Spectrum Test: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements-1 - UPSC MCQ

1. Balshastri Jambhekar - Father of Marathi journalism: This pair is correctly matched. Balshastri Jambhekar is known as the father of Marathi journalism. He started the newspaper Darpan in 1832 and contributed significantly to journalism in Bombay.

2. Jyotiba Phule - Founded Arya Samaj: This pair is incorrectly matched. Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers’ Society) in 1873, not the Arya Samaj. The Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - Crusader against child marriage and polygamy: This pair is correctly matched. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a notable social reformer who crusaded against child marriage and polygamy. He also supported widow remarriage and worked for women's education.

4. Henry Vivian Derozio - Leader of the Young Bengal Movement: This pair is correctly matched. Henry Vivian Derozio was the leader and inspirer of the Young Bengal Movement in the late 1820s and early 1830s. He taught at the Hindu College and promoted radical ideas and reforms.

Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, but pair 2 is not. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

• The Ramakrishna Movement, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Movement are considered all-India movements because they had a widespread impact across various regions of India.
• The Ramakrishna Movement, founded in the late 19th century, aimed at spiritual revival and attracted followers nationwide.
• Arya Samaj, established by Swami Dayananda, promoted Vedic values and education reforms, influencing many parts of India.
• The Theosophical Movement, led by figures like Annie Besant, also had a significant presence and influence across India, promoting universal brotherhood.
• In contrast, movements like the Temple Entry, Self-respect, and Justice movements were more regionally focused.

• Narayan Malhar Joshi founded the Social Service League in Bombay to secure the masses better and reasonable conditions of life and work.

• They organised many schools, libraries, reading rooms, day nurseries and cooperative societies. 

• Their activities also included police court agents' work, legal aid and advice to the poor and illiterate, excursions for slum dwellers, facilities for gymnasia and theatrical performances, sanitary work, medical relief and boys' clubs and scout corps. Joshi also founded the All-India Trade Union Congress (1920).

Both statements are accurate. Statement-I highlights the foundation and core beliefs of the Brahmo Samaj as outlined by Raja Rammohan Roy. The Samaj's objective to purify Hinduism and propagate monotheism is well-aligned with the principles of reason and the Vedas and Upanishads, as emphasized in Statement-II. Raja Rammohan Roy's initiatives and the Samaj's mission signify a coherent approach towards religious and social reform, based on rationality and ancient texts.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in 1828. Later it was renamed as Brahmo Samaj. Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866. 

In 1814, he set up the Atmiya Sabha (or Society of Friends) in Calcutta to propagate the monotheistic ideals of the Vedanta and to campaign against idolatry, caste rigidities, Meaningless rituals and other social ills. 

Strongly influenced by rationalist ideas, he declared that Vedanta is based on reason and that, if reason demanded it, even a departure from the scriptures is justified.

• He was known as the father Marathi journalism. Balshastri Jambhekar (1812-1846) was a pioneer of social reform to journalism in Bombay. He attacked brahminical orthodoxy and tried to Reform popular Hinduism. 

• He founded the Bombay native general library and started native improvement Society of which an offshoot was the students literary and scientific library. 

• He was the first professor of Hindi at the Elphinstone College. He used the Darpan to awaken the people to Awareness of social reforms. In 1840 he started Digdarshan which published articles on scientific subjects as well as history.

1. Raja Rammohan Roy - Established Hindu College in 1817: Incorrect. While Raja Rammohan Roy supported David Hare's efforts to found the Hindu College in 1817, it was David Hare who primarily established it, not Raja Rammohan Roy.

2. Debendranath Tagore - Led Tattvabodhini Sabha: Correct. Debendranath Tagore headed the Tattvabodhini Sabha, which was devoted to the systematic study of India’s past with a rational outlook and to the propagation of Rammohan’s ideas.

3. Keshab Chandra Sen - Founded Adi Brahmo Samaj: Incorrect. Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866 after being dismissed from the office of acharya. Adi Brahmo Samaj was Debendranath Tagore's faction.

4. Ananda Mohan Bose - Started Sadharan Brahmo Samaj: Correct. Ananda Mohan Bose, along with others, started the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in 1878 following a split with Keshab Chandra Sen.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar indeed championed various social causes, such as advocating for widow remarriage, opposing child marriage and polygamy, and contributing significantly to women's education. His efforts have left a lasting impact on Indian society, particularly in the realm of social reform.

Statement-II: Gopalhari Deshmukh, also known as 'Lokahitawadi,' was a notable social reformer and rationalist from Maharashtra. He actively wrote on social reform issues and played a pivotal role in the establishment of various periodicals like Hitechhu, Gyan Prakash, Indu Prakash, and Lokahitawadi to promote social reform and rational thinking in society.

Explanation: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are factually accurate. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's contributions to social reform align with the description in Statement-I, and Gopalhari Deshmukh's role as a social reformer and rationalist, as described in Statement-II, complements Vidyasagar's endeavors. Deshmukh's writings and efforts were aimed at bringing about positive social change, much like Vidyasagar's work in advocating for crucial reforms. Furthermore, the mention of both these reformers in the context of social change in their respective regions adds historical depth to the narrative of social reform movements in India.

• During the late 1820s and early 1830s, there emerged a radical, intellectual trend among Bengal youth, which came to be known as the 'Young Bengal Movement'. 

• A young Anglo-Indian, Henry Vivian Derozio (1809-31), who taught at the Hindu College from 1826 to 1831, was the leader and inspirer of this progressive trend. 

• Drawing inspiration from the great French Revolution, Derozio inspired his pupils to think freely and rationally, question all authority, love liberty, equality and freedom, and oppose decadent customs and traditions. 

• Derozians also supported women's rights and education. Also, Derozio was perhaps the first nationalist poet of modern India. The Derozians, however, failed to have a long-term impact. 

• Derozio was removed from the Hindu College in 1831 because of his radicalism. The main reason for their limited success was the prevailing social conditions at that time, which were not ripe for adopting radical ideas. 

• Further, there was no support from any other social group or class. The Derozians lacked any real link with the masses; for instance, they failed to take up the peasants' cause. In fact, their radicalism was bookish in character.

The evaluation of each statement is as follows:

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy wrote "Gift to Monotheists" - This statement is correct. Raja Ram Mohan Roy wrote "Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin" or "A Gift to Monotheists" in 1803, a text that discussed his views on monotheism and his arguments against idol worship.

• He translated Vedas and Upanishads into Bengali to prove his point against the ancient Hindu texts - This statement is incorrect. Raja Ram Mohan Roy did indeed translate some Hindu religious texts to make them accessible to a broader audience, including translations of the Vedanta scriptures into Bengali. However, his intent was not to prove points against these texts but to simplify and rationalize their philosophical and theological arguments to promote his reformist ideas.

• Given these explanations, the correct answer is:

  A: 1 Only