Modern History MCQs – 3 (Social and Religious Reform Movements)
Social and Religious Reform Movements MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, BPSC, UPPSC and other Examinations.
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Recommandation :- Read Short Notes on Socio-Religious Reform Movements of Modern India before attempting the questions.
1. Who among the following gave the title of ‘Raja’ to Ram Mohan Roy ?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Akbar
(c) Akbar II
(d) Jahangir
Correct Answer: (c) Akbar II
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a social reformer born in Radhanagar(Bengal Presidency) on 22 May, 1772 .
- He is popularly known as the father of Indian renaissance.
- Mughal emperor Akbar II awarded him the title ‘Raja’. He represented Akbar II in England where he pleaded for his grievances related to his pension and allowances.
- He stood against the practice of ‘Sati’. As a result of his efforts, The Abolition of Sati Act, 1829 was enacted.
- He also fought against polygamy and child marriage and advocated women education, widow remarriage and the right of inheritance for women.
2. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was associated with which of the following ?
(a) Atmiya Sabha
(b) The Calcutta Unitarian Committee
(c) Brahma Sabha
(d) All of the above
Correct Answer: (d) All of the above
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded ‘Atmiya Sabha’ in 1814 in order to fight against idol worship, meaningless rituals and superstitious beliefs. With Atmiya Sabha, Raja Ram Mohan Roy would conduct discussions and debates and spreaded the monotheistic ideas of Vedanta philosophy.
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded ‘The Hindu College’ at Calcutta with David Hare.
- He founded ‘The Calcutta Unitarian Committee’ in September 1821 to bring together prominent Brahmins of Bengal who supported the promotion of religious monotheism and social reform.
- He established the ‘Brahmo Sabha’ in 1828 with Debendranath Tagore which later became the Brahmo Samaj.
- In 1825, he established ‘The Vedanta college’ where along with Indian learning, the Western social and physical sciences were taught.
3. Which of the following Literary works was not published by Raja Ram Mohan Roy ?
(a) Sambad Kaumudi
(b) Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin
(c) Mirat-ul-Akhbar
(d) Ain-i-Akbari
Correct Answer: (d) Ain-i-Akbari
- ‘Ain-i-Akbari’ was written by Akbar’s court historian Abul Fazl in Persian language in the 16th century.
- ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ was a Bengali weekly newspaper published by Ram Mohan Roy from Kolkata in the 19th century. It advocated for progressive values and openly opposed bigotry and superstitions.
- ‘Mirat-ul-Akhbar’ was a Persian language journal published by Raja Rammohan Roy in 1822.
- ‘Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin’ was the first book composed by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Persian language.
- Other prominent publications from Raja Ram Mohan Roy were Brahmanical Magazine (1821), Vedanta Gantha (1815) etc.
4. ‘Adi Brahmo Samaj’ was established by ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Debendranath Tagore
(c) Rabindranath Tagore
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Correct Answer: (b) Debendranath Tagore
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy established ‘Brahmo Sabha’ in 1828, which was later renamed as ‘Brahmo Samaj’. It advocated for progressive values, meditation and reading of the scriptures and opposed bigotry and superstitions.
- It split into two in 1866 which are mentioned as following:
- ‘Brahmo Samaj of India’ led by Keshub Chandra Sen
- ‘Adi Brahmo Samaj’ led by Debendranath Tagore
5. ‘Satya Shodhak Samaj’ was established by ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Debendranath Tagore
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Correct Answer: (c) Jyotiba Phule
- Satya Shodhak Samaj was an anti caste movement led by Jyothiba Phule in Maharashtra. It was started in 1873.
- It made efforts for increased social rights and political access for underprivileged groups.
- It advocated caste equality.
- Focused especially on women, Shudras, and Dalits in Maharashtra.
6. ‘Gulamgiri’ was written by which among the following social reformers ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Dayananda Saraswati
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Correct Answer: (c) Jyotiba Phule
- Jyothiba Phule started Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873.
- He wrote a book named Gulamgiri, meaning Slavery. It is a critique of the caste system.
- Jyotirao Phule along with his wife Savitribai Phule established the first girl’s school in Pune in 1848.
7. ‘Satyarth Prakash’ is a famous literary work by ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Dayananda Saraswati
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Correct Answer: (b) Dayananda Saraswati
- ‘Satyarth Prakash’ is a famous literary work by Dayananda Saraswati.
- He was an Indian philosopher, social reformer and founder of the Arya Samaj.
- His vision was a classless and casteless society and a united India.
8. The slogan of “Back to the Vedas” was given by which of the following social reformers ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Dayananda Saraswati
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Correct Answer: (b) Dayananda Saraswati
- The slogan of “Back to the Vedas” was given by Dayananda Saraswati.
- He was an Indian philosopher, social reformer and founder of the Arya Samaj.
- He believed vedas as the true source of hinduism and gave the slogan of “Back to the Vedas” and opposed idol worship.
- He believed in the Vedic ‘Chaturvarna system’ which advocates that a person is not born in any caste but is identified as a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra according to the occupation he follows.
9. Who among the following started the ‘Young Bengal Movement’ ?
(a) Keshub Chandra Sen
(b) Dayananda Saraswati
(c) Swami Vivekananda
(d) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
Correct Answer: (d) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
- ‘The Young Bengal Movement’ was started by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio in Calcutta in the 1820s.
- He was an Anglo-Indian college teacher in Calcutta.
- He encouraged radical thinking among his students and opposed the prevailing religious practices of orthodox Hinduism.
- He also inspired free-thinking among his students and propagated the ideas of liberty, equality and freedom.
10. Who among the following started the Aligarh Movement ?
(a) Rashid Ahamad Gangohi
(b) Sayyid Ahmed Khan
(c) Muhammad Qasim Wanotavi
(d) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
Correct Answer: (b) Sayyid Ahmed Khan
- Aligarh Movement is considered as the most important socio-religious movement among Muslims.
- It was started by Sayyid Ahmed Khan with the establishment of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875(Which later became Aligarh Muslim University).
- It advocated modern and scientific education for Muslims.