Social and Religious Reform Movements in the 19th Century
Unit 5 > Social > Class 10 > Samacheer Kalvi - English Medium
Objectives
The Students Will be able to Know about - The influence of Western ideas and Christianity in creating a new awakening in 19th century British India - Contestation in the social and religious sphere opposition to practices like sati, slavery, untouchability, and child marriage - Opposition to idolatry, rituals and superstitious beliefs - Contribution of Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical Society and Aligarh Movement to the regeneration of India - Role played by prominent personalities in bringing about this awakening amongst Parsees and Sikhs - Social movement of Jyotiba Phule and reform movements in Kerala and Tamilnadu
Summary
- A brief account of Raja Rammohan Roy’s initiatives for social and cultural reforms has been provided. - The foundation of Brahmo Samaj by Ram mohan Roy and the role played by Maharishi Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen in carrying forward the Brahmo Samaj activities after Roy’s death are discussed. - The contribution of M.G. Ranade and Prarthana Samaj with which he was associated ar examined. - The attempts made by Arya Samaj under the aegis of Swami Dayanad Saraswati to reform Hinduism as well as to win converts to the Hindu fold are highlighted. - The radical reformer Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and his strivings for women’s cause are described. - The role of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his disciple Swami Vivekananda in the transformation of Hinduism is explained. - The work of Theosophical Society with Annie Besant as its president is explored along with Aligarh Movement spearheaded by Sayyid Ahmad Khan. - Reform movements among Parsis and Sikhs are outlined. - The work done by Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra and IyotheeThassar in Tamilnadu to obtain social justice for the marginalized and the deprived sections of the population is reviewed. - The social protest movements in Kerala led by Narayana Guru and Ayyankali, and the reform movements in Tamil Nadu involving Ramalinga Adigal and Ayya Vaikundar are sketched out.