Social Religious Movement Archives

1. Who was the founder of Brahma Samaj of India?

Who was the founder of Brahma Samaj of India?

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Debendranath Tagore

Keshab Chandra Sen

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019

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The original Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. After his death, Debendranath Tagore led the movement. However, a major split occurred in 1866 primarily due to ideological differences and disputes over social reforms, particularly regarding caste and inter-caste marriage. Keshab Chandra Sen and his followers established a new organization called the “Brahmo Samaj of India” (Brahmo Samaj of Keshub Chandra Sen), while Debendranath Tagore’s group became known as the “Adi Brahmo Samaj” (Original Brahmo Samaj). Therefore, Keshab Chandra Sen was the founder of the “Brahma Samaj of India”.

– Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha (later Brahmo Samaj) in 1828.
– Debendranath Tagore led the movement after Roy.
– A split occurred in 1866.
– Keshab Chandra Sen founded the “Brahmo Samaj of India” after the 1866 split.

The split led to two distinct branches. Later, another split occurred in Keshab Chandra Sen’s group (in 1878), leading to the formation of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj by younger members who opposed some of Keshab Chandra Sen’s actions, such as the marriage of his underage daughter. Thus, the Brahmo movement fragmented over time.

2. Which of the following statements about Dayananda Saraswati (1824 – 18

Which of the following statements about Dayananda Saraswati (1824 – 1883) is/are correct ?

1. He was from present-day Rajasthan.
2. He found many followers from amongst the trading castes.
3. He founded the Arya Samaj inspired by the Brahmo Samaj.
4. He advocated Sanskrit based education.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4 only

2 and 4 only

2 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2018

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The correct answer is C. Statements 2 and 4 about Dayananda Saraswati are correct.

– Let’s evaluate each statement:
– 1. He was from present-day Rajasthan. Incorrect. Dayananda Saraswati (born Mool Shankar Tiwari) was born in Tankara, in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat, in 1824.
– 2. He found many followers from amongst the trading castes. Correct. The Arya Samaj, founded by Dayananda, gained considerable support among certain trading communities (like Khatris and Aroras in Punjab) and the educated middle class, who were receptive to its message of social reform, emphasis on education, and reformed Hinduism.
– 3. He founded the Arya Samaj inspired by the Brahmo Samaj. Incorrect/Questionable. Dayananda Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875. While both Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj were Hindu reform movements critical of idolatry, casteism, and certain practices, their philosophical foundations and approaches differed significantly. Brahmo Samaj was influenced by Upanishadic philosophy and Western rationalism/theism, while Arya Samaj was based on a strict interpretation of the Vedas as infallible texts. Dayananda’s movement developed independently from Brahmo Samaj, focusing on a return to Vedic purity and promoting social reform through that lens. Claiming it was directly “inspired by” Brahmo Samaj is generally not considered accurate; they were more parallel rather than one directly influencing the founding ideology of the other.
– 4. He advocated Sanskrit based education. Correct. Dayananda emphasized the authority of the Vedas and advocated for education rooted in Vedic texts and Sanskrit learning, alongside modern knowledge. The Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) school system, established by his followers, aimed to combine Vedic learning with Western education.
– Based on the evaluation, statements 2 and 4 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect and statement 3 is likely incorrect.
– Option C includes only statements 2 and 4.

– Dayananda Saraswati was a prominent social and religious reformer who propagated the slogan “Back to the Vedas”.
– He was a vocal critic of idol worship, polytheism, caste-based discrimination, and child marriage.
– His major work is “Satyarth Prakash” (The Light of Truth), which presents his interpretations of the Vedas and critiques of various religious beliefs.
– The Arya Samaj played a significant role in the social and educational reform movements in India, particularly in Punjab and North India.

3. Which of the following statements about the Arya Samaj is/are correct?

Which of the following statements about the Arya Samaj is/are correct?

1. It did not support idol worship.
2. It was against hereditary trans-mission of caste.
3. It actively worked for the passage of the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

2 only

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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The correct option is B) 1 and 2 only. Let’s evaluate the statements:
1. It did not support idol worship: Correct. Swami Dayanand Saraswati and the Arya Samaj were staunch opponents of idol worship, ritualism, and polytheism, advocating a return to the pure monotheistic teachings of the Vedas.
2. It was against hereditary trans-mission of caste: Correct. Arya Samaj rejected the caste system based on birth and advocated for a varna system based on merit and actions, opposing the rigid hereditary caste distinctions.
3. It actively worked for the passage of the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856: Incorrect. The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was passed in 1856, while the Arya Samaj was founded much later in 1875. Although the Arya Samaj later championed social reforms including widow remarriage, it did not work for the passage of this specific Act. Prominent figures like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar were instrumental in the efforts leading to the 1856 Act.

– Arya Samaj opposed idol worship and caste by birth.
– Arya Samaj was founded in 1875, after the 1856 Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act.

Arya Samaj played a significant role in the Indian reform movement, advocating for social reforms, education, and a revival of Vedic ideals. It also initiated the Shuddhi movement, which aimed to convert people back to Hinduism.

