Social Religious Movement

21. Which of the following statements about Mahatma Gandhi’s anti-untoucha

Which of the following statements about Mahatma Gandhi’s anti-untouchability campaign is/are correct ?

  • 1. The All India Harijan Sevak Sangh was founded for this purpose.
  • 2. The campaign was to root out untouchability, since it did not enjoy the sanction of the Hindu shastras.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements about Mahatma Gandhi’s anti-untouchability campaign are correct.
Gandhi launched a significant movement against untouchability, terming the untouchables ‘Harijans’ (children of God).
Statement 1: The All India Harijan Sevak Sangh was indeed founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 to work for the eradication of untouchability and the welfare of the untouchables. Statement 2: Gandhi argued vehemently that untouchability was a blot on Hinduism and was not sanctioned by the true spirit or correct interpretation of the Hindu shastras. He sought to reform Hinduism from within and persuade caste Hindus to abandon this practice on moral and religious grounds.

22. Consider the following statements related to Dayanand’s idea of social

Consider the following statements related to Dayanand’s idea of social reform:

  • Dayanand’s reform envisaged a social order, where different castes performed functions suitable to their status determined by merit.
  • Dayanand’s ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ challenged the masculine West that had enslaved the Aryavarta.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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C
Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, advocated for social reform based on his interpretation of the Vedas. Statement 1 is correct: he strongly criticized the caste system based on birth and proposed a social order where varna (class) was determined by merit and actions (karma), not lineage. Statement 2 is also correct in spirit: Dayanand’s movement was a significant response to colonial critiques of Indian society and religion. By advocating a return to the ‘pure’ Vedas and promoting the superiority of Vedic civilization, he sought to create a strong, indigenous identity and intellectual framework that could counter Western cultural and intellectual dominance, which can be interpreted as providing a ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ against the perceived ‘masculine West’ that had significant influence over India (‘Aryavarta’). His assertive reformism aimed to strengthen Hindu society against external challenges.
Dayanand Saraswati wrote ‘Satyarth Prakash’ and gave the call ‘Back to the Vedas’. He advocated for monotheism, condemned idolatry, child marriage, and untouchability, and promoted women’s education. Arya Samaj played a crucial role in social and educational reform movements in North India.

23. The Theosophical Society was led by

The Theosophical Society was led by

A. O. Hume
Arthur Griffith
Annie Besant
Lord Dufferin
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The correct option is C) Annie Besant. Annie Besant was a prominent leader of the Theosophical Society, particularly in India, and she became its international President in 1907.
The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott. Annie Besant joined the society in 1889 and moved to India in 1893, where she played a crucial role in popularizing its ideas and activities, including establishing the Central Hindu College (later Banaras Hindu University) in Varanasi. She is widely recognized as a key leader who significantly influenced the society’s trajectory, especially in the Indian subcontinent.
A. O. Hume was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress. Arthur Griffith was a prominent figure in Irish nationalism. Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India when the Indian National Congress was founded. While Blavatsky and Olcott founded the society, among the given options, Annie Besant is the most appropriate choice for a prominent leader, especially considering the Indian context where the question might be implicitly placed (given the other options relate to Indian history).

24. Who among the following was the founder of the Young Bengal Movement ?

Who among the following was the founder of the Young Bengal Movement ?

Henry Vivian Derozio
David Hare
Dwarkanath Tagore
Prasanna Kumar Tagore
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Henry Vivian Derozio was the founder of the Young Bengal Movement in the early 19th century.
Derozio was a teacher at Hindu College, Calcutta, and his radical views and teachings inspired his students to question existing social and religious practices, leading to the formation of the Young Bengal group.
David Hare was a Scottish watchmaker and philanthropist who played a significant role in establishing modern education in Bengal, including Hindu College. Dwarkanath Tagore and Prasanna Kumar Tagore were prominent Bengali reformers and associates of Rammohan Roy, but were not founders of the Young Bengal Movement, which was distinct and more radical in its early phase.

25. The 19th Century Faraizi Movement in eastern Bengal developed under th

The 19th Century Faraizi Movement in eastern Bengal developed under the leadership of:

Titu Rai
Haji Shariatullah
Shah Sayyid Ahmad
Dudu Miyan
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The Faraizi Movement was a prominent Islamic reform movement that originated in eastern Bengal in the early 19th century. It was founded by Haji Shariatullah (1781-1840) with the aim of bringing Muslims back to the obligatory duties (faraiz) of Islam and protesting against un-Islamic practices and the oppressive policies of landlords and the British. After his death, the movement was led by his son, Dudu Miyan (1819-1862), who gave it a more militant and socio-economic character, focusing on the grievances of the peasantry. While Dudu Miyan was a crucial leader in its later, more active phase, Haji Shariatullah is recognized as the founder and initial leader under whom the movement ‘developed’.
Haji Shariatullah was the founder of the Faraizi Movement in Eastern Bengal, initiating its development as a religious and social reform movement.
The Faraizi movement aimed to purify Islamic practices among the Muslims of Bengal, who they felt had deviated from the true path. They also challenged the illegal taxes imposed by landlords (often Hindu) on Muslim peasants and organized collective resistance. Other leaders mentioned: Titu Rai led the Barasat uprising, a different movement in Bengal. Shah Sayyid Ahmad led the Tariqa-i-Muhammadiya, centered more in North India and the Frontier region, advocating for Islamic reform and jihad against the Sikhs.

