Social Reforms — Set 5

Correct Answer: A. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• **Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar** was the key figure behind the passing of the Widow Remarriage Act, **1856**. • He cited ancient Hindu scriptures to prove that widow remarriage was not prohibited by religion. • He also performed the first widow remarriage in Calcutta personally. • 💡 **Ram Mohan Roy** = Brahmo Samaj, Sati abolition; **Dayanand Saraswati** = Arya Samaj, Shuddhi Movement; **Keshab Chandra Sen** = led Brahmo Samaj of India — **Vidyasagar** campaigned for Widow Remarriage Act 1856.

Correct Answer: D. Sri Narayana Guru

• **Sri Narayana Guru** founded the SNDP Yogam in **1903 **in Kerala. • The organization worked for the spiritual and social upliftment of the Ezhava community. • It promoted education, temperance, and the removal of caste restrictions. • 💡 **Periyar** = Self-Respect Movement, Tamil Nadu; **Ayyankali** = Pulaya community leader in Travancore; **C.N. Annadurai** = DMK founder — **Sri Narayana Guru** founded SNDP Yogam 1903.

Correct Answer: A. Child Marriage

• The Sharda Act of **1930 **was related to the prevention of **child marriage**. • It was named after its sponsor, Harbilas Sarda. • The act fixed the minimum marriage age at 14 for girls and 18 for boys. • 💡 **Female Infanticide** = Prevention Act 1870; **Sati** = banned 1829 by Bentinck; **Widow Remarriage** = Act of 1856 — **Sharda Act (1930)** targeted **child marriage** (min age 14/18).

Correct Answer: C. D.K. Karve

• **D.K. Karve** (Dhondo Keshav Karve) established India's first **Women's University (1916)** in Bombay. • Today known as **SNDT Women's University** — first of its kind in India. • Also set up Widow Marriage Association (1893) and Widow Home at Hingne. • 💡 M.G. Ranade = Prarthana Samaj; Pandita Ramabai = Arya Mahila Samaj; Annie Besant = CHC Varanasi — first Women's University (1916) = D.K. Karve.

Correct Answer: B. Islam

• The Deoband School was a revivalist movement within **Islam**, started in **1866**. • It was founded by scholars like Muhammad Qasim Nanotavi and Rashid Ahmed Gangohi. • Unlike the Aligarh movement, it focused on traditional Islamic learning and opposed Western education. • 💡 **Sikhism** = Singh Sabha reform movement; **Christianity** = Lex Loci Act 1850 protected converts; **Hinduism** = Brahmo/Arya Samaj — **Deoband School (1866)** was a revivalist movement within **Islam**.

Correct Answer: A. Pandita Ramabai

• **Pandita Ramabai** founded the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune in **1882**. • The aim was to promote women's education and deliverance from the oppression of child marriage. • She was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and social reformer. • 💡 **Ramabai Ranade** = Bharat Mahila Parishad, not Arya Mahila; **Sarojini Naidu** = INC leader, not reformer; **Savitribai Phule** = opened first girls' school in Pune — **Pandita Ramabai** founded Arya Mahila Samaj 1882.

Correct Answer: C. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• **Raja Ram Mohan Roy** published the Persian newspaper 'Mirat-ul-Akbar' (Mirror of News) in **1822**. • It was one of the first journals in India to discuss socio-political issues. • He used it to educate the public on social reforms and rational thinking. • 💡 **Sir Syed Ahmed Khan** = Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq journal; **Maulana Azad** = Al-Hilal newspaper; **Dadabhai Naoroji** = Rast Goftar (Gujarati) — **Ram Mohan Roy** published Mirat-ul-Akbar 1822.

Correct Answer: D. T.K. Madhavan

• **T.K. Madhavan** initiated the **Vaikom Satyagraha (1924)** for temple road entry. • Travancore movement: lower castes' right to walk on roads around **Vaikom Temple**. • Gandhi visited in 1925; roads opened 1925, full temple entry came in 1936. • 💡 Sri Narayana Guru = spiritual guide, not initiator; Swami Vivekananda = Ramakrishna Mission; Ayyankali = Pulaya leader — Vaikom Satyagraha initiated by T.K. Madhavan.

Correct Answer: D. Annie Besant

• **Annie Besant** founded the Central Hindu College in Varanasi in **1898**. • It was established to impart education based on Hindu philosophy along with modern Western knowledge. • Later, this college became the nucleus of the Banaras Hindu University founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya. • 💡 **Vivekananda** = Ramakrishna Mission (1897); **Dayanand Saraswati** = Arya Samaj (1875); **Malaviya** = Banaras Hindu University (1916) — **Annie Besant** founded Central Hindu College, Varanasi 1898.

Correct Answer: D. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• The journal 'Sambad Kaumudi' was published by **Raja Ram Mohan Roy** starting in **1821**. • It was a Bengali weekly newspaper used to campaign against Sati. • Through this paper, he mobilized public opinion for social change. • 💡 **Rabindranath Tagore** = poet-novelist, not reform journal publisher; **Vidyasagar** = Somprakash newspaper; **Bankim Chandra** = Bangadarshan magazine — **Ram Mohan Roy** published Sambad Kaumudi 1821.