Women, Caste and Reform - Long Answer Questions
Child marriage was common. Sati was practiced. Widows could not remarry. No education for girls. Polygamy existed.
Founder of Brahmo Samaj. A great reformer who fought against Sati. He used ancient texts to show Sati had no sanction. Sati was banned in 1829.
A reformer who used ancient texts to suggest that widows could remarry. The Act was passed in 1856.
Reformers from Maharashtra who fought for low caste rights and education for girls. Phule established the Satyashodhak Samaj.
The practice of burning a widow on her husband's funeral pyre. Literally means 'virtuous woman'.
Founder of Arya Samaj. He also supported widow remarriage.
A reformer who reinterpreted verses from the Quran to argue for women's education.
She started schools for Muslim girls in Patna and Calcutta. She wrote 'Sultana's Dream'. She criticized religious leaders for keeping women down.
A great scholar of Sanskrit. She felt Hinduism was oppressive to women. She wrote about the miserable lives of upper-caste Hindu women and set up a widows' home at Poona.
She wrote 'Stripurushtulna' (Comparison between women and men), criticizing the social differences between men and women.
Also known as Sarda Act. It fixed the minimum age of marriage (originally 18 for men, 16 for women).
A leader of the Dalits. He led temple entry movements (1927-1935) to assert Dalit rights to use public water and temples. He later drafted the Constitution.
Started by Periyar (E.V. Ramasamy Naicker). He argued that Untouchables were the true upholders of Tamil culture and Brahmans were invaders (Aryans). He criticized Hindu scriptures.
A guru from the Ezhava caste in Kerala. He proclaimed 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for humankind' (Oru Jati, Oru Matam, Oru Daivam Manushyanu).
They used the authority of ancient texts (Scriptures) to convince people that harmful practices (Sati, etc.) were not mandated by religion.
Established in Bombay (1867). It sought to remove caste restrictions, abolish child marriage, and encourage women's education.
Swami Vivekananda, named after his guru Ramakrishna Paramhansa. It focused on social service and selfless action.
Led by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. They attacked custom and demanded education and freedom of thought.
They feared girls would be taken away from home, wouldn't do housework, and would be corrupted by reading.
The practice of excluding lower castes from temples, wells, and schools, considering them polluting.
Women, Caste and Reform - Important Facts
Sati banned in 1829 (William Bentinck).
Widow Remarriage Act passed in 1856.
Raja Rammohun Roy founded Brahmo Sabha (Samaj).
Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj (1875).
Jyotirao Phule wrote 'Gulamgiri' (Slavery) in 1873.
Phule dedicated his book to American abolitionists.
Periyar started Self Respect Movement.
Ambedkar led Temple Entry Movement (1927).
Pandita Ramabai founded Sharada Sadan.
Begum Rokeya was a fearless critic.
Swami Vivekananda's original name was Narendranath Dutta.
Chicago Parliament of Religions (1893).
Sayyid Ahmed Khan founded Aligarh Movement.
Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (Aligarh Muslim University).
Veda Samaj established in Madras (1864).
Singh Sabhas reformed Sikhism.
Khalsa College, Amritsar active in reform.
Child Marriage Act (1929).
Rashsundari Devi taught herself to read.
Kandukuri Veeresalingam worked in Telugu region.
Permissible age for marriage is now 21 (men) and 18 (women).
Caste inequality was attacked by all reformers.
Shoes were removed by lower castes before upper castes.
Dublas laboured for upper castes in Gujarat.
Madigas served as leather workers in AP.
Mahars were untouchables in Maharashtra.
Paramhans Mandali worked for abolition of caste.
Christian missionaries set up schools for tribal kids.
Reforms challenged the status quo.
Orthodox Hindus formed Sanatan Dharma Sabhas.
Reformers used printing press to spread ideas.
Vernacular languages helped spread reform.
Derozio was a teacher at Hindu College.
Ambedkar was born into a Mahar family.
Manual scavenging is a caste-based occupation.
Social reform is a long process.
Women began writing about their lives.
Nationalism helped the reform movement.
Equality and Freedom were modern ideas.
Cultural awakening occurred in 19th Century.
Scriptures were re-interpreted.
Tradition vs Modernity debate.
Upper caste women were also oppressed.
Widows were treated badly (white clothes, no hair).
Sati was glorified by orthodoxy.
Hook swinging festival was criticized.
Ghasidas founded Satnami movement.
Women, Caste and Reform - Important Dates/Terms
Sati Banned
Widow Remarriage Act
Phule writes Gulamgiri
Chicago Parliament of Religions
Child Marriage Restraint Act