Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 8 Question Answer | Women Caste and Reform | English Medium

Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 8 Question Answer | Women Caste and Reform | English Medium | ASSEB

Women, Caste and Reform

Welcome to HSLC Guru! In this chapter, we will study the social condition of women and the caste system in 19th century India. We will learn about the great social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotirao Phule, B. R. Ambedkar and Periyar who fought against social evils such as sati, child marriage, ban on widow remarriage and untouchability. This chapter is prepared strictly according to the ASSEB syllabus for Class 8 Social Science (History).

Chapter Summary

In the early 19th century, the condition of women in Indian society was very poor. Women did not have the right to property, education or freedom to choose their life. The cruel practice of sati, in which widows were burnt alive on the funeral pyre of their dead husbands, was widely prevalent in Bengal and other parts of India. Child marriage was very common, and many young girls were married to much older men. Widows, especially upper-caste Hindu widows, were forbidden from remarrying. They were forced to live a life of misery, wear plain white clothes, shave their heads and avoid social functions. Women were also denied education. Most of the social customs were oppressive and inhuman.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often called the father of modern India, started the campaign against sati. He argued that the practice had no sanction in the ancient Hindu scriptures. Through his writings and persistent efforts, he convinced the British Governor-General Lord William Bentinck to ban sati by law in 1829. Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828, which preached worship of one God, opposed idol worship, caste discrimination and superstition. Another great reformer, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, fought for the cause of widows. Through his efforts, the Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856, allowing Hindu widows to remarry legally. He also worked to spread education for girls and opened many schools for them.

The 19th century also witnessed strong movements against the caste system. Jyotirao Phule of Maharashtra was one of the earliest reformers who attacked Brahminical domination. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873 and worked for the upliftment of lower castes, women and untouchables. He also opened schools for girls and lower-caste children. His wife Savitribai Phule became one of the first women teachers in India. In Andhra, Veerasalingam Pantulu campaigned for widow remarriage. Pandita Ramabai worked for the education of high-caste Hindu women and founded the Sharada Sadan for widows. These reformers used newspapers, books, schools and associations to spread their ideas.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, born into a Mahar (Dalit) family, led the most powerful movement against untouchability in the 20th century. He organised the Mahad Satyagraha in 1927 to assert the right of Dalits to take water from the Chavdar Tank. In 1932, he signed the Poona Pact with Mahatma Gandhi regarding separate electorates for the depressed classes. In South India, E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, founded the Self-Respect Movement, attacking caste hierarchy, Brahminical domination and Hindi imposition. The combined efforts of these reformers transformed Indian society. Sati was abolished, widow remarriage was legalised, education for women began, and movements against untouchability gained momentum. These reforms laid the foundation for a modern, equal and just Indian society.

Textbook Questions and Answers

1 Mark Questions

Q1. Who was Raja Ram Mohan Roy?

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a great social reformer of Bengal and is known as the father of modern India. He founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828.

Q2. In which year was the practice of sati abolished?

Answer: The practice of sati was abolished by law in the year 1829 by Lord William Bentinck.

Q3. What is sati?

Answer: Sati was the cruel social practice in which a widow was burnt alive on the funeral pyre of her dead husband.

Q4. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?

Answer: The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.

Q5. When was the Widow Remarriage Act passed?

Answer: The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in the year 1856.

Q6. Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj?

Answer: Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 in Maharashtra.

Q7. Who led the Mahad Satyagraha?

Answer: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha in 1927 to assert the right of Dalits to use the public Chavdar Tank.

Q8. Who was Periyar?

Answer: E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, was a great social reformer of Tamil Nadu who founded the Self-Respect Movement.

Q9. Who was Pandita Ramabai?

Answer: Pandita Ramabai was a great scholar and reformer who worked for the education of women and founded the Sharada Sadan for widows.

Q10. When was the Poona Pact signed?

Answer: The Poona Pact was signed in the year 1932 between Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

2-3 Marks Questions

Q1. Describe the condition of women in the early 19th century.

Answer: In the early 19th century, the condition of women in India was very pitiable. They had no right to property, education or freedom to choose their life partners. Cruel practices like sati and child marriage were widely prevalent. Widows were forced to live a life of misery and were not allowed to remarry. Women were confined to their homes and had no say in public matters.

Q2. What were the main aims of the Brahmo Samaj?

Answer: The main aims of the Brahmo Samaj founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 were: (i) Worship of one formless God, (ii) Opposition to idol worship and superstitious practices, (iii) Abolition of caste discrimination, (iv) Promotion of women’s rights including widow remarriage and education, and (v) Reform of Hindu society on rational and ethical lines.