4. In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around

women’s right to gain education
age of consent
restitution of conjugal rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2020

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The Rakhmabai case (1884-1888) was a landmark legal case in British India involving Rakhmabai, an educated Indian woman who refused to cohabit with her husband Dadaji Bhikaji, to whom she had been married in childhood. The case arose when Dadaji sued Rakhmabai for restitution of conjugal rights. The case directly revolved around statement 3 (restitution of conjugal rights) and brought into sharp focus statement 2 (the age of consent), as it highlighted the plight of child brides and the implications of enforcing marital rights within such marriages. The legal battle and public debate around the case significantly contributed to the passage of the Age of Consent Act in 1891, which raised the age of consent for marriage for girls from 10 to 12.

The Rakhmabai case was primarily centered on the legal concept of restitution of conjugal rights and its application in the context of child marriage, thereby fueling the debate on the age of consent.

While Rakhmabai was educated and her case highlighted the situation of women, the legal issue *revolved around* her marital status, her refusal to live with her husband, the husband’s claim for conjugal rights, and the related societal debate on the age at which consent could be considered valid within marriage. The right to gain education (1) was not a direct legal point in the case itself, though Rakhmabai’s education played a role in her ability to articulate her position and challenge societal norms.

8. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Paramahansa Ma

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. Paramahansa Mandali was founded in Bengal by Swami Vivekananda
2. Prarthana Samaj was started in Maharashtra with the aim of reforming Hindu religious thought and practice

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Statement 1 is incorrect because Paramahansa Mandali was founded in Maharashtra (Bombay) in the 1840s, primarily by Durgaram Mehtaji, Dadoba Pandurang, and others, predating Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission. Statement 2 is correct because the Prarthana Samaj was founded in Bombay (Maharashtra) in 1867 with objectives similar to Brahmo Samaj but focusing on devotional worship and social reform within Hinduism, aiming to reform Hindu religious thought and practice.

Paramahansa Mandali and Prarthana Samaj were significant reform movements in 19th-century Maharashtra, advocating against caste distinctions and idolatry.

Paramahansa Mandali was a secret society advocating for the breaking of caste rules. Prarthana Samaj, founded by Atmaram Pandurang, M.G. Ranade, R.G. Bhandarkar, and N.G. Chandavarkar, sought to reform Hindu religious practices and social customs, emphasizing monotheism and social service.

9. Which of the following statements about the Arya Samaj which emerged i

Which of the following statements about the Arya Samaj which emerged in the late 19th century are correct ?

Had a very strong support base amongst the trading castes
Introduced ‘shuddhi’ or mass purification
The moderates in the Arya Samaj were headed by Hans Raj and Lajpat Rai and set up a chain of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic colleges
The Arya Samaj had fewer members than the Brahmo Samaj

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

3 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2019

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Let’s evaluate each statement about the Arya Samaj:
1. Had a very strong support base amongst the trading castes: Correct. The Arya Samaj was particularly influential among the commercial and trading castes (like Khatris and Aroras) in Punjab and other parts of North India.
2. Introduced ‘shuddhi’ or mass purification: Correct. The Arya Samaj initiated the Shuddhi movement aimed at reconverting people who had converted from Hinduism to Islam or Christianity, thus purifying them and bringing them back into the Hindu fold.
3. The moderates in the Arya Samaj were headed by Hans Raj and Lajpat Rai and set up a chain of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic colleges: Correct. After Dayanand’s death, the Arya Samaj split into two groups: the ‘College Party’ or moderates, led by Lala Hans Raj and Lala Lajpat Rai, who favoured Western education alongside traditional Hindu teachings and established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and colleges; and the ‘Gurukul Party’ or traditionalists, led by Swami Shraddhanand, who advocated for traditional Indian education (Gurukul system).
4. The Arya Samaj had fewer members than the Brahmo Samaj: Incorrect. While Brahmo Samaj was a pioneering reform movement, Arya Samaj, with its more assertive and revivalist approach, gained a much wider following, especially in North India, and became significantly larger than Brahmo Samaj.
Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.

– Arya Samaj was a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
– Key aspects include monotheism, rejection of idolatry, caste system rigidity, and opposition to Puranic Hinduism.
– The Shuddhi movement was a significant activity.
– A split occurred based on approach to education.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s slogan “Go back to the Vedas” was central to the Arya Samaj’s philosophy, advocating for a return to the purity of Vedic religion while rejecting later developments. The movement significantly contributed to social reform, education, and a sense of Hindu identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

10. Which of the following statements about Prarthana Samaj are correct ?

Which of the following statements about Prarthana Samaj are correct ?

1. Its aim was to reform the Hindu society
2. It was based in Maharashtra
3. It believed in monotheism
4. It had greatly influenced the Brahmo Samaj

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

1 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2019

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The correct answer is C) 1, 2 and 3. The Prarthana Samaj was founded with the aim to reform Hindu society, it was based in Maharashtra (Bombay), and it believed in monotheism. Statement 4 is incorrect as the Brahmo Samaj predated and influenced the Prarthana Samaj, not the other way around.

– The Prarthana Samaj was established in 1867 in Bombay (now Mumbai) by Dadoba Pandurang and his brother Atmaram Pandurang.
– Prominent leaders later associated with it included M.G. Ranade, R.G. Bhandarkar, and N.G. Chandavarkar.
– Its main aims were social and religious reforms within Hinduism, such as opposition to caste system, advocacy for widow remarriage and female education, and promotion of monotheistic worship.
– It was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj but focused more on social reform in Western India.

The Prarthana Samaj played a significant role in the socio-religious reform movements in Western India during the 19th century. While it was influenced by the intellectual and spiritual ideas of the Brahmo Samaj, it maintained its distinct identity and focus on practical social reforms.