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Difficulty: HardSocio-Religious Reform Movements of the 19th and 20th Centuries

With reference to the socio-religious reform initiatives in 19th and 20th century India, consider the following statements:

1. The Ved Samaj, founded in Madras in 1864, was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj and advocated for the abolition of caste distinctions and promotion of widow remarriage.
2. The Dharma Sabha was established by Raja Radhakanta Deb in 1830 to actively support the anti-Sati legislation enacted by Lord William Bentinck.
3. The Self-Respect Movement, launched by E.V. Ramasamy Naicker in Tamil Nadu, aimed at achieving a society where backward castes enjoyed equal human rights without Brahminical rituals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 2 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The correct answer identifies that Statements 1 and 3 accurately describe the reform agenda of Ved Samaj in South India and the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu, respectively. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Dharma Sabha was formed by orthodox leader Raja Radhakanta Deb to oppose Lord William Bentinck's anti-Sati legislation and defend traditional Hindu social practices.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding Ved Samaj.
Statement 1 is correct. Ved Samaj was established in Madras in 1864 by Keshab Chandra Sen and K. Sridharalu Naidu. It was modeled on the Brahmo Samaj, attacking caste prejudices, supporting widow remarriage, and promoting women's education.
Verifies historical founding, geographical center, and ideological stance of Ved Samaj.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding Dharma Sabha.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Raja Radhakanta Deb founded the Dharma Sabha in 1830 as an orthodox society to counter Brahmo propaganda and challenge Bengal Regulation XVII of 1829 (which declared Sati illegal). It opposed government legislative interference in Hindu religious practices, though it favored Western education.
Identifies misattribution of colonial reform act support to an orthodox opposition organization.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding the Self-Respect Movement.
Statement 3 is correct. E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) started the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu in 1925. It sought to dismantle Brahminical hegemony, eliminate caste distinctions, and promote self-respect marriages without Brahmin priests.
Verifies the leadership, regional presence, and socio-religious aims of the 20th-century anti-caste movement.

Key Concept

Socio-Religious Reform Movements and Orthodox Counter-Movements in 19th and 20th Century India
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Socio-Religious Reform Movements of the 19th and 20th Centuries

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