The socio-religious movements in India during the modern period were transformative forces that reshaped the socio-cultural fabric and political landscape of the nation. These movements, characterized by their blend of spiritual renewal and socio-political activism, emerged as responses to the challenges posed by colonial rule, social injustices, and religious orthodoxy. From the Arya Samaj’s call for social reform and the Aligarh Movement’s emphasis on modern education to the Sikh reformist movement led by Guru Nanak and the rise of the Brahmo Samaj advocating for monotheism and social equality, each movement played a significant role in challenging existing norms and fostering a spirit of socio-religious awakening among the masses. Understanding the intricacies of these movements not only illuminates India’s rich historical tapestry but also provides invaluable insights into the complexities of its modern socio-political dynamics. In this context, exploring UPSC Prelims Topic Wise Questions on Modern History pertaining to socio-religious movements becomes imperative, offering aspirants a nuanced understanding and a competitive edge in tackling the examination.
Q1. Who among the following leaders did not believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai Naoroji? (1996)
(a) BG Tilak
(b) RC Dutt
(c) MG Ranade
(d) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Ans. (d)
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan rejected the Drain Theory, remaining steadfastly loyal to the British. He opposed the Congress’ pursuit of self-rule and the dissolution of the British Empire. The Drain Theory, as articulated by Dadabhai Naoroji in his book “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India,” described the economic drain from India to Britain, where a significant portion of India’s national product was siphoned off for political purposes, depriving India of its rightful economic and material benefits.
Q2. His principal forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual sessions alongside the Indian National Congress. The reference in this passage is to (1996)
(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) Behramji Merwanji Malabari
(c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(d) BR Ambedkar
Ans. (c)
The passage refers to Mahadev Govind Ranade, a social reformer renowned for his battles against child marriage and his efforts to empower women through education and widow remarriage. In order to promote the discussion of social issues at a national level, he established the Indian National Social Conference, which convened its annual sessions concurrently with the Indian National Congress for many years.
Q3. The following advertisement. (1996)
The marvel of the century the wonder of the world living photographic pictures in life sized reproductions by messers lumiere brothers cinematographie a few exhibitions will be given at Watson’s hotel tonight appeared in the Times of India dated 7th August
(a) 1931
(b) 1929
(c) 1921
(d) 1896
Ans. (d)
In 1896, at the Watson Hotel in Bombay, the Lumiere Brothers unveiled six films. This event marked the debut of motion pictures in India, with Auguste and Louis Lumière pioneering the art form. Recognized as the earliest filmmakers in history, they showcased their groundbreaking work. The first cinema advertisement appeared in the Times of India, Bombay, on July 7th, 1896, featuring details about the ‘Living Photographic pictures in life-size reproductions by Messers Lumiere Brothers’.
Q4. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
List I (Persons) List II (Journals)
A. Shyamji Krishna Varma 1. Bande Mataram
B. Madam Bhikaiji Cama 2. Indian Sociologist Bee
C. Annie Besant 3. The Talwar
D. Aurobindo Ghosh 4. Commonweal
Codes
ABCD
(a) 2 3 4 1
(c) 2 3 1 4
(b) 3 2 1 4
(d) 3 2 4 1
Ans. (a)
The correct matching is D-2, A-3, B-4, C-1.
Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857-1930 AD) was an Indian revolutionary fighter. In 1905, he founded the ‘India House’ and “The Indian Sociologist’. Madam Bhikaiji Rustom Cama (1861-1936 AD) was one of the prominent figures in the Indian independence movement. “The Talvar’, later known as Madan’s Talwar, was an early 20th-century Indian Nationalist periodical published from Berlin. Annie Besant (1847-1933 AD) was a British socialist, theosophist, educationist, and philanthropist. She published a weekly newspaper called “The Commonweal’ which dealt with Indian national issues. “The Commonweal’ was a British socialist newspaper founded in 1885 by the newborn Socialist League. Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950 AD) was an Indian philosopher, yoga guru, maharishi, poet, and Indian nationalist. The Bande Mataram was an English language weekly newspaper published from Calcutta (now Kolkata) founded in 1905 by Bipin Chandra Pal and edited by Sri Aurobindo.
