History Chapter 5: India Social and Religious Reforms PDF

5. India : Social and Religious Reforms When Indians started getting educated by the British, it changed their thoughts about society. They realised that just having political freedom wasn't enough. They wanted to change things internally, especially in society and religion. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was o...

5. India : Social and Religious Reforms When Indians started getting educated by the British, it changed their thoughts about society. They realised that just having political freedom wasn't enough. They wanted to change things internally, especially in society and religion. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was one of the first to lead this change. He inspired others to work on fixing problems in society and making things better for everyone. Call for Social & Religious Reforms:- Q. What were the factors that hindered the progress of Indian society?.... ➔ The progress of Indian society was stunted because of superstitions, orthodox way of life, caste discriminations, false social notions, lack of curiosity and rationality that prevailed on a large scale. Social reformers who received education under the British introduced a new perspective. They aimed to build a modern Indian society based on progressive values like freedom, equality, fraternity(बंधत्ु व), and humanism. To achieve this, they started raising awareness about social and religious issues among the masses. Age of Reforms:- Q. How did Raja Ram Mohan Roy influence Indian society through Sati abolition, education promotion, and philosophical dialogue? ➔ Raja Ram Mohan Roy, born in Bengal, was deeply disturbed by the practice of Sati, witnessing his brother's wife immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. He published letters condemning this practice and highlighted that it wasn't mandated by Indian religious texts. His efforts led to the abolition of Sati by Lord William Bentinck in 1829. Roy also opposed child marriage and the Purdah system, and he established an English medium school and launched the first Bengali weekly periodical. He initiated philosophical discussions through the 'Atmiya Sabha', aiming to explore common values among religions. In 1828, he founded the 'Brahmo Samaj', advocating the belief in one God and rejecting idol worship. Q. How did Raja Ram Mohan Roy foster understanding between India and Europe? ➔ Raja Ram Mohan Roy supported anti-colonial movements in South America and advocated for liberal voices in Spain against monarchy. In 1830, he travelled to England to plead the case of the Mughal emperor, earning him the title of 'Raja'. He stayed in England for two years before travelling to France. Roy played a crucial role in bridging understanding between India and Europe, sharing insights about each culture with the other. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, educated under British rule, paved the way for modernity in India. His work inspired organizations like 'Manavdharm Sabha', 'Paramhamsa Sabha', and 'Dnyanprasar Sabha'. Religious Reform Movements:- Prarthana Samaj:- - Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar founded the 'Prarthana Samaj'. - Founding members included Dr. Atmaram Pandurang, Justice M.G. Ranade, and Dr. R.G. Bhandarkar. - They opposed idol worship and advocated for the belief in 'One Supreme God' (monotheism). - Initiatives included opening orphanages, schools for girls, and night schools for workers. - Emphasized gender equality and sought to eradicate caste discrimination. - Stressed the value of mundane life(ordinary life) as part of their teachings. Satyashodhak Samaj:- Q. What were the characteristics of the Satyashodhak Samaj founded by Mahatma Jotirao Phule in 1873 in Pune?... ➔ Monotheism: Belief in the existence of a single god. - Rejection of the authority of Veda-Puranas: Dismissal of the traditional religious texts as authoritative sources. - Acceptance of rationality: Embracing logic and reason in religious and social matters. - Opposition to idol worship and pilgrimage: Criticism of rituals involving idol worship and journeys to holy sites. - Disbelief in miracles: Skepticism towards supernatural occurrences - Opposition to the notion of a world after death: Rejection of the concept of an afterlife. Q. Who continued the work of educating girls initiated by Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule? ➔ Mahatma and Savitribai Phule initiated girls' education, stressing its pivotal role in their emancipation. Pandita Ramabai and Ramabai Ranade continued their legacy in educating girls. The social system in India was based on social inequality. Mahatma Phule worked for creating a social system based on equality. His work was continued by Gopalbaba Walangkar, who severely criticised untouchability in his book, ‘Vital Vidhwamsan’ (Destroying Defilement). Shivram Janba drew attention to the problems of the deprived women like Murali, Jogatini and Devdasi. Arya Samaj:- Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875, which revered the Vedas as holy texts. Arya Samaj opposed caste discrimination and promoted education for women, widow remarriage, and inter-caste marriages. Ramkrishna Mission:- Swami Vivekananda established Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, emphasizing service to the needy. They provided famine relief, healthcare, education for women, & spiritual guidance, inspiring Indian youth to strive towards their goals relentlessly. Contribution of Social Reformers:- Sir Sayyad Ahemad Khan:- - Born in 1817 in Delhi. - Fluent in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, & English. - Edited 'Ain-i-Akbari'(by Abul Fazl). - Established the 'Scientific Society' for Muslims, comprising scholars in History, Science, and Political Economy. - Traveled to England in 1869. - Founded the 'Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College'(Aligarh Muslim University) in 1875 upon his return. - Initiated the periodical 'Mohammadan Social Reformer'. - Advocated for the propagation of modern education, science, & technology. Tarabai Shinde:- - Born in 1850 in Buldhana. - Wrote an essay comparing the situations of women and men, advocating for women's rights. - Addressed reforms such as widow remarriage, women's education, and abolition of Sati. - Demanded gender equality, challenging the patriarchal system. - Brave for her time, being the first Indian woman to challenge patriarchal norms. - Opined that religious systems suppress women, as they are created by men. - Mahatma Phule supported her views and provided strong responses to her critics. Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde:- - Established Marathi schools and technical training institutes in Paral and Deonar, Mumbai. - Founded the 'Depressed Classes Mission'. - Raised public awareness about issues affecting the depressed classes. - Advocated for their rights, including temple entry, agricultural conference participation, and joint electorate system. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:- - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar aimed to create a society based on the principles of Freedom, Equality, and Fraternity. - Initiated a movement against the caste system and for equality. - Advocated for education, unity, & activism through the platform of 'Bahishkrut Hitkarini Sabha'. - Led the 'Satyagraha of Chavadar Tank' in Mahad, asserting that public water bodies should be open to all. - Symbolically burnt the Manusmriti, a book contributing to social inequality in India. - Launched a Satyagraha in 1930 to open the 'Kala Ram Temple' in Nasik for all, headed by Karmaveer Dadasaheb Gaikwad. Q. What were Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's key initiatives and contributions towards social equality and activism? ➔ - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar recognized the power of print media for creating public awareness and building movements for social equality. - He founded newspapers such as 'Mooknayak', 'Bahishkrut Bharat', 'Janata', and 'Samata'. - Established the 'Independent Labour Party' to advocate for the working class's future. - Later formed the 'Scheduled Caste Federation' to further the cause of equality. - In 1956, along with numerous followers, he converted to Buddhism. - His most significant contribution was drafting the 'Constitution of India'. Ramaswamy Naiker :- - Born in Erode, Tamil Nadu, in 1879. - Began his work in 1920 as a member of the Congress. - Embraced Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy & promoted Swadeshi and temple entry for all. - Participated in the Vykom Satyagraha against untouchability in Travancore. - Started the Swabhiman Andolan in Tamil Nadu. - Fought against the varna system and child marriage. - Known as 'Periyar' (Great Soul) for his significant contributions. - Renowned speaker and author. - Took a radical stance on issues such as women's rights and family planning. Kamladevi Chattopadhyay:- - Active volunteer of Congress. - Convinced Mahatma Gandhi to allow women to participate in the salt satyagraha. - Participated in the satyagraha herself. - Dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights. - Organized demonstrations highlighting issues of workers and farmers. - Advocated for justice for female agricultural laborers and facilities for women in factories. - Persistently pursued the issue of maternity leave for women. - Imprisoned for one year by the British for participating in the Quit India movement. Contribution of the rulers of Princely States in India:- Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad:- - Maharaja Sayajirao of Baroda State implemented progressive policies. - He provided free schooling and free hostels for students from untouchable and tribal classes. - Encouraged women's education and established a center for physical training of women. - Initiated social programs including community feasts for all castes ("sahabhojan"). - Established gram panchayats in every village and ensured literate members. - Set up libraries in every village. - Implemented compulsory primary education and physical training for both boys and girls. - Banned child marriage and promoted widow remarriage. - Provided courses for students from farmer families focusing on agro-industries. - Passed a resolution ensuring a share in ancestral property for married and widowed women. Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj:- - Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur supported Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's leadership. - Led the 'Non-brahmanical Movement' in his state. - Declared reservations and passed a resolution for free and compulsory primary education. - Strongly opposed customs like 'Rotibandi' (restrictions on eating together), 'Betibandi' (restrictions on inter-caste marriage), & 'Vyavasaybandi' (restrictions on practicing occupations other than ancestral ones). - Enacted laws allowing inter-caste marriage. - Permitted people in his state to choose any occupation freely. Thus, the social reformers created a positive picture for the future of our country. It was necessary to build a society with a firm intellectual and rational base for obtaining freedom from British rule.