Consider the following statements about the condition of widows in the

Consider the following statements about the condition of widows in the 18th century India:

  • 1. Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber promoted widow remarriage.
  • 2. Maratha General Parshuram Bhau promoted widow remarriage.
  • 3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed Sati.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
Statement 3 is correct. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a staunch opponent of the practice of Sati and played a crucial role in its abolition in 1829 through the efforts of Lord William Bentinck.
Statement 1 is generally considered correct by some historical interpretations, which suggest that Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber (Jaipur) took measures against social evils and showed interest in reforms, potentially including some efforts towards discouraging practices like child marriage and encouraging widow remarriage, although these efforts were not as widely documented or impactful as later movements.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Maratha General Parshuram Bhau Patwardhan was primarily a military figure and there is no significant historical evidence linking him to the promotion of widow remarriage.
Given that statement 3 is definitely correct and there is no option for ‘3 only’, and based on the possibility that statement 1 is considered correct by the source of the question due to Jai Singh II’s general reformist inclination, option B (1 and 3 only) is the most plausible answer among the given choices.
Social reform efforts in India spanned centuries and involved various individuals and groups addressing issues like Sati and widow remarriage.
Ram Mohan Roy was a pivotal figure in the movement against Sati.
Later reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar made significant contributions to the movement for widow remarriage, which was eventually legalized by the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856.