Question : Swami Dayanand’s philosophy represents both elements of extremism and social radicalism” Substantiate.
(2015)
Answer : Dayanand Saraswati was one of the most radical socio-religious reformers in the history of India. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of Arya Samaj and propagated egalitarian approach of the Vedas at a time when widespread casteism was prevalent in the society. Dayananda Saraswati was born into a wealthy Brahmin family in Gujarat, a part of western India somewhat isolated from British colonial influence. He was raised in the orthodox Hindu tradition but soon found ....
Question : Swami Vivekananda opined that “We should give our ancient spirituality and culture and get in return Western science, technology, methods of raising the standard of life, business integrity and technique of collective effort.”
(2013)
Answer : Actually Swami Vivekanand wished to create a bridge between the East and the West by bringing to America the gift of India’s ancient spirituality, in exchange for the scientific and industrial outlook of the West. As Western ideas of organization and external civilisation are penetrating and pouring into our country, whether we will have them or not, so Indian spirituality and philosophy are deluging the lands of the West. None can resist it, and no ....
Question : “The concept of the new middle class with the west proved to be a catalyst. The social and religious movements launched by Rammohan Roy or Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar have to be understood in the context. Elaborate”.
(2012)
Answer : The emergence of new social classes in India was direct consequence of the establishment of new social economy, a new type of state system and state administration machinery and spread of new education during the British rule.
Primarily, the new social classes came into existence as a result of basic economic transformation brought about by various acts of the British governments, the penetration of Indian society by commercial and other forces from the outside capitalist world, ....
Question : “Young Bengal left little distinctive or permanent impression on the plane of religion and philosophy.”
(2011)
Answer : The young bengal movement owed its origin to a most remarkable personality of the 19th C- Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. He was appointed in the Hindu college as a teacher of English Literature and History.
He promoted radical ideas through class lectures and by organising student societies for debates and discussions on history, philosophy, science, literature and religion.
Derozio urged his pupils to live and die for truth to cultivate and practise all the virtues, shunning vice ....
Question : The active participation of Aruna Asaf Ali in 1942 movement symbolised the role of women in India’s freedom struggle.
(2010)
Answer : Aruna Asaf Ali sourfed arrest by offering Individual Satyagraha. She also played an important role in underground movement during Quit India Movement in 1942. The role played by Aruna Asaf Ali is symbolic of role of women in India’s freedom struggle.
The 1st movement in which women’s participation was noticed was Swadeshi Movement. However the participation was on limited scale. The Home Rule Movement was launched by Annie Besant in 1916. She published two journals Common ....
Question : “The Arya Samaj may quite logically be pronounced as the outcomes of conditions imported into India by the west.” (Lala Lajpat Rai)
(2009)
Answer : The Arya Samaj was undoubtedly the most dynamic socio-religious reform movement modernsociety has ever seen. Though the Arya Samaj was primarily concerned with social and religious reforms, its political impact was most conspicuous. The ideal of that society, as proclaimed by its founder is an absolutely free and independent form of nation. Swami Dayanand and the powerful organization he initiated, the Arya Samaj clearly unquestionably were the most potent factors in reforming, rejuvenating and rebuilding ....
Question : How did social legislation in the nineteenth century improve the condition of women in India?
(2009)
Answer : With the beginning of the social reform movement in 18th and 19th century in India the British government had to rethink its policies concerning Indian society.Child marriage, female child infanticide, suicide by widows and illiteracy among women were the main social problems in India. It had divided the society and stalled the process of development in the country. The first step towards social legislation was taken by William Bentinck. He brought a law in 1929 ....
Question : Discuss the important social reform legislation passed in the 19th century, and elucidate the reaction of Indian leaders to the measures adopted.
(2000)
Answer : Till 1813 British authorities also followed a policy of non-interference in the religious, social and cultural life of the country, but after 1813 they took active steps to transform Indian society and culture. The officials British efforts at reforming Indian society of its abuses were on the whole very meagre and, therefore bore little fruit. Their biggest achievement was the outlawing of the practice of sati in 1829 when William Bentick made it a crime ....
Question : The Arya Samaj 'did not, however, succeed in capturing the imagination of modern India as a whole'.
(1998)
The Arya Samaj undertook the task of reforming Hindu relgion in north India. It was foudned in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati (1824-83). Swami Dayanand believed that selfish and ignorant priests had perverted Hindu religion with he aid of the Puranas which, he said, were full of false teachings. For his own inspiration Swami Dayanand went to the Vedas which he regarded as infallible being the inspired word of God, and as the fount of all ....
Question : The 19th century India renaissance was both an acceptance and rejection of western values. Do you agree?
(1997)
Answer : Immence intellectual and cultural stirrings characterised 19th century India. The impact of modern Western culture and consciousness of defeat by a foreign power gave birth to a new awakening. There was an awareness that a vast country like India had been colonised by a handful of foreigners because of internal weaknesses of Indian social structure and culture. Thoughtful Indians began to look for the strengths and weaknesses of their society and for ways and means ....
Question : The religious reform movements of the 19th century were 'endeavours to recast the old religion (Hinduism) into a new form suited to meet the needs of the new society'.
(1996)
Answer : the religious reform movements fall in two broad categories: one, reformist movements like the Brahma Samaj, the Prathna Samaj and the Aligarh movements, two revivalist movements like the Arya Samaj, the Ramakrishna Mission and the Deoband Movement. Both the reformist and revivalist movement depended on a varying degree on an appeal to the lost purity of thye religion they sought of reform. The only difference between one reform movement and the other lay in the ....
Question : Trace the course and comment on the character of caste movements in South India in the 20th century. How far were their object achieved?
(1995)
Answer : The growth of the national movement played a significant role in weakening the caste system. The national movement was opposed to all those institutions which tended to divide Indian people. Common participation in Public demonstrations giant public meetings, and satyagraha struggles weakened caste consciousness. In any case those who were fighting for freedom from foreign rule in the name of liberty and equality could hardly support the caste system which was totally opposed to these ....
