Topic outline

    • Women, Caste and Reform

      Q1. Fill in the blanks.

                                i.        The brahmo samaj was founded by Rammohun Roy.

                               ii.        In 1829, sati was banned.

                              iii.        Pandita Ramabai founded a widows’ home at Poona.

                              iv.        Peasants and artisans such as weavers and potters referred to as Shudras.

                               v.        Periyar founded the Self Respect Movement.

                              vi.        The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, founded by Sayyid Ahmed Khan in 1875 at Aligarh, later became the Aligarh Muslim University.

                vii.        According to the Child Marriage Restraint Act no man below the age of 18 and woman below the age of 16 could marry.

                viii.        Madigas were an important untouchable caste of present-day Andhra Pradesh.



      Q2. True/False

                                 i.        When the British captured Bengal they framed many new laws to regulate the rules regarding marriage, adoption, inheritance of property, etc. True

                                ii.        Social reformers had to discard the ancient texts in order to argue for reform in social practices. False

                               iii.        Begums of Bhopal played a notable role in promoting education among women. True

                               iv.        Reformers got full support from all sections of the people of the country. False

                                v.        The Child Marriage Restraint Act was passed in1829. False

                               vi.        Rammohun Roy was well versed in Sanskrit, Persian and several other Indian and Europeon languages. True

       

      Q3. Which social reformer was popularly called as Periyar?

      Ans.   E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker

       

      Q4. Who were Shudras?

      Ans.  They belong to labouring castes.

       

      Q5. Who were Ati Shudras?

      Ans.  They were untouchables.



      Q6. Who were known as Vaishyas?

      Ans. Traders and moneylenders often were known as Vaishyas.

       

      Q7. What was the Satyashodhak Samaj? Who had founded it?

      Ans.  The Satyashodhak Samaj, an association Phule founded, propagated caste equality.

       

      Q8. Who was Mumtaz Ali?

      Ans.  Mumtaz Ali was a social reformer who reinterpreted verses from the Koran to argue for women’s education.

       

      Q9. Why do people view leather workers with contempt?

      Ans. Leatherworkers have been traditionally held in contempt since they work with dead animals which are seen as dirty and polluting.

       

      Q10. How did reformers bring changes in society?

      Ans. Reformers bring changes in society by persuading people to give up old practices and adopt a new way of life.

       

      Q11. Why were untouchable students not allowed to enter the classrooms where upper-caste boys were taught?

      Ans.  There was a false notion among the upper-caste that untouchable would pollute the classroom where their children are taught.



      Q12. Write a short note on Satnami movement?

      Ans. The Satnami movement in Central India was founded by Ghasidas who worked among the leatherworkers and organised a movement to improve their social status.

       

      Q13. Why people such as Rammohun Roy are described as reformers?

      Ans. People such as Rammohun Roy are described as reformers because they felt that changes were necessary in society, and unjust practices needed to be done away with.

       

      Q14. Who was Raja Rammohun Roy?

      Ans Raja Rammohun Roy was a social reformer. He founded a reform association known as the Brahmo Sabha (later known as the Brahmo Samaj) in Calcutta.

       

      Q15. Who were Madigas?

      Ans.  Madigas were an important untouchable caste of present-day Andhra Pradesh. They were experts at cleaning hides, tanning them for use, and sewing sandals.

       

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