Spectrum Test: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements - 2

Both statements are true. The Brahmo Samaj, led by Raja Rammohan Roy, was instrumental in the abolition of Sati, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played a crucial role in the enactment of the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act.

Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Brahmo Samaj by Raja Rammohan Roy, and the Aligarh Movement by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.

Founding of Brahmo Samaj: The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. It aimed at reforming society and sought to expose the evils of contemporary Hindu society, including caste rigidity, sati, and child marriage.

Passage of the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act: This act was passed in 1856, during the British rule in India. It was enacted primarily due to the efforts of social reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar to improve the condition of widows in Hindu society by legalizing widow remarriage.

Founding of Arya Samaj: Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875. It promoted values based on the infallibility of the Vedas, social reforms, and opposed idolatry and ritualistic practices.

Assertion (A): The Bethune School, established by J.E.D. Bethune, was a significant step in the movement for women's education in India.

Reason (R): The school was the first to offer formal education to women in India.

Assertion is corrct but the reason is false.

Bethune School, established in 1849, was pivotal in the women's education movement in India.

Correct Option: C: A is true, but R is false.

• Statement 1: The Sarda Act, officially known as the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, set the minimum age of marriage to 18 years for boys and 14 years for girls at the time it was enacted. So, Statement 1 is true.

• Statement 2: The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1978, raised the minimum age of marriage to 21 years for males and 18 years for females. Prior to this, the age for girls was 15. So, Statement 2 is also true.

Hence, the correct answer - Option A

The Age of Consent Act raised the marriage age for girls, the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act focused on widow remarriage, and the Civil Marriage Act aimed at prohibiting child marriage.

Dr. Ambedkar did establish the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha with the motto 'Educate, Agitate and Organise’ to advocate for Dalit rights.

Margaret Cousins did found the All India Women’s Conference, which aimed to work for a society based on social justice and equality.

Pandita Ramabai Saraswati worked for the education of widows, Jyotiba Phule was an advocate for the rights of lower castes, and Raja Rammohan Roy was instrumental in the abolition of Sati.

The Christian missionaries indeed played a pivotal role in women's education in India by establishing schools for girls and training nurses and midwives, as stated in the reason.

Sri Narayana Guru did coin the slogan “one religion, one caste, one God for mankind”, and his disciple Sahadaran Ayyapan later modified it.

K.T. Telang was known for his work in women's education, E.V. Ramaswami Naicker for his fight against caste discrimination, and B.R. Ambedkar for advocating the rights of the depressed classes.

The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was passed first, followed by the Age of Consent Act, and then the Sarda Act.

The Indian Women’s University, established by D.K. Karve, was indeed one of the first institutions focusing on higher education for women.

While J.E.D. Bethune did establish the Bethune School, it was not the first girls' school in India.

The Brahmo Samaj was instrumental in the abolition of Sati, Arya Samaj focused on the education of Dalits, and the Prarthana Samaj advocated for widow remarriage.

The National Council of Women in India was indeed formed as a branch of the International Council of Women with the objective of improving women's socio-economic and political status.

Gandhi did establish the All India Harijan Sangh in 1932, and its primary goal was the upliftment of the 'untouchables'.

The Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act was enacted in 1954,

While it is true that Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress and played a role in women's political empowerment, her presidency alone is not the sole reason for the Congress's impact in this area.