Test: Women Caste & Reform - 1 - UPSC MCQ

In some parts of the country, widows were praised if they chose death by burning themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands. Women who died in this manner, whether willingly or otherwise, were called “sati”, meaning virtuous women. Sati, painted by Balthazar Solvyn, was one of the many pictures of a religious practice painted by the European artists who came to India. The practice of sati was seen as evidence of the barbarism of the East.

India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. The BBC explains its complexities.
The system which divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma (the Hindi word for religion, but here it means duty) is generally accepted to be more than 3,000 years old.
The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.
At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma's head.

Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in agriculture and cattle-rearing, but over time they came to be landowners, traders and money-lenders. Therefore making it their responsibility to provide sustenance for those of higher class, since they were of lower class.

Class that belonged to the lower most strata in the social ladder of ancient India:
The class that belonged to the lower most strata in the social ladder of ancient India was the Shudras.
Explanation:
In ancient Indian society, the social hierarchy was divided into four main varnas or classes based on occupation and social status. These varnas were Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
1. Brahmans: This was the highest varna in the social ladder and consisted of priests, scholars, and teachers. They were considered to be the custodians of knowledge and spirituality.
2. Kshatriyas: The second varna were the Kshatriyas who were the warriors and rulers. They held positions of power and were responsible for protecting the society.
3. Vaishyas: The Vaishyas were the third varna and comprised of merchants, traders, and farmers. They engaged in business and agricultural activities.
4. Shudras: The Shudras belonged to the lowest strata of the social ladder. They were mostly laborers, servants, and workers who performed menial tasks for the upper varnas.
The Shudras had limited access to education, wealth, and social mobility. They were considered to be socially inferior and were often subjected to discrimination and oppression. They were not allowed to study the sacred texts or perform religious rituals.
The social hierarchy in ancient India was based on the concept of birth-based caste system, where one's social status was determined by their birth. The Shudras were born into their social position and had little opportunity to change it.
Overall, the Shudras occupied the lowest position in the social ladder of ancient India, facing numerous social and economic challenges as a result.

Untouchables are considered as inferior social beings and therefore not entitled to any individual rights i.e., civic, religious, political and economic. In fact, the disabilities are so severe that they are physically and socially isolated and excluded from the the rest of the Hindu society.

Correct Answer :- c

Explanation:- Monotheism is the belief in one god. A narrower definition of monotheism is the belief in the existence of only one god that created the world, is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, and intervenes in the world. 

But a voracious reader, he devoured English literature and journals, extracting as much knowledge as he could. He realised that while traditional texts like Vedas, Upanishads and Quran provided him with much reverence for philosophy, his knowledge was lacking in scientific and rational education. He advocated the introduction of an English Education System in the country teaching scientific subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and even Botany.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the prophet of Indian Nationalism. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration, and education, as well as religion. He was described by Rabindranath Tagore as the " Father of Indian Renaissance "  and  the " Prophet  of Indian Nationalism.

Due to fierce campaign and lobbying of Raja Rammohan Roy and others,Sati practice was formally banned in all the lands under Bengal Presidency by Lord William Bentinck on 4 December 1829.