MSBSHSE Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 5 Social and Religious Reforms

Q1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.

(Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan, Swami Vivekanada, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde)

(1) ……………established the Ramakrishna Mission.

(2) The Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental College was established by ………….. .

(3) The Depressed Classes Mission was founded by ……………

Answer 1: Swami Vivekanada established the Ramakrishna Mission.

Answer 2: The Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental College was established by Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan.

Answer 3: The Depressed Classes Mission was founded by Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde.

Q2. Complete the following table.

Name of social reformer	Organisation	Newspaper / Book	Work of the organisation
Raja Rammohan Roy		Samvad Kaumudi
	Arya Samaj
Mahatma Phule		Gulamgiri

Answer:

Name of social reformer	Organisation	Newspaper / Book	Work of the organisation
Raja Rammohan Roy	Brahmo Samaj	Samvad Kaumudi	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.
Dayananda Saraswati	Arya Samaj	Satyarth Prakash	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.
Mahatma Phule	Sathyashodhak Samaj	Gulamgiri	Satyashodhak Samaj worked on the principle of formation of society on the basis of equality. They protested against untouchability. They advocated education among the depressed classes and women. He severely criticised the traditions and customs that discriminated between man and woman, or rather human being himself.

Q3. Explain the following statements with reasons.

(1) The Social and religious reform movement began in India.

(2) Mahatma Phule conducted a strike of barbers.

Answer 1: Indians were 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 tendencies 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 contemporary society is called ‘Indian Renaissance’.

Answer 2: 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 widows. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule started the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873. Satyashodhak Samaj worked on the principle of formation of society on the basis of equality. They protested against untouchability.

4. Write Short notes.

(1) Ramkrishna Mission

(2) Reforms for women by Savitribai Phule

Answer 1: 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 stricken 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 a representative of Hinduism. ‘Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is achieved’ was the message given by him to the Indian youth.

Answer 2: 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 widows.

Q5. Explain movement in Hindu society.

Answer: 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 Ratnagiri, open to all castes of Hindu religion. Common dining programmes were also arranged during this time.

Q6. Write a short note on Prarthana Samaj.

Answer: 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 the ‘Depressed Classes Mission’. Through the mission an attempt was made to solve the social problems.

Q7. Write a short note on Arya Samaj.

Answer: 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.