Social cultural and education policy

.social policy

.Policy of Non-interference was followed by the British in spheres of social, cultural and religious
life of the fellow Indians till 1813.

.the abolition of "Sati" (1829), the prohibition of infanticide (1795 and 1802), allowing widows to
remarry by law (the Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act of 1856). Nature of Reforms

.the British wanted the Indians to be educated and modern enough to consume their goods but
not wanted them to become detrimental to British interests.

Cultural policy

The policy of modernizing Indian society and culture was also encouraged by Christian
missionaries and religious-minded persons. Persons like William Wilberforce and Charles Grant,
the chairman of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, wanted to spread Christianity
in India.

.They too, adopted a critical attitude towards Indian society but on religious grounds.

.They passionately believed that Christianity alone was a true religion and that all other religions
were false. They supported a program of Westernization in thehope that it would lead to the
country's conversion to Christianity.

They thought that the light of Western knowledge would destroy people's faith in their own
religions and lead them to welcome and embrace Christianity.

They thus opened modern schools, colleges and hospitals in the country. The missionaries
were also most unwilling allies of the rationalist radicals because scientific approach of
rationalist radicals undermined not only Hindu or Muslim mythology but Christian mythology as
well.

Advent of Science and Humanism

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a staunch supporter of radicals and other like-minded Indians, who
were conscious of the low state to which their own country and society had stopped, who were
sick of caste prejudices and other social evils, and who believed that the salvation of India lay in
science and humanism. The reason for the Government of India following a policy of cautious
and gradual innovation was the continuous presence of
Education policy and influence

.Warren Hastings Calcutta madrasa 1781.

.Jonathan Duncan Sanskrit College benaras.

.Woods dispatch 1854.

.Fort William college,1800 by Wellesley -trainig of civil servants

Down filtration theory

Background

In the early 19th century, many Indians realized that social and religious reforms were crucial to
the development of the country and its people.

. Nationalist sentiments new economic forces, education, and knowledge of the world increased
Indian awareness of _the_backwardness and degradation(RTC) of their society.

.It also further strengthened the resolve to reform

Impact of birtish rule

India's society and culture were vastly altered by British rule.

India's early invaders either absorbed or assimilated its

superior culture and they became part of its people and land.

When the British arrived in India in the eighteenth century, it was a stagnant civilisation and
society, in contrast to an enlightened Europe of the time.

Social Condition Ripe for Reform

Religious and Social Ills

• Hinduism had become steeped in magic and superstition. In addition to idolatry and
polytheism, their monopoly of scriptural knowledge left all religions in a deceptive position.

Depressing position of women

Attempts to kill female infants.

Child marriage.

• The practice of polygamy

The caste problem

The untouchables suffered from numerous and severe disabilities and restrictions.

..Opposition of Western Culture

As colonial rule was established in India, colonial culture and ideology were spread by
systematic means. Traditional institutions and traditional culture were reinvigorated(fa) during
the nineteenth century in order to -combat colonialism's intrusion.

New Awareness among Enlightened Indians

.Due to its weaknesses, a vast country like India had been colonized by a few foreigners.

.The rising tide of nationalism and democracy also found expression in movements to reform
and democratize the social institutions and religious outlook of the Indian people.

Social and Ideological Bases of Reform

Middle Class Base

The emerging middle class and the educated intellectuals. They looked for its model in the
European "middle class"

• However, Indian intelligentsia did not grow out of trade or industry.

The Intellectual Criteria

What gave these reform movements an ideological unity were rationalism, religious universalism
and humanism()

It gave the social reform movements an ideological identity.

Many of the intellectuals set aside the authority of religion

Emancipation of Women
> Women were generally assigned a low status. >

Women were suppressed by practices like purdah, early marriage, prohibition of widow
marriage, sati etc. They were generally denied education.

> Polygamy

Step taken to Ameliorate women position

Abolition of sati

.widow remarriage

Preventing infanticide

Controlling child marriage

Women education

New awareness among enlightened indians

There was an awareness that a vast country like India had been colonized by a handful of
foreigners because of weaknesses within the Indian social structure and culture. This produced
diverse reactions. Reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami
Dayanand Saraswati, Jyotiba Phule and Pandita Ramabai etc. understood that ignorance and
backwardness in the society was responsible for hindering its progress and development. The
desire to reform the society was so strong that these reformers were now ready to face
challenges as well as resistance from the orthodox Indians.

Method of scope and reform

.scope -social ills and problem

Method-Reforms from Within

The technique of reform from within was initiated by Rammohan Roy and followed throughout
the nineteenth century.

.The advocates of this method believed that any reform in order to be effective had to emerge
from within the society itself. As a result, the main thrust of their efforts was to create a sense of
awareness among the people by organizing debates and discussions on various social
problems. Example: Rammohan's campaign ag sati, Vidyasagar's pamphlets on widow remarria

Reforms through Legislation

The second trend was represented by af in the efficacy of legislative intervention. advocates of
this method believed that refor efforts cannot really be effective unless support by the state.

