Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 5 Social and Religious Reforms PDF Download

Social and Religious Reforms

Along with spread of English education, there was spread of new thoughts, new ideas, new philosophy. Indians were also introduced to western thoughts and culture. Due to it, there were changes in social, religious, economic and cultural aspects of Indian society.

The modern educated Indians became aware that the backwardness of India was due to superstitions, casteism, old customs, class system and lack of critical outlook. It was necessary to eradicate the flaws and undesirable tendency for progress of the country. And to create a new society based on the principles of Humanity, Equality, and Fraternity. The educated thinkers started social awareness through writings to solve the various problems in the society. The intellectual awakening in the contemporary society is called 'Indian Renaissance'.

Era of Religious and Social Reforms

Brahmo Samaj

In 1828, Raja Rammohan Roy established the Brahmo Samaj in Bengal. He had studied many languages and religions. Through it his ideology of Advaita philosophy was developed. Monotheism, caste and class equality, protest against rituals and following the way of prayers were the principles of Brahmo Samaj. He opposed Sati practice, child marriage, Purdah system. He promoted widow remarriage and female education. He founded Hindu College in Calcutta. He created public awareness through the newspaper 'Samvad Kaumudi'.

Teacher's Note

Raja Rammohan Roy was like a teacher who wanted to change bad things in society. Just like today's teachers tell us to not follow wrong customs, Raja Rammohan Roy told people to stop doing Sati and child marriage.

Exam Trick

Remember: Brahmo Samaj = Bengali reform. Raja Rammohan Roy started it in 1828 in Bengal. Just remember "Bengal + 1828 + Roy" and you will not forget this.

Points to Remember

Raja Rammohan Roy started Brahmo Samaj in 1828.
He opposed Sati, child marriage, and Purdah system.
He supported widow remarriage and female education.
He started a newspaper called Samvad Kaumudi.
He founded Hindu College in Calcutta.

Prarthana Samaj

Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar established Paramhansa Sabha in Mumbai in 1848. Later Paramhansa Sabha was dissolved and some of its members founded the Prarthana Samaj. Dadoba's brother, Dr.Atmaram Pandurang, was the first President of Prarthana Samaj. The prestige of the institution increased due to the enrollment of young graduates from Mumbai University. Justice Ranade, Dr. R.G.Bhandarkar carried forward the work of Prarthana Samaj. The opposition to idol worship, monotheism, opposition to rituals were the principles of Prarthana Samaj. They stressed on devotion and prayers. For reforming the society, Prarthana Samaj started orphanage, women's education institutes, night schools for workers and society for dalits. Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde, a member of Prarthana Samaj, established 'Depressed Classes Mission'. Through the mission an attempt was made to solve the social problems.

Teacher's Note

Prarthana Samaj worked in Mumbai to help poor people. They opened schools for workers at night, just like today we have adult education classes.

Exam Trick

Remember: Prarthana = Mumbai reform. Think "Prarthana" + "Mumbai" together. They helped Dalits and opened orphanages.

Points to Remember

Prarthana Samaj was started in Mumbai in 1848.
They opposed idol worship and rituals.
They started orphanages and women's schools.
They started night schools for workers.
Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde founded the Depressed Classes Mission.

Satyashodhak Samaj

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule started the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873. Satyashodhak Samaj worked on the principle of formation of society on basis of equality. They protested against untouchability. They advocated education among the depressed classes and women. Mahatma Phule reformed the society through the medium of books like 'Brahmananche Kasab', 'Gulamgiri', 'Shetkaryacha Asud' and 'Sarvajanik Satya Dharma'. He severely criticised the traditions and customs that made discrimination between man and woman, or rather human being himself.

Teacher's Note

Mahatma Phule fought for poor people and women. He was like a fighter who said everyone should get education, no matter if they are rich or poor.

Exam Trick

Remember: Satyashodhak = equality for all. Mahatma Phule wanted everyone equal. Think "Satyashodhak" + "equality" + 1873.

Points to Remember

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule started Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873.
They worked for equality in society.
They opposed untouchability and discrimination.
They wanted education for poor people and women.
He wrote important books on social reform.

Arya Samaj

Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875. He wrote the book 'Satyarth Prakash' as a commentary on Vedas. Ancient vedic religion is true religion which has no place for casteism. He asserted that there should be gender equality. 'Go Back to the Vedas' was the slogan of Arya Samaj. The branches of Arya Samaj were opened all over India. Many education institutions were established through the medium of Arya Samaj.

Teacher's Note

Swami Dayanand Saraswati wanted people to follow the Vedas. He said ancient Indian books had no caste system, so we should follow them. This is like saying we should learn from our old books.

Exam Trick

Remember: Arya Samaj = "Go Back to Vedas". Swami Dayanand Saraswati said this. 1875 is the year. Just remember "Vedas + No Caste + Arya Samaj".

Points to Remember

Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875.
Their slogan was "Go Back to the Vedas".
They said ancient Vedas had no caste system.
They wanted gender equality.
They opened schools all over India.

Ramkrishna Mission

Ramkrishna Mission was established by Swami Vivekananda, a close disciple of Ramkrishna Paramhansa, in 1897. Ramkrishna Mission worked for service to the society. The mission worked for providing help to the famine striken people, patients, medical help to the poor, female education and spiritual growth. Swami Vivekananda was an excellent orator. He attended the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893 as representative of Hinduism. 'Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is achieved' was the message given by him to the Indian youth.

