Women, Caste and Reform THE INDIAN RENAISSANCE (The Fon Renatasanee cameintheiaterhafot the asieenturs 25 the background of the dark period in the first half of this century in Indian history. Politically, economically, socially and culturally India was lying prostrate before the crafty rule of the Company. i ee Ee and irrational modes of worship had made our religion look ridiculous, The priests were exploiting the ignorant masses in the name of religion. The people felt frustrated and uprooted from their own religion, culture and tradition. They lost a sense of pride in their glorious heritage, and looked to the west for inspiration. India was on the verge of a socio-cultural conquest by the English people during the first half of the 19th century. The Western culture, civilization, education and Christian religion were fast spreading in India. Sensitive Indian minds reacted towards these developments. proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Indians. English-educated Indians absorbed the spirit of English literature. They developed independent and rational thinking. They gave up their blind faith in old customs and traditions. They also became ctitical of the evils prevailing in the society, religion and culture. They desired a better social order based upon rational thinking. Thus a new awakening began to dawn upon India in the second half of the 19th century. This new awakening is often called the India It expressed itself in all spheres of life, most particularly in social, religious an cultural reform movements. the Brahmo Samaj, the Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, GFRRSLSPNICT SOURS MGHISEEAMAIGaHMMOVEMIENEAd others through their leaders and followers. (RAED Reawakening: GUNANOMEDIAD infanticide : Killing of newly bom baby child) 69-HRaja Ram Mohan Roy was the first great socio. religious reformer of the 19th century Qa ‘Riise because of his ideas and pioncering work Th Te field of socio religious reforms Raja Rom Mohan Roy aja Ram Mohan Roy and Keshab Chandra Sen were the prominent leaders of Brahmo Samaj WHCWANOMEMAIESD The Samaj prohibited all forms of idolatry and sacrifice, believed in the Upanishads, and forbade its members from criticising other religious practices. It critically drew upon the ideals of religions - especially of Hinduism and Christianity - looking at their negative and positive dimensions. Sati, painted by Balthazar Solvyn, 1813 This was one of the many pictures of sati painted by the ropean artists who came to India. The practice of sati was seen as evidence of the barbarism of the East. Hi Raja Ram Mohan Roy's greatest achie, in theadigld of social reform wos the Qi the evil_of Sati in 1829 with the-neip one QUEER. who made ira-cre Le by Taw. Ram Mohan had seen how his t, widow was forced to commit Sati. He 4.” campaign against this evil practice, wh; due to the low status of Hindu women So he advocated the cause of woman ¢, He wanted women to be given th inherit property. iia | ecupy a respectable pgsitien.in society: opposed to polygamy, child marriage . GEMM |! favoured widow remarriage , inter-caste marriages. IAAT an ye foundation of the English School>the r= College and the Vedanta Colleg): “H-- di ERGMREMEEED where he had gone as an en of the Mughal emperor. i iat Polygamy The practice of marrying more than te “omen and keeping them simultaneously. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was ag. Sanskrit scholar. He was the @iHEISEnSnSenann GSUEGERIGAIENES. He was a great educations Vidyasagar admitted the students of lower castes t his college and encouraged them to study Sa: | | | Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar jawHe also introduced the study of modern western ‘eae neo 0 See ee Vidyasagar contribution to education of girls QSEASENOEEE The Indian ineiecteats, shove and the upliftment of women was remarkable eet. |. He plaved 2 @iSiiGSitsSIeiattnaine nin HEMEESIOMMOMSNAWID He attended the first widow remarriage in Calcutta in 1856. As a special Inspector of schools, GS SeHSaanmnEEE GEEOSNOMEMD He had to fight with the orthodox section of the Indian society for all these reforms. He did his work with great courage of conviction and fortitude of his character. Influenced by the Brahmo © Bhandarkar and Mahadev (Govind Ranads founded the Prarthana Samaj in 1867 in Bombat- Ramokishna Promah to.carry on the work of social refomms. Later on “tLe, GBPEIRGSHNEIGEENSISSIsoomned |: igemgg faith in their own culture was shaken due tc (URGCMEAESSWanisenindianSecieky. The challenge from the west, found a reassurance from Prarthana Samaj advocated the worship of one__Paramahamsa’s teachings. Supreme God @ii@0HR@ineanneIaSHinanas of priests over Hindu religion and the rigidity G@itheleastesystem. The Samaj worked for the welfare of the backward and depressed classes. 1: __‘ Swami Vivekananda’s_original_name_was opened night classes to educate the labourers, and Narendra Nath Dutt. At the age of 18, Narendra EIDRSRSGSSERASEHOOTORGHs. The Samaj aimed GMatREMERISHERSiaRsHH= “Phisameeting at improving the status of women and advocated #@@iDISIEIEITERStOnNe widow remarriages as well as female education. ‘The Samaj, also opposed child marriage and practice of untouchability. Justice Ranade was « great champion of the view that social reforms must come before political reforms. He s {SQ SSEIAam> Muslims unity. the am. He became his Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a priest and a saint, was another significant socio-religious reformer of the 19th century. @EUTSGmTSmOma) @ducation But his holy life, simplicity of character, homely wisdom and his teachings won the hearts of all who gathered around him, HERESGHEEED all religions were-just.different_paths_to_reach Swami Vivekananda 1aw-8 TH2 in August i en his Guru passed aves disciples Wie) Th took the vow of sanayass. 1886 diferent om men llogetter, made fom dust rom _ [Begum Rokeya was.an inspiing Scie hp earth or rock or rusted iron whereas you and your conifibuted much to the struggle to liberate lives are made from the purest gold. .. You're asking qorrien from the bondage of social malaises) ip) pe what lenean {mean anos a worn’ band raise popular consciousness, especially among ree ta the a oa naira hor baad: ua tp cooly, Wom, she wrote a mumber of aries, sor, your eyes, .. She is shut out from going to weddings, and novels, mostly in Bengali. Begum Rokeya receptions and other auspicious occasions that married used humour, irony, and satire to focus attention |) sromen goto. And why all these restrictions? Because nthe injustices faced by Bengali-speaking | fred a Se icy: Ewes women, She eed oppressor Pome. customs forced upon women what were based upon a corrupted version of Islam, asserting that women fulfilling their potential as human beings Shinde was an associate of social activists could best display the glory of Allah. Begum Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule and was a Rokeya Hossein wrote courageously against member of their Satyashodak Samaj (“Truth restrictions on women in order to promote their Finding Community") organisation. The Phules emancipation, which, she believed, would come had started the first school for Untouchable about by breaking the gender division of labour. caste girls in 1848, as well as a shelter for upper-caste widows in 1854 (who were forbidden aay from remarrying), and shared with Shinde an awareness of the separate axes of oppression _ satire: A piece of writing humour, irony or ridicule that that constitute gender and caste, as well as the | makes someone look foolish. intermeshed nature of the two. Emancipation : The act of liberating someone. In her book, Stripurush Tulna, Tarabai Shinde, Stripurush Tulna The Indian Renaissance came in the later half of the 19th century against the background of the dark period in the first half of this century in Indian history. The introduction of English education in India in 1833 proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Indians. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the first great socio-religious reformer of the 19th century. He is called the Father ot Indian Renaissance because of his ideas and pioneering work in the field of socio-religious reforms. Dr. Bhimrao Rami Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, scholar, Bahujan political leader and a Buddhist revivalist, whe is the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.