Reforms in the Indian Society

Reforms in the Indian Society

Who were the Mahants?

A mahant is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery. The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit Mahanta-, from Sanskritmahat "great". Other titles for the word Mahant, serving in the context of a well known religious place, include priest or pundit, being generally always a Brahmin, gyani, or pastor. In other branches of Hinduism, the mahant is an ascetic who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious Also known as Satnami's responsibilities as a preacher.

Among Sikhs, mahants stood for hereditary managers who controlled Sikh gurdwaras until the formation of SGPC in 1920s.

Facts about Annie Besant-

Annie Besant-

• She was actively involved in the London match girls strike in 1888. She set up a committee seeking better pay and conditions for the women. During the London Dock Strike in 1889, she participated in many important meetings and demonstrations conducted by the organisation.

• She was paid a public tribute at London in 1924, celebrating her focus on social works.

• She was declared a World Teacher after her lecture on Theosophy in 1926 and was anointed president of the Theosophical Society for the fourth time in 1928.

Facts about Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji-

• Born into a leading Parsi family, Naoroji served as the Professor of Mathematics at Elphinstone College and he was called ‘The Promise of India’ by another professor at the same institution.

• In 1855, he sailed for England to join the first Indian business firm of the mercantile Cama family and 3 years later in 1859 established his own business firm under his own name.

• He established the Bombay Association in 1852 which was the first political association in India.

•  He was elected to the British Parliament and became the first Asian to win a seat in the House of Commons.

Facts about Sir Sayyid Ahamad Khan

Sir Sayyid Ahamad Khan-

• Sayyid advised the Muslims against joining active politics and to concentrate instead on education.

• His career as an author (in Urdu) started at the age of 23 with religious tracts.

• The death of Sayyid’s father left the family in financial difficulties, and after a limited education Sayyid had to work for his livelihood.

• The supreme interest of Sayyid’s life was, education—in its widest sense. 

Facts about Kandukuri Veeresalingam-

Kandukuri Veeresalingam-

• He was widely regarded as Father of Renaissance Movement in Telugu society and literature

• Veeresalingam awakened Andhras out of their suffocating medieval orthodox customs and superstitions.

• The Hita karini school that was upgradedby Kandukuri in 1907, later renamed after Veeresalingam’s name, was the first co-education school in Andhra.

Facts about Mahadev Govind Ranade-

Mahadev Govind Ranade-

• He was born on January 18, 1842 in Niphad, a Taluka town in Nashik district, Maharashtra in a Maharashtrian Chitpavan Brahmin family. His father was a minister.

• At the age of six, he attended a Marathi school in Kolhapur and was later transferred to an English school in 1851. When he was 14, his father sent him to study in the Elphinstone College, Bombay.

• In 1871, he was appointed as the Presidency Magistrate, a rank for the fourth judge in the Bombay Small Causes Court.

• He also published books on Indian economics and on Maratha history which includes ‘Rise of the Maratha Power' (1900).

Fill in the Blanks

Which organization did Raja Rammohan Roy set up to work for social and religious reforms?

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When was the Widow Remarriage Act passed?

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Name the organization founded by Madame Blavatsky.

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Where in India did Madsam Blavatsky and her followers set up the head quarters?

Multiple Choice

Which society was renamed as Scientific Society?

• Translation Society

• Aligarh Muslim University

• Brahmo Samaj

• Mohammedan Literary Society

Multiple Select

Who led the movement to free the gurudwaras from the Mahants?

• Arya Samaj

• Akali Dal

• Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee

• Ramakrishna Misson

Multiple Choice

Raja Rammohun Roy believed in the existence of one God.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Khalsa College was established in 1892.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Swami Vivekananda was disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Lala Hardayal set up the Dayanand Anglo-vedic school in Lahore.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not correctly matched?

• Brahama Samaj - Reformist Movements

• Prarthana Samaj - Reformist Movements

• Aligarh Movement - Reformist Movements

• Arya Samaj - Reformist Movements

Multiple Choice

Who among the following was popularly known as ‘Lokahitawadi'?

• Mahadev Govind Ranade

• Pt. Iswar Chandra Vidhyasagar

• Jyotiba Phule

• Gopal Hari Deshmukh

Multiple Choice

The Parsi Reform Movement Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha (Religious Reform Association) was founded in which year?

• 1829

• 1851

• 1861

• 1879

Multiple Choice

The practice of sati was banned in the year

• 1821

• 1800

• 1829

• 1827