Teacher's Note

Swami Vivekananda helped poor people and sick people. He told Indian youth to wake up and work hard, like a coach telling players to play well.

Exam Trick

Remember: "Arise, Awake" is Swami Vivekananda's message. He went to Chicago in 1893. Think "Vivekananda" + "Arise Awake" + 1897 for the mission.

Points to Remember

Swami Vivekananda started Ramkrishna Mission in 1897.
They helped hungry and sick people.
They gave free medical help to poor people.
They promoted female education.
He gave the famous message "Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is achieved".

Social Reforms Among the Sikhs

The Singh Sabha was established at Amritsar to achieve reforms in Sikh religion. This institute worked for spread of education among the Sikh community and bring in modernisation among them. Later the Akali movement continued their tradition of reformation.

Teacher's Note

Singh Sabha wanted Sikh people to get modern education. They wanted their community to change and become modern, like schools changing their teaching methods.

Exam Trick

Remember: Singh Sabha = Sikh reform at Amritsar. They wanted education and modernisation. Think "Amritsar" + "Sikhs" + "education".

Points to Remember

Singh Sabha was started at Amritsar for Sikh reforms.
They spread education among Sikhs.
They brought modernisation to their community.
The Akali movement continued their work.
They wanted Sikhs to progress and study new things.

Emancipation of Women

During the expansion of British rule in India, the position of women was very miserable. They had no right of education. They were not treated equally. Child marriage, dowry system, sati, keshavapan, opposition to widow remarriage such customs prevailed in the society. The then Governor Lord Bentinck took help of social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy to pass the Sati Prohibition Act. Gopal Hari Deshmukh, popularly known as 'Lokhitwadi' advocated gender equality through his writings in 'Shatapatre'.

In 1848, Mahatma Phule started the first school for girls at Bhide Wada in Pune. His wife Savitribai Phule supported him. Savitribai Phule had to face great criticism from the Society but she continued to work in education. Mahatma Phule established the 'Bal Hatya Pratibandhak Gruha' in his own house. He conducted a strike of barbers against the custom of shaving the heads of the widows.

Teacher's Note

Savitribai Phule wanted girls to go to school. She faced criticism but did not stop. Like a brave student who studies even when people laugh at them, she continued teaching girls.

Exam Trick

Remember: Savitribai Phule = first girls' school in 1848 in Pune. Think "Savitribai" + "girls school" + "Bhide Wada". She was Mahatma Phule's wife.

Points to Remember

Women had no education and were treated badly during British rule.
Child marriage and Sati were bad customs that were common.
Mahatma Phule started the first girls' school in Pune in 1848.
Savitribai Phule helped him even though people criticized her.
Mahatma Phule stopped the bad custom of shaving widow's heads.

For gaining permission to widow remarriage, Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Vishnushastri Pandit, and Vireshalingam took up special efforts. In his newspaper, Sudharak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar gave his staunch opinion about child marriage, law of consent. Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde organised a conference against the practice of Devdasi. In her book, 'Stri Purush Tulana', Tarabai Shinde very fiercely put up her views about women's rights. Maharshi Dhondo Karve started the 'Anath Balikashram' an orphanage for girls. His intention was to give education to all women and make them stand on their own feet. Through his efforts, the first women's university was set up in the 20th century. Pandita Ramabai founded the Sharada Sadan and took up the responsibility of taking care of disabled children and women. Ramabai Ranade, through the medium of Seva Sadan Institute, started the Nursing course for women. She demanded the right to vote for women. Through articles, Dr.Ambedkar spoke about the injustice towards women. Mahatma Gandhi also advocated education of women. Women have given valuable contribution during the freedom movement.

Teacher's Note

Many people worked to help women. Maharshi Karve started the first women's university. It is like how today we have colleges for everyone.

Exam Trick

Remember: Maharshi Karve = first women's university. Tarabai Shinde wrote about women's rights. Pandita Ramabai helped disabled women and children.

Points to Remember

Many reformers worked to help women get education and rights.
Maharshi Karve started the first women's university in 20th century.
Tarabai Shinde wrote a book about women's rights.
Pandita Ramabai helped disabled children and women.
Ramabai Ranade started nursing course for women.

Women's reform movement helped in closing down many unjust practices in the society. The voice for problems against the women broke out. Women started putting up their own thoughts through their writings. Their performance in every sectors of life flourished due to education.

Religious Reforms Among the Muslims

Abdul Latif started the social reform among the muslim community. He established 'The Mohammedan Literary Society' in Bengal.

Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan founded 'The Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College'. It later developed into the 'Aligarh Muslim University'. He advocated western science and technology. He firmly believed that Muslims could make progress only by studying modern education and science.

Teacher's Note

Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan wanted Muslim people to learn modern science. He started a college that became Aligarh Muslim University. This is like starting a small school that becomes a big university.

Exam Trick

Remember: Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan = Aligarh Muslim University. He said Muslims need modern education and science. Think "Aligarh" + "modern education" + "science".

Points to Remember

Abdul Latif started reforms among Muslims in Bengal.
He made the Mohammedan Literary Society.
Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan started the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College.
This college later became Aligarh Muslim University.
He believed Muslims needed modern science and education.

Movement in Hindu Society

In 1915, 'Hindu Mahasabha' was established to give a respectable position to the Hindu community. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya laid the foundation of 'Banaras Hindu University'. Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, in 1925, established Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Nagpur. Its aim was to set up a disciplinary and virtuous organisation of Hindu youth. V.D.Savarkar built the 'Patit Pawan Temple' at Ra