Q5. Consider the following statements. (2001)
1. Arya Samaj was founded in 1835.
2. Lala Lajpat Rai opposed the appeal of Arya Samaj to the authority of Vedas in support of its social reform programme.
3. Under Keshab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo Samaj campaigned for women’s education.
4. Vinoba Bhave founded the Sarvodya Samaj to work among refugees.
Which of these statement(s) are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 4
Ans. (d)
Only statements (3) and (4) are accurate. Under Keshab Chandra Sen’s leadership, the Brahmo Samaj actively advocated for women’s education. Vinoba Bhave instigated the establishment of the Sarvodaya Samaj following Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. Keshab Chandra Sen, a Hindu philosopher and social reformer, endeavored to integrate Christian theology into Hindu ideology. Utilizing dynamic and pragmatic Christian missionary tactics, Sen spearheaded numerous social reforms in India. He orchestrated relief efforts for the impoverished and advanced literacy by establishing schools for women and children. Vinoba Bhave adopted the term “sarvodaya” to characterize the social movement in post-independent India, aiming to extend self-determination and equality across all segments of Indian society.
Statements (1) and (2) are incorrect because Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Although Lala Lajpat Rai was not formally affiliated with Arya Samaj, he never opposed its invocation of the Vedas’ authority to support its social reform agenda.
Q6. Which one of the following places was associated with Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement at the beginning of the movement? (2007)
(a) Udaygiri
(b) Rapur
(c) Pochampalli
(d) Venkatagiri
Ans. (c)
Pochampalli holds significance in the initiation of Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement. At the outset of this movement, Vinoba Bhave orchestrated the establishment of Sarvodaya Samaj with the aim of fostering non-violent societal change through land reforms, with the voluntary participation of landowners. Through persuasion, sizable landowners were encouraged to donate at least one-sixth of their land. This philanthropic gesture commenced on April 18, 1951, with the first land donation occurring in the village of Pochampalli, located in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
Q7. Which of the following statements is/are corred regarding Brahmo Samaj? (2012)
1. It opposed idolatry
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts.
3. It popularised the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) Only 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Statements (1) and (2) accurately reflect the principles of the Brahmo Samaj, which include opposition to idol worship and the elimination of a priestly hierarchy for interpreting religious texts. However, Statement (3) is inaccurate; while the Brahmo Samaj did reject the infallibility of the Vedas, it did not actively promote the doctrine of the Vedas.
Q8. Satya Shodhak Samaj organised (2016)
(a) a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar.
(b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat.
(c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra.
(d) a peasant movement in Punjab.
Ans. (c)
The Satya Shodhak Samaj spearheaded an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra. Established by Jyotiba Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on September 24, 1873, it aimed to reform society by advocating for education, expanding social rights, ensuring justice, and providing political access to marginalized communities.
Q9. Consider the following pairs. (2017)
1. Radhakanta Deb- First President of the British Indian Association
2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty- Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha
3. Surendranath Banerjee- Founder of the Indian Association
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1,2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Only pairs (1) and (3) are accurately matched. Radhakanta Deb served as the inaugural president of the British Indian Association, which was established on October 29th, 1851, in Kolkata, India. Raja Sir Radhakanta Deb Bahadur, a prominent scholar and leader within Calcutta’s conservative Hindu society, was the son of Gopimohan Deb of Shovabazar Raj, who was adopted as the heir by Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb of Shovabazar Raj.
However, Pair (2) is incorrectly matched, as Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty was the founder of the Madras Native Association, not the Madras Mahajan Sabha. The Madras Mahajan Sabha was established in May 1884 by M. Veeraraghavachariar, G. Subramania Iyer, and P. Anandacharlu.
Q10. After the Santhal rising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the Colonial Government? (2018)
1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ created.