Therefore, reformers appealed to government to give legislative sanction for refor like widow
marriage, civil marriage and increas in the age of consent.

Reforms through Symbol of Change

The third trend was an attempt to create symbol of change through nonconformist individual
activity

This was limited to the 'Derozians' or 'Your Bengal' who represented a radical stream with the
reform movement.

The reformers were influenced by "the regenerating new thought from the West and displayed
an high uncompromising rational attitude towards social problems.

Religious and Social Reform Movements

.With the advent of the British, Indians were exposed to new ideas of the world like humanism,
rationality, morality etc.

Such a big country like India was subordinated by handful of Britishers.

This certainly meant India lost in the race of civilization

.. It led to three types of reaction from India's rising middle class who formed new intelligentsia
of India.

.This young educated Indians were realizing the cause of India's backwardness.

It was social ills like- casteism, women degraded place in society mainly

.Indians tried to reform India. But there were three types responses to the
social backwardness-

1. Radical - They tried to abandon the Indian culture completely and adopt the European culture.
2. Reformist- They tried to revive Indian culture by using some new European ideas of
Humanism, Rationalism, equality etc.

3. Revivalist- They were orthodox. They believed Indian culture was

perfect and if they go according to their own traditions then all social
evils will be vanished.

Radical

Young Bengal Movement

It was led by Henry Vivian Derazio(1809-31).

. He taught at Hindu college, Calcutta. He took inspiration from French revolution.

He had great following among his students.

He professed to adopt British culture completely like consume beef, drink wine etc

. But the movement couldn't spread due to lack of connection with the masses

. The movement vanished in 1831 after death of Derazio.

Reformist - They slowly reformed Indian society on the basis of rationality and
developed nationalistic consciousness. The product of these reforms will later
lead Indian National Movement against British.

Brahmo samaj

.Raja Ram Mohan Roy 1828.

. Earlier name Atmiya sabha 1814.

Propounded prayer, meditation,opposed idol worship and reading of Upanishads. Took

teachings

Established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. Earlier its name was Atmiya from other religion
also. Brahmao samaj was not a new religion but an attempt to purify Hinduism. Raja Ram
Mohan Ray died in 1833. Other contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Promoted Monotheism. He wrote a book

-Gift to Monotheists in 1809. Then he wrote Percept of Jesus(1820).
.There he took some good ideas
of Christanity for which he faced
wrath of Christians.

Formed Atmiya Sabha in 1814.

.Raja Ram Mohan Ray Opened

colleges Hindu College with the help of David Hare in

1817 Vedanta College in 1825. Published Newspapers Mirat ul Akbar in Persian, Sambad
Kaumudini in Bengali.

Devendra Nath Tagore(1842-1858)

He earlier formed Tattva Bodhni Sabha in 1839.

In 1842 he became next Acharya of Brahmo Samaj. But he never formally merged the two
sabhas.

Keshav Chandra Sen (1858-1865)

He replaced Devendra Nath Tagore as new Acharya.

. He spread Brahmo Samaj movement outside Bengal.

. He was very radical and cosmopolitan while Devendra Nath Tagore was little orthodox.

. KC Sen was expelled from Brahmo Samaj in 1865.

. After that Brahmao Samaj was disintegrated.

Brahmo samaj(1865)

1.Brahmo samaj of India under KC sen

2.Adi Brahmo Samaj by DN tagore.

.Later in 1878 he married his minor daughter with Raja of Cooch Bihar. Then many of his
followers got disgusted with him and made Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.

Over all tenets of Brahmo Samaj were

Rationality(reason more important than scriptures), Monotheism, opposed Idolatory, women
equality, criticized casteism
.. Karma and punarjanam left for the individuals to decide.

Reform Movement in Bombay

a. Paramhans Sabha(1849)- It opposed casteism

b. Prarthana Samaj(1863) - Extension of Brahmo Samaj by KC Sen. Later it was

changed to the name Poona Sarvajanik Sabha in 1867.

. It was promoted by MG Ranade,RG Bhandarkar, NG Chandawarkar.

Ramkrishna Movement- Its founder was Swami Vivekanand. Ramkrishana( guru of

Swami Vivekanad) established Belur Math in Calcutta with two purposes. As place of attaining
salvation for religious monks and for charity purpose.

. In 1897 Vivekanand became the guru at Ramkrishna Mission after death of Ramkrishna
Paramhans.

Tenets of Ramkrishna Mission Service to man is service to god(Humanism).

.Allowed image worship but focus on spiritual development.

In Parliament of
Religion in Chicago(1893)- Vivekanad emphasized on harmony of Materialism and Spiritualism

Some other Reformist leaders are-

1.Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar- Focussed on woman emancipation. In 1850 he

became Principal of Sanskrit College.

.Then he allowed non Brahmans also in the

college.

. He opened first girls school with JED Bethune in 1849.

He made the British government pass Woman Remarriage Act,1856.

2Jyotiba Phule- He was against casteism. He wrote books like Sarvajanik Satya Dharam,
Gulamgiri, Ratiya Tritiya Ratna, Life of Shivaji, Ishara.He belonged to Maharashtra.

