Question

What were the proposals made by social reformers to reform India society?

Answer 1

Hint: The purpose of the social reform movements in the 19th century was to ‘Purify’ and ‘Rediscover’ an Indian civilization that would be conformant with the European ideals of rationalism, monotheism and individualism.

Complete answer:
Social reformers’ ideas to reform the Indian society:
Some of the reformers took up the challenges to eradicate the caste system, to introduce the girl’s education, promote widow remarriage, eradicate child marriage, provide education to all, and protect the rights of the people.

Some reformers eradicate the social evils from the society. The social reformers of the country began to bring the changes in the society. They had two main objectives – first one is to eradicate evils and superstitions that existed in the Indian society and second one is to ensure equal civil rights to education, to travel and their dress code.

Raja ram Mohan Roy is regarded as the pioneer in the reform movement. He worked for the upliftment of women, supported education of women and widow remarriage. He strongly opposed child marriage and polygamy.

He started SambadKaumudi, a Bengali newspaper, and Mirat-ul-Akbar, a Persian newspaper, and established the Brahmo Samaj in Bengal in 1828. He advocated for the right of a woman to inherit property.

Besides Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar argued for remarriage of widows in Bengal which resulted in the passing of the Widow Remarriage Act in 1856. He established educational institutions for women in India.

Note: Reform means to make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) order to improve it. The use of the word ‘Reform’ in this way emerged in the late 18th century.Example: The bill will reform the tax system.