26. Who among the following founded the Rajahmundri Social Reform Associat

Who among the following founded the Rajahmundri Social Reform Association in 1878 in support of widow remarriage?

Vishanshastri Pandit
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Pandita Ramabai
Veeresalingam Pantulu
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Veeresalingam Pantulu (Kandukuri Veeresalingam, 1848-1919) was a prominent social reformer, writer, and journalist from Andhra Pradesh. He was a key figure in the reform movement in the Telugu-speaking region, advocating strongly for widow remarriage, women’s education, and the eradication of social evils. He founded the Rajahmundry Social Reform Association in 1878 to promote these causes, particularly widow remarriage.
Veeresalingam Pantulu was a pioneering social reformer in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on issues like widow remarriage and female education, and established organizations like the Rajahmundry Social Reform Association for this purpose.
While Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a towering figure in the widow remarriage movement in Bengal and Vishanshastri Pandit also worked on similar issues in Maharashtra, Veeresalingam Pantulu was the driving force behind the movement in the Telugu region. He faced significant opposition but successfully organized the first widow remarriage in Andhra Pradesh in 1881. Pandita Ramabai’s major work began later, focusing on women’s shelter and education in Maharashtra.

27. Consider the following Women’s Associations and their important associ

Consider the following Women’s Associations and their important associates in early twentieth century India :

  • 1. Women’s Indian Association of 1917 : Margaret Cousins
  • 2. National Council of Women in India of 1925 : Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
  • 3. Bharat Stree Mahamandal of 1910 : Lady Meherbai Tata

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?

1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 only
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Let’s examine each pair:
1. Women’s Indian Association (WIA) of 1917: Margaret Cousins was indeed a key founder and prominent member of the WIA, along with Annie Besant and Dorothy Jinarajadasa. This pair is correctly matched.
2. National Council of Women in India (NCWI) of 1925: The NCWI was founded by Lady Dorab Tata. While Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a significant figure in the Indian women’s movement, she is primarily known for founding the Bharat Stree Mahamandal in 1910 and was not associated with the founding of NCWI in 1925. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. Bharat Stree Mahamandal of 1910: This organization was founded by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani. Lady Meherbai Tata (wife of Sir Dorabji Tata) was a prominent figure in the National Council of Women in India (NCWI), founded later in 1925. She was also active in advocating for women’s suffrage and rights but was not the founder or a primary associate of the Bharat Stree Mahamandal. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Based on the analysis, only pairing 1 is correctly matched.

– Women’s Indian Association (WIA) was founded in 1917 by figures including Margaret Cousins.
– Bharat Stree Mahamandal was founded in 1910 by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani.
– National Council of Women in India (NCWI) was founded in 1925 by Lady Dorab Tata.
These associations played crucial roles in advocating for women’s rights, education, and political participation during the early 20th century in India. They represented different approaches and constituencies within the broader women’s movement.

28. The Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seeking Society) was set up by

The Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seeking Society) was set up by

Vinoba Bhave
Jyotiba Phule
B. R. Ambedkar
C. Rajagopalachari
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The Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seeking Society) was set up by Jyotiba Phule.
Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 in Maharashtra. The organization’s primary objective was to challenge the caste system, expose the exploitation of lower castes by upper castes (especially Brahmins), and promote social justice, equality, and education for women and depressed classes.
Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule were pioneers in promoting education for girls and establishing schools for marginalized communities in Maharashtra. The Satyashodhak Samaj played a crucial role in the anti-caste movement.

29. The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was organized by

The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was organized by

B. R. Ambedkar
Mahatma Gandhi
S. C. Bose
Lokmanya Tilak
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The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was organized by B. R. Ambedkar.
This Satyagraha was launched by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on March 20, 1927, to challenge the caste-based discrimination and assert the right of the untouchables (Dalits) to use water from the public Chavadar Tank in Mahad, Maharashtra.
The Mahad Satyagraha was a significant event in the history of the Dalit movement in India, demonstrating the commitment of Ambedkar to fight for the civil rights of the depressed classes through direct action and assertion.

30. Consider the following statements : 1. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental Col

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was founded at Aligarh by Sayyid Ahmad Khan.
  • 2. Sayyid Ahmad Khan was a great believer in religious toleration, and Hindus, Parsis and Christians had contributed to the funds of his college.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.
Statement 1 is correct: Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875 with the aim of providing modern Western education to the Muslim community, integrated with Islamic studies. This institution later evolved into Aligarh Muslim University. Statement 2 is correct: Sayyid Ahmad Khan, despite his focus on Muslim education, was a proponent of religious toleration and harmony. His college was open to students from all communities, and he actively sought and received financial contributions from people of diverse backgrounds, including Hindus, Parsis, and Christians, reflecting a spirit of composite nationalism and inter-community cooperation in funding the venture.
Sayyid Ahmad Khan was a key figure in Muslim intellectual history in India during the 19th century. He advocated for Muslims to adopt modern education and engage with British rule after the 1857 revolt, believing it was essential for the community’s progress.
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