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

Swami Vivekanada established the Ramkrishna Mission.

The Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental College was established by Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan

The Depressed Classes Mission was founded by Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde

• With the spread of English education in India, there was spread of new ideas, new thoughts, new philosophy.
• Indians got introduced to western thoughts and culture.
• They wanted to create a society based on principles of Humanity, Equality and Fraternity.
• They realised that the flaws like superstitions, casteism, old customs, class system and lack of critical outlook is responsible for the backwardness of India.
• This association was responsible for social and religious reform in India.

• In India, there existed a ceremony known as Keshavapan, which involved shaving the heads of widows.
• To protest this discriminatory habit, Mahatma Phule organised a barber strike.

• Swami Vivekananda, a close disciple of Ramkrishna Paramhansa, founded the Ramkrishna Mission in 1897.
• The mission carried out social work like providing help to famine stricken people, patients and gave medical help to the poor and worked for female education.
• It taught people service to humanity is true religion and worked towards spiritual progress of the people.

• Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Phule's wife, fought for women's education with him.
• She assisted her husband, Jyotiba Phule, in his attempts to establish the first girls' school in Pune at Bhide Wada.
• Despite harsh criticism from society, she maintained her efforts in the field of education.
• She made significant contributions to the women's reform movement, which culminated in the abolition of numerous unfair practises.