[Topic wise IAS Modern Indian History Question Bank (1979-2015)]: (6) Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas

Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas: Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
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1. Examine the main trends in social reform and social change in India between 1829 and 1929. [1979, 60m]

2. “Ram Mohan Roy presents a most instructive and inspiring study for the New India of which he is the type and pioneer.” Comment. [1982, 20m]

3. “These religion-reform movements were national in content but religious in form. It was in the later stages of our national existence, that nationalism found exclusively or predominantly secular forms.” Comment. [1985, 20m]

4. “Ram Mohan thus presents a most instructive and inspiring study for the New India of which he is the type and pioneer.” Comment. [1986, 20m]

5. What led to the Caste Movements in Western and Southern India? How did they affect the local socio-political life? [1989, 60m]

6. Analyses the main contours of Non-Brahmin Movements in Western and South India in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century. [1991, 60m]

7. To what extent did the socio-religious movements contribute to the emancipation of women in the 19th century? [1993, 60m]

8. Review the main trends in the Social Movements in India from 1900 to 1947 with particular reference to the changing position .of women in the country. [1984, 60m]

9. “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.” Comment. [1996, 20m]

10. “These religion-reform movements were national in content but religious in form. It was in the later stages of our national existence, that nationalism found exclusively or predominantly secular forms.” Comment.[1985, 20m]

11. “Widow Remarriage Act was, in many ways, a logical sequel to the abolition of Sati.” Comment. [1994, 20m]

12. Trace the course and comment on the character of caste movements in south India in the 20th century. How far was their object achieved? [1995, 60m]

13. “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.” Comment. [1996, 20m]

14. The 19th century Indian renaissance was both an acceptance and rejection of western values. Do you agree? [1997, 60m]

15. The Arya Samaj “did not; however, succeed in capturing the imagination of modern India as a whole.” Comment. [1998, 20m]

16. Discuss the important social reform legislation passed in the 19th century and elucidate the reaction of Indian leaders to the measures adopted. [2000, 60m]

17. “The national democratic awakening of the Indian people found expression also in the religious sphere.” Comment. [2005, 20m]

18. “There is no other instance in the history of mankind of a poet and philosopher working such as a miracle in shaping the destiny of his people.” Comment. [2007, 20m]

19. “Of the evils which corroded Indian society in the nineteenth century were probably those which stunted its womanhood.” Comment. [2007, 20m]

20. How did social legislation in the nineteenth century improve the condition of women in India? [2009, 30m] 21. “The Arya Samaj may quite logically be pronounced as the outcomes of conditions imported into India by the west.” Comment. [2009, 20m]

22. Discuss the extent to which the Indian Renaissance movement contributed towards the rise of nationalist consciousness. [2010, 30m]

23. “Young Bengal left little distinctive or permanent impression on the plane of religion and philosophy.” Critically evaluate. [2011, 30m]

24. “The contact of the new Indian middle class with the West proved to be a catalyst. The social and religious movements launched by Ram Mohan or Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar have to be understood in this context.” – Elucidate. [2012, 10m]

25. 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, 10m]

26. “The first point to note is the continuing importance of religion and philosophy as vital ingredients in the modern Indian renaissance. Indeed, there is as much reason for regarding it as a reformation as there is for treating it as a renaissance.” Critically examine. [2013, 25m]

27. “Swami Dayanand’s philosophy represents both elements of extremism and social radicalism.” Substantiate. [2015, 20m]