Test: Women Caste & Reform - 2 - UPSC MCQ

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 in Pune, India, with the aim of promoting social equality and fighting against caste discrimination. The organization sought to provide education and social rights to the marginalized sections of society, challenging the Brahmanical hegemony and advocating for the rights of the lower castes.

Shudras, the fourth varna in the traditional Hindu caste system, were often treated as untouchables, especially in the context of varna-based discrimination. They were assigned to perform menial and labor-intensive tasks considered lower in the social hierarchy. Over time, the notion of untouchability expanded beyond the Shudras to include various communities classified as Dalits, who faced severe social exclusion and discrimination.

Correct answer is answer C) Swami Dayanand Saraswathi
Founder of Arya Samaj:

Other Notable Figures in Hindu Reformation:
- Veerasalingam Pantulu
- Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
- Swami Vivekananda

• Swami Dayanand Saraswathi founded Arya Samaj, an organization that aimed to reform Hinduism.

The focus of his social reform was women — and he spent his life’s energies trying to ensure an end to the practice of child marriage and initiate widow remarriage. He argued, on the basis of scriptures and old commentaries, in favour of the remarriage of widows in the same way as Roy did for the abolition of Sati.
Born in a poor Brahmin family , he was a great Sanskrit scholar who became the Principal of a Sanskrit College
He spent his life for the upliftment of women and girls and was instrumental in the passing of Widow Remarriage Act 1856
He opposed the monopoly of the Brahmans on the study of Sanskrit.

• Two hundred years ago, women did not have the freedom to choose their husbands. They were often married off at a very young age without having a say in the matter. This means that the statement is False.
• Additional Fact: Women's rights and freedoms have improved over time, allowing them more choices and independence in deciding whom they marry.

The Prarthana Samaj adhered to the tradition of Bhakti that believed in spiritual equality of all castes.

In the nineteenth century, women started actively working for 'reform,' which means they wanted to make positive changes and improvements in society.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known for his efforts in promoting modern education and rational thinking in India. Contrary to the statement in option (b), he was a proponent of Western education alongside the study of Indian languages and cultures. Roy believed in the importance of English education in India to foster scientific temper and progressive ideas. He founded the Brahmo Samaj, which aimed at reforming Hindu society by opposing idolatry, caste discrimination, and practices such as Sati. His advocacy for the abolition of Sati and his efforts in social and educational reform earned him the title of the Father of the Indian Renaissance from Rabindranath Tagore.

Raja Rammohun Roy founded a reform association known as the Brahmo Sabha. This association was later known as the Brahmo Samaj. He wanted to make changes in society to make it better. Like a superhero, he fought against things that were not fair and wanted everyone to be treated well.

• Raja Rammohun Roy helped society by starting a campaign against a harmful practice. This means he worked to stop something bad from happening to people. It's like when you tell your friend not to touch a hot stove to keep them safe. Rammohun Roy wanted to keep people, especially widows, safe from a practice called sati which was very dangerous.

When women died by burning themselves on their husband's funeral pyre, they were called virtuous women. This means they were seen as very good and honorable.

The phrase "married off at an early age" is widely used to indicate that children were married when they were young. The word "early" suggests a time before reaching adulthood.

• b) mature and d) advanced imply an older or developed stage, which contradicts the intended meaning.
• c) old also suggests an age later in life, which does not fit the context of children being married off.

• In the 19th century, many educated women were actually taught at home by liberal fathers or husbands.
• Some women even taught themselves.
• This means that they did not necessarily go to schools established by reformers.
• So, the statement is false. It was more common for girls to learn at home back then.

• Raja Rammohun Roy thought that the practice of sati was not right. He wanted to stop this practice where widows had to burn themselves after their husband's death.
• In the early 19th century, many British officials also didn't like this practice.
• They listened to Rammohun Roy because he was a learned person who knew many languages.
• Eventually, in 1829, sati was banned. So, the statement is True.

• In 1929, the Child Marriage Restraint Act was indeed passed.
• This law aimed to prevent young boys below 18 years and young girls below 16 years from getting married.
• Later on, the ages were increased to 21 for men and 18 for women.
• This law was created to protect young individuals from being married off too early.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act passed in 1929 was made to prevent children from getting married when they are too young. This law helps in making sure that boys and girls can focus on growing up before they think about getting married.

During the 19th century, society was hesitant about girls’ education. Many believed that allowing girls to travel outside for schooling could expose them to “corrupt influences” and challenge traditional gender roles. Hence, both statements are true, and (R) correctly explains (A).

The correct answer is option (D). Rao Bahadur Kandukuri Veerasalingam Pantulu (16 April 1848 – 27 May 1919) was a social reformer and writer of Madras Presidency, British India. He is considered as the father of renaissance movement in Telugu. He was one of the early social reformers who encouraged women's education, remarriage of widows which was not supported by the society during his time and fought against dowry system.

Humanist Urdu literature became fully developed in the last third of the 19th century. The novel was the foremost genre, as seen in the didactic novels of Nazir Ahmad (1836–1912), the adventure novels of R. Sarshar (1846 or 1847 to 1903), the historical novels of Abdul-Halim Sharar (1860–1926), and the socially oriented novels of Mirza Rusva (1858–1931). Humanism and patriotism typified the poetry and literary criticism of Muhammad Husain Azad (1829–1910), Hali (1837–1914), and Muhammad Shibli Numani (1857–1914).

Madigas, a Dalit community primarily found in South India, were traditionally involved in the occupation of leatherwork, including sewing sandals. This profession was linked to their socio-economic status within the caste hierarchy, where they were engaged in occupations considered impure by the upper castes, thus facing social exclusion and discrimination.