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Q1History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2025
Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
1. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
2. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Raja Ram Mohan Roy drew heavily upon Vedantic and Upanishadic traditions, demonstrating deep respect for Eastern philosophy, while simultaneously advocating for rational inquiry, scientific temperament, women's rights, and social equality. He successfully balanced reformist zeal with reverence for India's philosophical heritage.
Q2History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2025
Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?
- A'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy NaickerCorrect
- BDr. B. R. Ambedkar
- CBhaskarrao Jadhav
- DDinkarrao Javalkar
Explanation
Correct. E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 in Tamil Nadu to challenge caste hierarchy, Brahmanical social dominance, and gender inequality. It promoted rationalism and self-respect among lower castes.
Q3History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2021
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female Schools which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
- AAnnie Besant
- BDebendranath Tagore
- CIshwar Chandra VidyasagarCorrect
- DSarojini Naidu
Explanation
Correct. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was closely associated with the Hindu Female School established by J.E.D. Bethune in 1849. Vidyasagar served as its secretary and played a crucial role in sustaining the institution for women's education in Bengal.
Q4History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2020
The Vital-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience, was published by:
- AGopal Baba WalangkarCorrect
- BJyotiba Phule
- CMohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- DBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Explanation
Correct. Gopal Baba Walangkar, a retired soldier from the Mahar community, was one of the earliest anti-caste activists and is credited with publishing Vital-Vidhwansak, a pioneering journal aimed at untouchable readers.
Q5History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2019
Consider the following pairs:
Movement or Organization : Leader
1. All India Anti-Untouchability League : Mahatma Gandhi
2. All India Kisan Sabha : Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
3. Self-Respect Movement : Naicker E.V. Ramaswami
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. All three pairs are correctly matched: Gandhi founded the Anti-Untouchability League in 1932, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati founded the All India Kisan Sabha in 1936, and E.V. Ramaswami Naicker (Periyar) launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925.
Q6History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2016
Consider the following:
1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee
2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation
3. Indian Reforms Association
Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
- A1 and 3 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Keshab Chandra Sen established the Tabernacle of New Dispensation (Nava Vidhan) in 1881 as a synthesis of various religious traditions, and the Indian Reform Association in 1870 to promote social reform including women's education and temperance.
Q7History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2016
Satya Shodhak Samaj organized:
- AA movement for the upliftment of tribals in Bihar
- BA temple-entry movement in Gujarat
- CAn anti-caste movement in MaharashtraCorrect
- DA peasant movement in Punjab
Explanation
Correct. Jyotirao Phule founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Truth-Seekers' Society) in Maharashtra in 1873 to challenge Brahmanical social dominance and caste oppression. It worked to liberate lower castes from priestly exploitation.
Q8History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2012
During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
- ADifferent social reform groups or organisations of Bengal region united to form a single body to discuss the issues of larger interest and to prepare appropriate petitions/representations to the government
- BIndian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purposeCorrect
- CBehramji Malabari and M. G. Ranade decided to bring together all the social reform groups of the country under one organisation
- DNone of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
Explanation
Correct. The Indian National Congress deliberately kept social reform questions out of its political deliberations to maintain unity among diverse groups. M.G. Ranade and others therefore established the National Social Conference as a separate platform to discuss social reform issues, meeting alongside Congress sessions.
Q9History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2012
Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?
1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India
2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation
3. The Independent Labour Party
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party in 1936 to contest elections and represent the interests of the working class and depressed classes. He later founded the All India Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942 as a political body for Dalits.
Q10History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2012
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?
1. It opposed idolatry.
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts.
3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible.
Select the correct answer:
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. The Brahmo Samaj opposed idol worship and rejected the need for priests to interpret scriptures, promoting direct access to the divine through reason and monotheistic worship. Statement 3 is wrong because the Brahmo Samaj did not uphold Vedic infallibility; that doctrine was more characteristic of the Arya Samaj.
Q11History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2009
In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta?
- AHenry Louis Vivian Derozio
- BIshwar Chandra Vidyasagar
- CKeshab Chandra Sen
- DRaja Rammohan RoyCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Raja Rammohan Roy collaborated with David Hare and Alexander Duff in establishing Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817, which became a major centre of modern Western education in India.
Q12History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2005
Consider the following statements:
1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Bethune School at Calcutta with the main aim of encouraging education for women.
2. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first graduate of the Calcutta University.
3. Keshav Chandra Sen's campaign against Sati led to the enactment of a law to ban Sati by the then Governor General.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B1 and 2Correct
- C2 and 3
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Vidyasagar was instrumental in the establishment and management of the Bethune School for women's education, and Bankim Chandra was among the first graduates of Calcutta University. Statement 3 is wrong because it was Raja Rammohan Roy, not Keshab Chandra Sen, who campaigned against Sati leading to its abolition by Lord William Bentinck in 1829.