Social Reformers — Set 1

Correct Answer: C. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• **Raja Ram Mohan Roy** = He is widely considered the 'Father of Modern India' for his pioneering efforts in social reform. • **1829** — His efforts were instrumental in the formal abolition of Sati by the British administration. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Swami Vivekananda]: Founded the Ramakrishna Mission; [Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar]: Known for promoting widow remarriage; [Dayanand Saraswati]: Founded the Arya Samaj.

Correct Answer: D. Jyotirao Phule

• **Jyotirao Phule** = He established the Satyashodhak Samaj to advocate for the rights and education of lower castes. • **1873** — This was the year Jyotirao Phule formed the Satyashodhak Samaj in Maharashtra. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Narayana Guru]: Led reform movements in Kerala; [B.R. Ambedkar]: Architect of the Indian Constitution, fought for Dalit rights; [Periyar E.V. Ramasamy]: Led the Self-Respect Movement.

Correct Answer: C. E.V. Ramasamy

• **E.V. Ramasamy** = Popularly known as Periyar, he initiated the 'Self-Respect Movement' in Tamil Nadu. • **Rationalism** — Periyar promoted rationalism and gender equality as core principles of his movement. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [C.N. Annadurai]: A prominent leader of the Dravidian movement, succeeded Periyar; [M. Karunanidhi]: A former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; [K. Kamaraj]: A former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Congress leader.

Correct Answer: C. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• **Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar** = He was the driving force behind the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856. • **1856** — This year marks the enactment of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, a significant social reform. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mahadev Govind Ranade]: A social reformer and founder of the Deccan Education Society; [Keshab Chandra Sen]: A leader of the Brahmo Samaj; [Dadabhai Naoroji]: Known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', economic theorist.

Correct Answer: D. Dayanand Saraswati

• **Dayanand Saraswati** = He founded the Arya Samaj, advocating a return to Vedic principles and the slogan 'Back to the Vedas'. • **1875** — This year marks the establishment of the Arya Samaj by Dayanand Saraswati in Bombay. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Ramakrishna Paramahansa]: A spiritual master and guru of Swami Vivekananda; [Lala Lajpat Rai]: A nationalist leader, not primarily a religious reformer; [Swami Shraddhanand]: A follower and leader within the Arya Samaj, not its founder.

Correct Answer: C. Vinoba Bhave

• **Vinoba Bhave** = He initiated the 'Bhoodan Movement' to promote voluntary land donation for landless laborers. • **1951** — The Bhoodan Movement was started by Vinoba Bhave in Pochampally, Telangana. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Jayaprakash Narayan]: A prominent socialist leader who later joined the Bhoodan movement; [Mahatma Gandhi]: His spiritual successor, but didn't start Bhoodan; [Baba Amte]: A social worker known for his work with leprosy patients.

Correct Answer: D. Sree Narayana Guru

• **Sree Narayana Guru** = He was a social reformer from Kerala who propagated the message 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for Man'. • **Kerala** — He was instrumental in leading a profound social reform movement in this South Indian state. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Ayyankali]: A leader of the Dalits in Kerala; [K. Kelappan]: A prominent freedom fighter and social reformer from Kerala, known as 'Kerala Gandhi'; [Sahodaran Ayyappan]: A disciple of Sree Narayana Guru, known for his inter-caste dining initiatives.

Correct Answer: C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

• **Gopal Krishna Gokhale** = He founded the 'Servants of India Society' to prepare individuals for national service. • **1905** — This year, Gopal Krishna Gokhale established the Servants of India Society. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Bal Gangadhar Tilak]: A prominent nationalist leader, known for 'Swaraj is my birthright'; [Annie Besant]: A theosophist and leader of the Home Rule Movement; [Surendranath Banerjee]: An early Indian political leader, founder of the Indian National Association.

Correct Answer: D. Henry Vivian Derozio

• **Henry Vivian Derozio** = He was the charismatic leader of the 'Young Bengal Movement', inspiring radical thought. • **Hindu College** — Derozio was a teacher here, influencing his students significantly to question societal norms. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [David Hare]: A Scottish watchmaker and philanthropist, assisted in establishing Hindu College; [William Jones]: An orientalist, founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal; [Alexander Duff]: A Scottish missionary, played a role in English education.

Correct Answer: C. Atmaram Pandurang

• **Atmaram Pandurang** = He founded the 'Prarthana Samaj' in Maharashtra, focusing on social and religious reforms. • **1867** — This was the year Prarthana Samaj was established, with Keshab Chandra Sen's assistance. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Gopal Hari Deshmukh]: Known as 'Lokhitawadi', a social reformer and writer; [Jyotirao Phule]: Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj; [Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar]: A prominent Marathi writer and nationalist, not directly linked to Prarthana Samaj foundation.