2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a Non-Santhal.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (c)
Both statements (1) and (2) are accurate. The region of focus for the Santhals, known as Damin-i-Koh, stretched from Bhagalpur in Bihar to Orissa in the south. By the 1850s, the Santhals were determined to rebel against the zamindars, moneylenders, and the colonial state, aiming to establish an ideal society where they held authority. Their inhabited territories were consolidated into a new administrative entity called ‘Santhal Parganas’, exempt from the typical bureaucratic and judicial processes of British India. Additionally, special provisions were enacted to safeguard their land rights, including the prohibition of land transfer from Santhals to non-Santhals.
Q11. Which among the following events happened earliest? (2018)
(a) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj
(b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan
(c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath
(d) Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination
Ans. (b)
The earliest event among the following occurrences occurred when Dinabandhu Mitra penned Neeldarpan in 1860, shedding light on the struggles of Indigo farmers. Following this, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay authored Anandmath in 1882 against the backdrop of the Sanyasi rebellion. In 1863, Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to pass the Indian civil service examination, while Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875.
Q12. Who among the following were the founders of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha established in 1948? (2018)
(a) B. Krishna Pillai, EMS Namboodiripad and KC George
(b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and MN Roy
(c) CP Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and Veeresalingam Pantulu
(d) Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam and GG Mehta
Ans. (d)
The Hind Mazdoor Sabha took root in Howrah, West Bengal, on December 29, 1948, emerging from the collaboration of socialists, Forward Bloc adherents, and independent unionists. Among its founding members were Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujam, GG Mehta, RS Ruikar, Maniben Kara, VS Mathur, and RA Khedgikar.
Q13. Consider the following pairs. (2019)
List I (Movements/Organisations) List II (Leaders)
1. All India Anti-Untouchability League Mahatma Gandhi
2. All India Kisan Sabha Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
3. Self-Respect Movement EV Ramaswami Naicker
Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (d)
All the provided associations are accurately paired. Mahatma Gandhi founded the All India Anti-Untouchability League in 1932 to enhance the organization of untouchables, later rechristened as Harijan Sevak Sangh. The All India Kisan Sabha initiated as a peasant movement under Sahajanand Saraswati’s leadership, originating from the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1936. S. Ramanathan established the Self Respect Movement in 1925 and invited EV Ramaswami Naicker to lead the movement in Tamil Nadu against Brahminism.
FAQs
Q: What was the impact of the Brahmo Samaj on Indian society during the 19th century?
The Brahmo Samaj, founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828, played a significant role in Indian society. It advocated for monotheism, rationality, and social reforms such as the abolition of sati and the promotion of women’s education. Its impact was evident in the social awakening and the rise of reform movements against regressive customs and superstitions.
Q: Who were the key leaders of the Arya Samaj, and what were its main objectives?
The Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875, aimed to reform Hindu society by advocating for the supremacy of the Vedas and the rejection of idol worship and caste distinctions. Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Lala Lajpat Rai were key leaders. Its objectives included the promotion of education, women’s rights, and social equality.
Q: What was the significance of the Aligarh Movement in colonial India?
The Aligarh Movement, led by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in the late 19th century, aimed to uplift the Muslim community through modern education and social reforms. It laid the foundation for the Aligarh Muslim University and promoted a spirit of rationality, scientific inquiry, and modernization among Muslims in India.
Q: How did the Prarthana Samaj contribute to the socio-religious reform movement in Maharashtra?
The Prarthana Samaj, founded by Atmaram Pandurang in 1867, emphasized monotheism, social equality, and the rejection of idol worship. It worked towards eradicating social evils such as caste discrimination and promoting education for all. The Samaj played a crucial role in shaping the socio-religious landscape of Maharashtra.
Q: What were the main objectives of the Singh Sabha Movement in Punjab?
The Singh Sabha Movement, initiated in the late 19th century by Sikh leaders such as Bhai Gurmukh Singh and Sardar Thakur Singh, aimed to revive and reform Sikhism. Its objectives included promoting Sikh identity, combating social evils like casteism and superstition, and advocating for the preservation of Sikh religious practices and institutions.
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