Women and reforms and caste system Flashcards
Status of women in the 18th century? (3 points)
Plight of Widows
Limited access to education
Position of women in the society
Raja ram mohun Roy?
He was born in Bengal 1772. He was known as the Father of Modern India and the champion of women rights. He founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 and introduced the newspaper Samvad Kaumudi. He founded a hindi college which was later called as The Presidency College.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar?
He was born in 1820. He was an Indian educator and a social reformer. At the age of 21, he became the head of the sanskrit department in Fort william college. He persuaded the british govt to pass the widow remarriage act in 1856. He started bethune college with the help of john bethune. He used his own income to start 35 schools.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
He was born in Gujarat in 1824. He condemned sati, supported widow remarriage and opposed child marriage. He started the Arya Samaj in 1875 in Rajkot which aimed at reviving society along vedic lines. He believed in taking india back to the vedic ages. For him vedas were the ultimate source of knowledge. His followers started Dayanand Anglo Vedic Schools.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan?
He was called as the Architect of Modern india. He was the founder of Aligarh Muslim University. He was against the Purdah system. He passed the sharda act in 1929 which changed the minimum age for boys to 18 and for girls to 14 for marriage.
Sharda Act 1929 also known as?
Child Marriage Restraint Act
Who abolished sati system?
Lord Bentick
Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s philosophy?
He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 in rajkot to revive society along the vedic lines. According to him, the vedas contained the essence of life and knowledge. He believed in taking india back to the vedic ages as to him vedas were the ultimate source of knowledge.
Practice of Untouchability?
They did the work that was seen as polluting such as cleaning toilets, cremating the dead and sweeping the streets. They were forbidden entry into temples and public places. They were not allowed to draw water from public wells. Even the sight or touch of them was considered polluting. They were forced to work under degrading conditions n were denied land. They did not have the right to own property or freedom to practice own religion. They were also not allowed to eat with others or use the same utensils.
Early Vedic Age and Late Vedic Age?
In the early vedic age, Caste system was based on occupation, women were given equal rights and it was relaxed. In the late vedic age, Caste system was based on birth, it was rigid and women did not enjoy equal rights.
Adverse effects of the caste system? (3)
The privileged castes ill treated the oppressed castes as they did not have rights. This led to economic and social inequalities across india.
Indian society became fragmented. People first identified with their caste then with their nation. There was no sense of nationalism or unity.
Caste divisions were a hindrance to individual progress. They did not recognize the individual talent of the oppressed caste as their birth stood in the way. This encouraged incompetence and affected the quality of indian society.
Who opposed caste system in 6BCE?
Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira.
Caste system was known as?
‘The greatest evil of our social customs’
Mahatma Jotirao Phule?
1827-1890. He worked for the uplift of the lower classes. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 in maharashtra. He taught that in the eyes of god all humans are equal.
Sree Narayana Guru?
1856-1928. He was one of the first to fight against the caste system in kerala. He helped found the SREE NARAYANA DHARMA PARIPALANA YOGAM IN 1903 TO REFORMS SOCIETY. He established the aruvipuram temple where all castes were allowed. He established educational institutions for the oppressed classes.
