Madhav AgarwalAIR 16 · CSE 2024 · 226 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a restatement
The Socio Reform Movements of 19th century ushered a phase of "Indian Renaissance" by not only challenging social evils but resisting colonial dominance by proving might of India's rich past.
Response to colonial culture:-
Body · points
(1) Reforms within own religion: → Parsis: brought organisation by Navroji → Sikhs: Brought the Kuka Movement to reform themselves.
(2) Displace revivalism of glorious past: → 'Back to Vedas' by Dayanand Saraswati's Arya Samaj.
(3) Focused on modernisation rather than westernisation: (eg): Shunning evils of sati but modern education by Brahmo Samaj
(4) Revival of Indian education: (eg): DAV schools and colleges to counter British education.
(5) Check Christian missionary activities through cultural boost (eg): by Swami Vivekanand and Vedanta school.
Response to ideological hegemony:-
(1) Worked for woman welfare: (eg): by Savitri Bai Phule, Jyotiba Phule
(2) Reducing social cleavages: through caste reforms (eg): EVRN Ramasamy Naicker, wrote 'Kudi Arasu'
(3) Revealed true intentions of British crown through pamphlets, plays, light shows.
Different tools used: -
(1) Education of youth, children
(2) Pamphlets and newspapers used
(e.g): Samvad Kumudi by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
(3) Counter reform movements: Shuddhi movements.
(4) Literature used to challenge wrongs:
(e.g): Gulamgiri by Phule.
Close · a way forward
Socio-Reform movements 2.0 is needed to check rising communalism (2900 cases in last 5 years), casteism and poor status of women. We need to take inspiration from past for today.
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