Q3. What was the contribution of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar to women’s welfare?

Answer: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a great Sanskrit scholar and reformer of Bengal. He campaigned vigorously for widow remarriage and successfully convinced the British government to pass the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. He also worked tirelessly for the spread of female education and opened many schools for girls. He used ancient Hindu scriptures to argue that widow remarriage was permitted in the original tradition.

Q4. Who was Jyotirao Phule and what did he do?

Answer: Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890) was a great social reformer of Maharashtra who attacked Brahminical domination and the caste system. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873 to work for the upliftment of lower castes, women and untouchables. He opened schools for girls and lower-caste children. His famous book “Gulamgiri” (Slavery) exposed caste oppression.

Q5. What was the Mahad Satyagraha?

Answer: The Mahad Satyagraha was a movement led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in 1927 at Mahad in Maharashtra. He organised thousands of Dalits to march to the Chavdar Tank and drink water from it, asserting the right of untouchables to use public water sources. It was one of the first organised movements against untouchability in India and gave a powerful boost to the Dalit movement.

Q6. What was the Self-Respect Movement?

Answer: The Self-Respect Movement was started by E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) in Tamil Nadu in 1925. It attacked Brahminical domination, the caste system and religious superstition. The movement promoted self-respect among the lower castes, opposed Sanskrit and Hindi imposition, supported women’s rights and encouraged inter-caste and self-respect marriages without Brahmin priests.

5-6 Marks Questions

Q1. Discuss the contribution of Raja Ram Mohan Roy to social reform in India.

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) was the pioneer of the social reform movement in modern India and is known as the father of modern India. His major contributions are:

(i) Abolition of Sati: He was the first Indian to launch a strong campaign against the cruel practice of sati. He wrote pamphlets and articles arguing that sati had no sanction in ancient Hindu scriptures. His efforts convinced Lord William Bentinck to abolish sati by law in 1829.

(ii) Foundation of Brahmo Samaj: In 1828, he founded the Brahmo Samaj which preached worship of one God, opposed idol worship and caste discrimination.

(iii) Women’s Rights: He fought for women’s right to property, education and against child marriage and polygamy.

(iv) Modern Education: He supported English education and Western science to modernise India. He helped establish the Hindu College in Calcutta.

(v) Press Freedom: He launched newspapers in Bengali, Persian and English to spread reform ideas. His efforts laid the foundation for modern Indian society.

Q2. Describe the work of Jyotirao Phule and the Satyashodhak Samaj.

Answer: Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890) was the foremost social reformer of Maharashtra in the 19th century. He attacked the caste system, Brahminical domination and the oppression of women.

(i) Education for All: Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848. He also opened schools for lower-caste children and untouchables.

(ii) Satyashodhak Samaj: In 1873, Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers). Its aim was to liberate the lower castes from Brahminical domination and bring social equality.

(iii) Writings: His famous book “Gulamgiri” (Slavery, 1873) compared the condition of lower castes in India with that of black slaves in America. He also wrote “Sarvajanik Satyadharma” advocating universal religion.

(iv) Widow Welfare: He opened a home for widows and supported widow remarriage.

(v) Influence: Phule’s ideas inspired later leaders like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. He gave the lower castes a voice and dignity for the first time in modern India.

Q3. Discuss the contribution of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the fight against untouchability.

Answer: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956), born into a Mahar (Dalit) family, was the greatest leader of the Dalit movement in modern India.

(i) Mahad Satyagraha (1927): He led thousands of Dalits to the Chavdar Tank at Mahad to assert their right to public water. This was the first major satyagraha against untouchability.

(ii) Kalaram Temple Entry (1930): He led the movement for the entry of Dalits into the Kalaram Temple at Nashik.

(iii) Poona Pact (1932): He signed an agreement with Mahatma Gandhi by which seats were reserved for the depressed classes in legislatures within the general Hindu electorate.

(iv) Constitution of India: As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he framed the Indian Constitution which abolished untouchability and granted equal rights to all citizens.

(v) Conversion to Buddhism (1956): Disillusioned with caste discrimination in Hinduism, Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with millions of his followers. His lifelong struggle gave dignity and rights to crores of Dalits.

Q4. What were the main social reform movements of the 19th century? Explain their impact.

Answer: The 19th century in India witnessed several powerful social reform movements which transformed Indian society:

(i) Brahmo Samaj (1828): Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, it opposed sati, idol worship, caste discrimination and supported women’s education.

(ii) Vidyasagar’s Movement: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaigned for widow remarriage and female education. The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856.

(iii) Satyashodhak Samaj (1873): Founded by Jyotirao Phule, it worked for the upliftment of lower castes and women.

