Socio–Religious Reform Movements & Cultural Changes in 19th Century India
Q1. Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in:
(1) 1828
(2) 1830
(3) 1817
(4) 1843
Correct Answer: (1) 1828
Explanation:
Brahmo Sabha (later Brahmo Samaj) promoted monotheism, social reform, and fought against practices like sati, idolatry and caste rigidity, marking the beginning of modern reform movements.
Q2. The Young Bengal movement was led by:
(1) Henry Vivian Derozio
(2) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(3) Kesub Chandra Sen
(4) Dayanand Saraswati
Correct Answer: (1) Henry Vivian Derozio
Explanation:
Young Bengal inspired radical rational thinking, freedom, equality, women’s education, and western science among Calcutta students.
Q3. The principle text of the Arya Samaj is:
(1) Bhagavad Gita
(2) Vedas
(3) Upanishads
(4) Manusmriti
Correct Answer: (2) Vedas
Explanation:
Dayanand Saraswati declared “Back to the Vedas” as his central doctrine and rejected idol worship and ritualism.
Q4. The Prarthana Samaj was founded by:
(1) R. G. Bhandarkar and Atmaram Pandurang
(2) M. G. Ranade
(3) Gopal Hari Deshmukh
(4) Dadabhai Naoroji
Correct Answer: (1)
Explanation:
Prarthana Samaj sought to purify Hinduism and supported widow remarriage, women’s education and abolishing caste inequality.
Q5. Who declared that “religion is the manifestation of the divinity already in man”?
(1) Swami Vivekananda
(2) Debendranath Tagore
(3) Sri Aurobindo
(4) Ramkrishna Paramhansa
Correct Answer: (1) Swami Vivekananda
Explanation:
Vivekananda emphasized self-realization, service to humanity and spiritual nationalism, influencing Indian nationalism.
Q6. The Aligarh Movement was started by:
(1) Syed Ahmed Khan
(2) Muhammad Iqbal
(3) Maulana Azad
(4) Shibli Numani
Correct Answer: (1)
Explanation:
It promoted modern scientific education among Muslims, founding the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875.
Q7. Who founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897?
(1) Swami Dayanand
(2) Swami Vivekananda
(3) Keshab Chandra Sen
(4) Rabindranath Tagore
Correct Answer: (2)
Explanation:
It was based on the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and aimed at social service, education and spiritual reform.
Q8. The first law to abolish the practice of Sati was passed under:
(1) Cornwallis
(2) Lord Bentinck
(3) Dalhousie
(4) John Shore
Correct Answer: (2) Lord Bentinck
Explanation:
Regulation XVII of 1829 abolished sati, largely supported by reformers such as Raja Rammohan Roy.
Q9. The concept of ‘Sudhi’ (re-conversion) was initiated by:
(1) Arya Samaj
(2) Brahmo Samaj
(3) Prarthana Samaj
(4) Theosophical Society
Correct Answer: (1) Arya Samaj
Explanation:
Sudhi was intended to reconvert Hindus who had been converted to other religions; a key feature of Dayanand’s ideology.
Q10. The Veda Samaj was established in:
(1) Bombay
(2) Madras
(3) Poona
(4) Calcutta
Correct Answer: (2) Madras
Explanation:
Veda Samaj worked for abolition of caste distinctions, widow remarriage, female education and religious reform in South India.
UNIT 9 RECAP
Important focus areas:
-
Major reform movements (Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission)
-
Reformers: Rammohan Roy, Vidyasagar, Vivekananda, Dayanand, Syed Ahmed Khan
-
Social legislation and women’s rights
-
Muslim reform movements and Western education
-
Cultural awakening & rise of nationalism