girls and punish offenders. ​ VII. Women's Education ○​ Necessity: Reformers believed that education was essential to improving the condition of women. ○​ Opposition: Initial resistance to women's education stemmed from the belief that girls should not be exposed to the outside world. ​ Key Institutions and People: ○​ Bethune School (1849): The first girls' school, founded in Calcutta. ○​ Vidyasagar's Role: Organized 35 girls' schools in Bengal and advocated for higher education for women as the Secretary of the Bethune School. ○​ Jyoti Rao Phule: Started a girls' school in Poona. ○​ Arya Samaj: Set up schools for girls in Punjab. ○​ Muslim Reformers: Reinterpreted the Quran to promote women's education in Muslim households. ​ VIII. Women Step into Writing ○​ Late 19th Century: More women became doctors and teachers and began writing about the role and status of women in society. ​ Key Writers and Works: ○​ Rash Sundari Debi: Wrote "Amar Jiban," the first full-length autobiography in Bengali. ○​ Kailashbashini Debi, Tarabai Shinde, and Pandita Ramabai: Wrote about women's exploitation, ignorance, hard domestic labor, and unjust treatment. ○​ Pandita Ramabai: Founded a Widow's Home in Poona to provide shelter for widows mistreated by their relatives. ​ IX. Women's Role in the Freedom Struggle ○​ 20th Century: Women actively participated in the freedom movement, including:  ○​ Agitation Against the Partition of Bengal ○​ Non-Cooperation Movement ○​ Civil Disobedience Movement (led by Mahatma Gandhi) ○​ Post-Independence: ○​ Voting Rights: Full voting rights were granted to women. ○​ Constitutional Equality: The Indian Constitution guaranteed complete equality to men and women. ​ X. Challenges Faced by Reformers ○​ Opposition from Orthodox Sections: Traditional elements of society opposed reforms. ○​ Debates and Attacks: Reformers faced debates and attacks for their progressive views. ○​ Support Base: Educated middle-class Indians supported and drove the reform movements. ​ XI. The Caste System ○​ Varna System: Traditional Indian society was based on four varnas: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. ​ Caste Inequalities: ○​ Deprivation: Lower castes were deprived of basic social and economic opportunities. ○​ Untouchability: The practice of untouchability marginalized lower castes. ○​ Impact of Education: Modern education and reformers worked to remove casteism. ​ XII. Impact of British Rule​ Urbanization: ○​ Job Opportunities: Cities created job opportunities, leading to migration from villages. ○​ Mass Contact: Interaction between castes in urban areas led to a decline in rigid caste separation.  ○​ Army: Lower castes found opportunities in the army (e.g., the Mahar Regiment). ​ XIII. Role of Social Reformers and Social Changes ○​ Attack on Caste System: Reformers fought against caste and untouchability. ○​ Key Reform Movements and Figures: ○​ Rammohan Roy, Swami Dayanand, Ramakrishna Mission, and Prarthana Samaj:Condemned caste and untouchability. ○​ National Unity: Reformers believed national progress required ending discrimination. ​ XIV. Key Social Reformers​ Jyoti Rao Phule: ○​ Born in Poona (Maharashtra) in 1827. ○​ Founded Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 to improve the condition of oppressed people. ○​ Worked for the upliftment of suppressed people. ○​ Krishnan Rao Bhalekar(friend) started a weekly, called Deenbandhu in 1879. ​ Gopal Hari Deshmukh: ○​ Well-known writer of Marathi. ○​ Gave the message of fighting the evil of caste system. ​ Swami Vivekananda: ○​ Original name was Narendra Nath Datta. ○​ Founder of Ramakrishna Mission. ○​ Opposed the caste system and untouchability. ○​ Sister Nivedita(his disciple) emphasized unconditional social service. ​ Kandukuri Veerasalingam: ○​ Born in 1847. ○​ Started a magazine named 'Vivekavardhini.' ○​ Founded Rajahmundry Social Reform Association in 1878. ​ E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker: ○​ Known as 'Periyar.' ○​ Advocated social equality and justice. ○​ Became President of Justice Party of Madras. ○​ Took over Dravidar Karagam party. ​ Sri Narayan Guru: ○​ Born in 1856 in Ezhava family. ○​ Determined to eradicate social evil and disabilities imposed on lower castes. ○​ SNDPY (Sri Narayan Dharma Paripalan Yogam) was started in 1903. ​ Mahatma Gandhi: ○​ Opposed caste system. ○​ Founded All India Harijan Sangh in 1932. ○​ Named the untouchables as Harijans. ​ Bhim Rao Ambedkar: ○​ Born in 1891 in Mhow village. ○​ Belonged to a lower caste (Mahar Caste). ○​ Started a temple entry movement. ○​ Demanded separate electorates for untouchables. ○​ Prominent member of drafting committee, and became the first Law Minister of free India. ​ XV. Indian Constitution and Caste System ○​ Article 15: Prohibits discrimination based on caste, creed, sex, or religion. ○​ Article 17: Abolishes untouchability, making it a punishable offense. ​ XVI. Important Terms ○​ Polygamy: Having more than one wife at a time. ○​ Sati: Practice of a woman burning herself on her husband's pyre.  ○​ Pioneers: Innovators or initiators. ○​ Female foeticide: Killing a female fetus. ○​ Orthodox: Traditional or conservative. ○​ Ezhava: A caste in Kerala. ○​ Crusade: A vigorous campaign for social or political change. ​ ​ Key Figures & Organizations: ○​ Raja Rammohan Roy ○​ William Bentinck ○​ Brahmo Samaj ○​ Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar ○​ Dayanand Saraswati ○​ Jyoti Rao Phule ○​ Arya Samaj ○​ Swami Vivekananda ○​ Ramakrishna Mission ○​ Gopal Hari Deshmukh ○​ Kandukuri Veerasalingam ○​ E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) ○​ Sri Narayan Guru ○​ Mahatma Gandhi ○​ Bhim Rao Ambedkar ○​ All India Harijan Sangh ○​ Martin Luther King Jr.