(iv) Self-Respect Movement: Started by Periyar in Tamil Nadu, it attacked the caste system and Brahminical domination.

Impact: These movements led to the abolition of sati (1829), legalisation of widow remarriage (1856), prohibition of child marriage, growth of female education, awakening among lower castes, abolition of untouchability after Independence (Article 17), and reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. They laid the foundation of modern democratic and egalitarian India.

Q5. Compare the contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Jyotirao Phule.

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Jyotirao Phule were three great social reformers of 19th century India:

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Bengal): He pioneered modern reform. His main achievement was the abolition of sati in 1829. He founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828), supported women’s rights, modern education and press freedom.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Bengal): He focused on women’s welfare. His greatest achievement was the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. He worked extensively for female education and opened many schools for girls.

Jyotirao Phule (Maharashtra): He focused on caste reform and the upliftment of lower castes and women. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873), opened schools for girls and untouchables, and wrote against caste oppression.

Common Goal: All three worked for social equality, education and the upliftment of oppressed sections. While Roy and Vidyasagar focused mainly on Hindu reform from within, Phule attacked the caste system from below. Together they transformed Indian society and inspired later reformers like Ambedkar.

Additional Multiple Choice Questions

Q1. Sati was abolished in the year:
(a) 1828 (b) 1829 (c) 1830 (d) 1856

Answer: (b) 1829

Q2. The Brahmo Samaj was founded by:
(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (b) Dayanand Saraswati (c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (d) Keshab Chandra Sen

Answer: (c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Q3. The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in:
(a) 1829 (b) 1856 (c) 1872 (d) 1891

Answer: (b) 1856

Q4. The Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by:
(a) Jyotirao Phule (b) B. R. Ambedkar (c) Periyar (d) Vidyasagar

Answer: (a) Jyotirao Phule

Q5. The Mahad Satyagraha was led by:
(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) B. R. Ambedkar (c) Periyar (d) Phule

Answer: (b) B. R. Ambedkar

Q6. The Self-Respect Movement was started by:
(a) Phule (b) Ambedkar (c) Periyar (d) Vidyasagar

Answer: (c) Periyar

Q7. Pandita Ramabai founded:
(a) Sharada Sadan (b) Brahmo Samaj (c) Arya Samaj (d) Satyashodhak Samaj

Answer: (a) Sharada Sadan

Q8. The Poona Pact was signed in:
(a) 1927 (b) 1930 (c) 1932 (d) 1935

Q9. Veerasalingam Pantulu campaigned for widow remarriage in:
(a) Bengal (b) Maharashtra (c) Andhra (d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: (c) Andhra

Q10. Sati was banned by which Governor-General?
(a) Lord Dalhousie (b) Lord William Bentinck (c) Lord Curzon (d) Lord Canning

Answer: (b) Lord William Bentinck

Fill in the Blanks

Q1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in __________.

Answer: 1828

Q2. The practice of __________ was abolished in 1829.

Answer: sati

Q3. __________ campaigned for the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856.

Answer: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Q4. The Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotirao Phule in __________.

Answer: 1873

Q5. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar led the __________ Satyagraha in 1927.

Answer: Mahad

True or False

Q1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Arya Samaj.

Answer: False (He founded the Brahmo Samaj)

Q2. Sati was abolished in 1829 by Lord William Bentinck.

Answer: True

Q3. Periyar founded the Satyashodhak Samaj.

Answer: False (Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj)

Q4. The Poona Pact was signed between Ambedkar and Gandhi in 1932.

Answer: True

Q5. Pandita Ramabai worked for the education of widows.

Answer: True

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Sati	The cruel practice of burning a widow alive on her husband’s funeral pyre.
Brahmo Samaj	Reform society founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 preaching one God.
Satyashodhak Samaj	Society of Truth Seekers founded by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 to fight caste oppression.
Widow Remarriage Act	Law passed in 1856 allowing Hindu widows to remarry legally.
Mahad Satyagraha	Movement led by Ambedkar in 1927 for Dalits’ right to public water.
Poona Pact	Agreement signed in 1932 between Ambedkar and Gandhi on Dalit representation.
Self-Respect Movement	Movement started by Periyar in 1925 against caste hierarchy and Brahminical domination.
Untouchability	Social practice of treating certain castes as impure and excluding them from social life.
Reformer	A person who works to change and improve society by removing evil customs.
Caste System	The traditional hierarchical division of Hindu society into rigid groups.
Sharada Sadan	Home for high-caste widows founded by Pandita Ramabai.
Gulamgiri	Famous book written by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 attacking caste slavery.