Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-5-Social and Religious Reforms-Maharashtra Board

Work :

• Developed ideology of Advaita.
• Monotheism, caste and class equality, protest against rituals and advocated way of prayers to Worship of God.
• Opposed child marriage, sati and purdah system.
• Advocated widow remarriage and female education.
• Founded Hindu college at Calcutta.
• Created public awareness through his newspaper Samvad Kaumudi.

Work :

• Opposed idol worship, rituals, advocated monotheism, and followed the way of prayer.
• Started orphanage, Women's education institutes, schools for workers and society for dalits.
• Maharshi Vitthal Romji Shinde Justice Ranade, Dr. R. G Bhandarkar carried forward the work of Prarthana Samaj.

Work :

• It worked on the principle of social equality in society.
• Protested against untouchability.
• He opposed caste discrimination and criticised the traditions and customs which discriminated between man and woman.
• He reformed society through his books like Brahmananche Kasab, Gulamgiri, Shetkaryacha Asud and Sarvajanik Satya Dharma.

Work :

• Book 'Satyarth Prakash' was a commentary on vedas written by him.
• According to him, ancient vedic religion was the true religion as it had no place for casteism.
• He asserted greater gender equality.
• 'Go back to the Vedas’ was the slogan of Arya Samaj.
• Arya Samaj was instrumental in establishing many educational institutions.

Work :

• It provided help for famine stricken people, patients, medical help to poor, female education and spiritual growth.
• He was a representative of Hinduism in the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893.
• He gave the message to the Indian youth "Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is achieved".

Reforms regarding women :

Raja Rammohan Roy :

• He led the movement against practice of Sati.
• He helped the then Governor Lord Bentinck to pass Sati Prohibition Act.

Gopal Hari Deshmukh (Lokhitwadi):

• He advocated gender equality through his writings in 'Shatapatre'

Mahatma Phule :

• He started the first school for girls at Bhide Wada in 1848 at Pune.
• He established 'Bal Hatya Pratibhandhak Gruha' in his house.
• He organised strike of Barbers against the custom of Keshavapan (shaving the heads of the widows.)

Savitribai Phule :

• She supported Mahatma Phule in his work.
• She faced severe criticism of society but continued her work in the field of education.

Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Vishnushastri Pandit, and Vireshalingam :

• Took up special efforts, for gaining permission to widow remarriage,

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar :

• He gave his staunch opinion about child marriage and law of consent in his newspaper 'Sudharak'.

Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde :

• Opposed and organised a conference to protest against the practice of Sati.

Tarabai Shinde :

• Wrote book, 'Stri Purush Tulna' and fiercely put her views on the rights of women.

Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve :

• He founded Anath Balikashram, an orphanage for girls and the First Women's University.
• He wanted to give education to all women and make them self-reliant.

Pandita Ramabai :

• She founded the Sharada Sadan.
• She took responsibility of taking care of specially challenged children and women.

Ramabai Ranade

• She started Nursing course for women through Seva Sadan Institute.
• She demanded the right to vote for Women.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

• Exposed injustice inflicted on women

Mahatma Gandhi :

• Advocated women Education

Women's Reform Movement helped in ending many unjust practices. Women through their writings started putting forth their own views and their performance flourished in all sectors of life due to education.

Religious reforms among the Muslims :

(1) Abdul Latif :

• He initiated reforms in the Muslim community.
• He established ‘The Mohammedan Literary Society’ in Bengal.

(2) Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan :

• He promoted western science and technology.
• He founded ‘The Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College’ which later became Aligarh Muslim University.
• He firmly believed that Muslims could make progress only by studying modern education and science.