Challenging the Caste System Chapter Notes | History Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

Caste Reforms

• Social reformers attacked the rigid caste system to promote equality for all.
• They believed religious texts should not dictate unfair social practices.
• The caste system limited opportunities for lower castes, hindering national progress.
• Unity among all castes was seen as essential to fight British rule.
• Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Kandukuri Veeresalingam, and Mahadev Govind Ranade worked to end caste discrimination.
• Lower caste individuals also started movements for social justice and equality.
• The Satnami Movement, started by Ghasidas in central India (now Chhattisgarh), aimed to improve the status of leather workers.
• Haridas Thakur in Bengal founded the Matua sect to oppose caste hierarchy and question Brahmanical texts.
• Christian missionaries set up schools for tribal and lower caste children, providing access to Western education.
• Many lower caste people migrated to cities for jobs in factories, construction, and plantations in Assam, Mauritius, and Trinidad to escape oppression.
• The army offered opportunities, such as jobs for the Mahars in the Mahar Regiment.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• Opposed caste system and idol worship, believing they hindered progress.
• Founded the Brahmo Samaj, which rejected idol worship and sacrifices.
• Brahmo Samaj promoted respect for all religions and their positive aspects.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• Criticized the caste system strongly.
• As Principal of Sanskrit College in Calcutta, opened it to all castes, previously exclusive to Brahmins.
• Worked to provide education to girls from lower castes.

Swami Vivekananda

• Disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, opposed caste system and untouchability.
• Believed no caste was superior to another.
• Delivered a notable speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hinduism and advocating against intolerance.
• Founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to serve society through education and social service.
• Emphasized serving mankind as a way to serve God.

Mahadev Govind Ranade and Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar

• Prominent scholars and members of the Prarthana Samaj, founded in 1867.
• Prarthana Samaj followed the bhakti tradition, promoting spiritual equality of all castes.
• Aimed to remove caste restrictions.
• Ranade believed rigid religious ideas hindered social, economic, and political progress.

Gopal Hari Deshmukh

• Maharashtra reformer, also known as Lokhitawadi.
• Opposed caste system and priestly dominance.
• Founded the Paramahansa Mandali in Bombay in 1840 to abolish caste distinctions.

Jyotirao Phule

• Belonged to the mali (gardener) caste, studied in Christian missionary schools.
• Criticized caste oppression, arguing Brahmins were not superior.
• Believed Aryans were outsiders who enslaved original inhabitants, making them lower castes.
• Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seeker's Society) in 1873 to improve lower caste lives and promote equality.
• Wrote the book "Gulamgiri" in 1873, comparing the struggles of lower castes in India to enslaved Blacks in America.
• Known as Mahatma Phule for his reform efforts.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu

• Telugu reformer from Andhra Pradesh, influenced by Brahmo Samaj.
• Worked for women's upliftment and against caste system.
• Founded Hitakarini Samajam to improve conditions of untouchables.
• Started schools and published Vivekavardhini magazine to promote social reforms.
• Contributed significantly to Telugu literature.

Sridharalu Naidu

• Founded the Veda Samaj in Madras in 1864, inspired by Brahmo Samaj.
• Aimed to remove caste distinctions and condemned Hindu rituals and superstitions.
• Translated Veda Samaj books into Tamil and Telugu.

Sree Narayana Guru

• From the Ezhava caste in Kerala, inspired by Swami Vivekananda.
• Studied Sanskrit, Vedas, and Upanishads, despite restrictions on lower castes.
• Founded Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) in 1903 to uplift lower castes and untouchables.
• Established temples without idols, promoting "One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind."

Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

• Middle-class social activist from Madras Presidency, known as Periyar.
• Witnessed caste, race, and gender discrimination, motivating his reform work.
• Launched the Self-Respect Movement to instill pride in non-Brahmins.
• Believed untouchables preserved original Tamil and Dravidian culture.
• Criticized religious texts like Manusmriti for supporting Brahmin dominance.
• Founded Dravida Kazhagam to abolish caste system and uplift lower castes, the poor, and Tamils.

The Fight against Untouchability

Mahatma Gandhi

• Fought for the upliftment of lower castes, opening his Sabarmati ashram to all.
• Called untouchables "Harijans" (Children of God) and viewed untouchability as a sin.
• Published a weekly magazine named Harijan in Hindi and English.
• Founded Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932 to eradicate untouchability and uplift Harijans and scheduled castes.
• Traveled across India to spread the message of equality.
• Famous quote: "If untouchability lives, Hinduism must die."
• Expressed desire to be reborn as an untouchable to share their struggles.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar

• Born into the Mahar caste, faced caste discrimination in childhood.
• Experienced segregation in school, such as sitting outside and using separate water taps.
• Studied in the USA on a scholarship and returned to India in 1919.
• Led temple entry movements (1927–1935) for Mahars to access temples and public water sources.
• Organized the 1927 Mahad Satyagraha to secure the right to use Chavdar Taley (Sweet-water Tank).
• Advised followers to remain calm despite violence from upper castes during the Mahad Satyagraha.
• Founded the All India Scheduled Castes Federation to fight for lower caste rights.
• As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, framed the Indian Constitution, ensuring protections against discrimination and untouchability.
• Known as Baba Saheb and the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Reform Movements among the Muslims, Parsis, and Sikhs

Muslims

• The Aligarh Movement, led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, focused on Muslim educational reforms.
• Founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 for modern Western education.
• Promoted education for Muslim women.

Parsis

• Dadabhai Naoroji and others founded the Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha in 1851 for Zoroastrian reforms.
• Focused on improving women's social status.
• Published Rast Goftar journal for social and religious reforms.
• Parsis became one of the most westernized communities in India.

Sikhs

• Singh Sabhas aimed to remove superstitions and caste distinctions among Sikhs.
• Opened schools and colleges, including Khalsa College in Amritsar (1892).
• The Gurdwara Reform Movement, led by Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, freed gurdwaras from corrupt priests (mahants).
• In 1925, a law granted control of gurdwaras to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

Points To Remember 

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy was against the caste system. He formed the Brahmo Samaj.
• When Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar became the Principal of the Sanskrit College in Calcutta, he opened it to the students of all castes which was previously opened only for the Brahmin students.
• Swami Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
• Jyotirao Phule established the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seeker’s Society) in 1873.
• Kandukuri Veeresalingam, a Telugu social reformer, launched the Hitakarini Samajam.
• Sree Narayana Guru established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) in 1903 which aimed at improving the condition of the lower castes and the untouchables.
• E.V. Ramasamy Naicker popularly known as Periyar, started the Self-Respect Movement.
• Orthodox sections of the Hindu society reacted by starting associations such as Sanatan Dharma Sabhas and Bharat Dharma Mahamandal in the North and Brahman Sabha in Bengal.
• Gandhiji started the Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar founded the All India Scheduled Castes Federation. As Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, he provided constitutional guarantees and protection for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens.