Q.6 Highlighting the role of socio-religious reformers in addressing social evils and preserving Indian culture.
Ans:
- The British system of governance influenced Indian society. The Indian public reacted against the expansion of British empire and colonial culture. A new movement was started in Indian social and cultural life in the early half of 19th century, which came to be known as Indian Renaissance.
- While on one hand, efforts were made to put an end to orthodox and beliefs conventions which had crept in socio-religious spheres, with time and on the other, spirit of self-respect was in the minds of Indians by revealing India’s glorious past and history.
- Due to interrelation between social behaviour and religious beliefs, religious reforms were necessary for social reform, Social reformers challenged these age long conventions on the basis of logic. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, for instance, in order to ban Sati system, apprised people that this custom did not enjoy any religious approval in the past. Dayanand Saraswati, too, opposed caste system based on birth, on the basis of Vedic texts.
- Social reformers were influenced by liberalism and humanitarianism.
- The core of social reforms was the educated intellectual middle class.
- Intellectual Indians tried to arouse India by searching for the reasons behind her backwardness and misery.
- Efforts to reform society and religion were carried Out through social movements like Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj and Ram Krishna Mission etc.
| Source: RBSE 12th Class- History: Chapter-6: Page Number : 136 |
| Extra Info : Apart from these social movements, there were reform movements in Muslims and Persia communities, The founder of Ahmadiyya Movement was Ghulam Ahmad Kadiyani. Kadian town of Gurdaspur district of Punjab was the centre of this movement. It Emphasized on re-establishing Islamic laws and opposing western influence. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan led a movement in Aligarh which came to be known as Aligharh Movement. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan spoke of adopting modern western education. Among the Persian reform movements, *Rehnumaye Majdayasan Sabha’ was prominent.It was founded in 1851] with the efforts of Noroji Fardonji, Dada Bhai Noroji, S.S. Bengali, etc.It opposed ostentations prevalent in Parsi society. |