3.Gopal Hari Deshmukh-He formed Lok Hit Wadi. He emphasized on equality

. 4 Gopal Krishna Gokhale- He formed Servants of India Society in 1905 5.Social Service
League by Behramji Malabari.

Some Caste movement of South India

1.Sri Narayan Guru Dharam Paripalan Movement (1902)- By Ezhava community of Kerala
against casteism

2 Vokkalingam Sangh(1905) in Mysore against Casteism.

3. Justice Movement in Tamil Nadu in 1917 by CN Mudaliar,TM Nair, Thyagraj.

4. Self Respect Movement by Ramaswami Naickar in 1925. Some temple entry movement in
the south

1. Aravipuram Movement 1888- Sri Narayan Guru installed Shiva image for worship of lower
castes. Vaikom Satyagrah(1924)-By KP Kesav. Gandhiji went to the South to support by it.

Revivalist

Araya Samaj Movement

Started by Dayanand Saraswati in Bombay in 1875. His real name was

Mulshankar, Headquarter of Arya Samaj was Lahore.
Book of Dayanand Saraswati
Satyarth Prakash.

Basic tenet of Arya Samaj

Opposed untouchability, idolatory, opposed polytheism, sacrifices, black magic Dayanand

supported Vedic learning(not vedic culture).

. He gave slogan "go back to

Vedas.

.He supported Casteism on the basis of profession.

.He started Sudhhi movement(to bring back the people who transformed their religion to Islam
and Christianity from Hinduism)
Islamist Social Reform Movements

1. Wahabi Movement-

It was a revivalist movement started around 1800.

. It wanted to harmonise all sects of Muslims.

.It was based on the teaching of Waliullah(a saint of Iran). It was later politicized by Shah Abdul
Aziz and Barelvi.

.They called India land of kafirs(Darul - ul- Harb) and wanted to make it land of Islam (Darul-ul
Islam)

.. It was first directed against Sikhs then against Britishers for political gains.

. Ahmadiya Movement-

It was reformist movement Started by Mirza Ghulam Ahamad He believed In one god and called
for Hindu Muslim unity.

. He called himself incarnation

of Krishna,

3. Aligarh Movement

It was earlier reformist movement but turned communal later.

.It was started by Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan. He was a Judicial member of Imperial tegislative
council.

. He was also given Knighthood in 1888.

.He emphasized on women education, condemned Pri-Muridi (Guru-Shisya) system.

.Later on insistence of British he asked Muslim youth to not take part in

political activity against British..

He founded Aligarh Muslim University in 1875, He also established two organizations Anglo
Oriental education Institution and United India Patriotic Association.
. He wrote journal Tahdib ul Aklaq improvement in manner and morals).

4. Deoband Movement-

It was orthodox revivalist movement. It claimed to be based on pure

teachings of Quran and Haddis.

Its purpose was to train Ullemmas for

Jihad,

Parsi Reform movement

Rehnumal Mazdnyan sabha (1851)

.It was reformist movement. It was established by Dada Bhai Naroji and Furdonji.
They published Raft Goftar(The Truth Teller) a Gujrati fortnightly newspaper.

Sikh Movement

1. Singh Sabha Movement(1873)

A reformist movement. Focused on modernizing education. Opened Khalsa schools.

2. Akali Movement(1921)

To liberate Gurudwaras from the orthodox Mahants. It was time of Non Cooperation movement
by Indian National Congrees (INC)

.. INC supported the movement and the British supported the Mahants. There was conflict
between Mahants and common people for the keys of treasury(Toshakkhana).

.It is known as Keys affair in Sikh history.

.Later Sikh Gurudwara Act 1922 was passed and SGPC(Sri Gurudwara Prabandhan
Commiitee) took over the control from Mahants according to the act.

Theosophical society

Madam HP Blavatsky and Sir Olcott began this movement in 1875 in- America. In 1882 it shifted
to Adyar near Madras

.. It was inspired by Indian philosophical system like Upanishads, Samkya, Yoga etc.
.It aimed at promoting world brotherhood.

In 1907 Annie Besant

became its president.

.They glorified Indian religion but were not very popular in India Annie Besant- Came to India in
1893.

She established Central Hindu College at Benares in 1898.

Later it became BHU. She became first woman president of INC in 1917in Calcutta session.

.Some other important informations regarding social reforms in India- Acts brought by British
government to bring social reforms in India.

Abolishment of Infanticide(1796)- Abolishment of Sati(1829)

- Widow Remarriage Act(1856

.) Native Marriage Act(1872) & Sarda Act in 1930 to do away Child marriage

. Note -Native Marriage Act set minimum marriageable age 12 for Parsis. Then Sarda Act made
it 18 for boys and 14 for girls for all communities. After Independence Child Marriage

Restraint Act (1976) made it 21 and 18. Important reformers for woman empowerment Vishnu
Shastri Pandit- Established Woman Remarriage Association

Karson Das Mulji- He Published Satya Prakash in Gujrati to aware people for women
empowerment.