1
Which of the following social reformers is known as the 'Father of Indian Renaissance'?
🏛️ Social Reform Movements
Social Reform Movements
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
50 Questions Indian History
A comprehensive collection of 20 high-quality objective questions covering the key social and religious reform movements of 19th and 20th century India.
2
The 'Atmiya Sabha', a precursor to the Brahmo Samaj, was founded by whom?
3
Who among the following was the founder of the 'Young Bengal Movement'?
4
The widow remarriage movement in India was spearheaded most effectively by:
5
Which organization was founded by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 to uplift the oppressed castes?
6
The Arya Samaj, which advocated for a return to the Vedas, was founded in which year?
7
Who started the newspaper 'Mooknayak' to voice the grievances of the untouchables?
8
The 'Servants of India Society' was established in 1905 by:
9
The 'Self-Respect Movement' was launched in the Madras Presidency by:
10
Which reformer is associated with the 'Aligarh Movement' which promoted modern education among Muslims?
11
Who described the 'Ramakrishna Mission' as an organization aiming to bring the message of Vedantic humanism?
12
The 'Veda Samaj' was established in Madras in 1864 under the influence of which movement?
13
Which act, influenced by social reformers, raised the age of consent for marriage for girls to 12 years?
14
Who founded the 'Prarthana Samaj' in Bombay in 1867?
15
Which of the following was the main objective of the 'Theosophical Society' in India?
16
Who was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress who was also a prominent Theosophist?
17
The 'Deoband Movement' was a revivalist movement that aimed to:
18
Which reformer founded the 'Widow Remarriage Association' in 1861?
19
The 'SNDP Yogam' movement in Kerala was associated with:
20
Who among the following was known as 'Lokahitawadi' for his social reform writings in Maharashtra?
21
Which social reformer is credited with writing 'Gulamgiri', a critique of the caste system in the form of a dialogue?
22
Who founded the 'Tattvabodhini Sabha' in 1839 to promote the study of India's philosophical past and social reform?
23
The 'Satya Shodhak Samaj' emphasized which of the following as its core mission?
24
Who was the primary force behind the enactment of the 'Native Marriage Act' (or Civil Marriage Act) of 1872?
25
Which newspaper was published by Annie Besant to propagate the ideas of the Theosophical Society and Indian Nationalism?
26
Who founded the 'Dharma Sabha' in 1830 to oppose the abolition of Sati?
27
The 'Paramahansa Mandali' was a secret socio-religious organization founded in 1849 in which city?
28
Which social reformer established the 'Arya Mahila Samaj' in 1882 to improve the status of women in society?
29
The 'Ahmadiyya Movement' founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in 1889 had which primary objective?
30
Which influential reformer was known as the 'Grand Old Man' of the social reform movements in Western India, associated with the Indian Social Conference?
31
Who wrote the famous Marathi journal 'Sudarshana' and led the campaign against the 'Age of Consent' reform controversies?
32
The 'Parsi Religious Reform Association' (Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha) was formed in 1851 to:
33
Which of these women was the first female graduate of Calcutta University, who later fought for women’s rights?
34
Who founded the 'Dev Samaj' in Lahore in 1887, focusing on moral and social reform?
35
What was the main purpose of the 'Indian Social Conference' started by M.G. Ranade?
36
The 'Bharat Dharma Mahamandala' was formed in 1902 in Varanasi with the primary purpose of:
37
Who started the 'Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha' in 1924 for the upliftment of the depressed classes?
38
The 'Radhasoami' movement (founded 1861) primarily emphasized which of the following?
39
Who was the leader of the 'Ezhava Movement' in Kerala, which challenged the social exclusion of backward castes?
40
Which of the following movements was specifically focused on the reform of the Sikh community and the removal of corruption from Gurdwaras?
41
Which prominent social reformer authored 'Satyarth Prakash', a foundational text for the Arya Samaj ideology?
42
The 'Manav Dharma Sabha', considered the first reform organization in Surat, was established by whom in 1844?
43
Which movement was launched in 1920 to liberate the Sikh shrines from the control of corrupt Mahants?
44
Who founded the 'Vedanta Society' in New York in 1894 before formally organizing the Ramakrishna Mission in India?
45
The 'Justice Party' in Madras (1916) emerged as a political wing of which social reform movement?
46
Who was the author of the controversial book 'Stree Purush Tulana' (1882), which advocated for the rights of women?
47
In the context of Islamic reform, which movement was founded by Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi in 1866?
48
Which reformer is known for organizing the 'All India Depressed Classes Conference' in 1918?
49
The 'Indian Reform Association', established in 1870, was founded by which Brahmo leader?
50
Which movement, started by Haji Shariatullah in Bengal, aimed to purify Islamic practices and resist British oppression?
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Important Notes — Social Reform Movements
Socio-Religious Reform Movements in 19th Century India
The 19th-century Socio-Religious Reform Movements were a response to the rationalist and humanist ideas introduced by Western education, aiming to eradicate social evils and modernize Indian society. These movements are a high-yield area for UPSC, SSC, and other competitive exams.
Key Reformist Movements and Leaders
- Brahmo Samaj (1828): Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the "Father of Indian Renaissance." It focused on monotheism, denounced idol worship, and played a pivotal role in the abolition of Sati (1829) with the help of Lord William Bentinck. Later, Debendranath Tagore and Keshav Chandra Sen expanded its reach.
- Arya Samaj (1875): Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in Bombay. He gave the slogan "Back to the Vedas" and authored *Satyarth Prakash*. The movement was revivalist, focusing on Shuddhi (reconversion) and opposing untouchability and child marriage.
- Prarthana Samaj (1867): Established by Dr. Atmaram Pandurang in Bombay with the assistance of Mahadev Govind Ranade. It aimed to reform Hindu social practices, specifically focusing on inter-caste dining and widow remarriage.
- Ramakrishna Mission (1897): Founded by Swami Vivekananda in memory of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa. It emphasized the spirit of "Service to man is service to God" and promoted Vedanta philosophy.
- Young Bengal Movement: Led by the radical thinker Henry Vivian Derozio, who encouraged critical thinking and rationalism among students at Hindu College, Calcutta.
Important Legislative Reforms and Dalit Movements
Social reform was not just limited to religious philosophy; it included institutional efforts to change legal structures.
Significant Social Legislations
- Sati Regulation Act (1829): Formally banned the practice of Sati.
- Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1856): Championed by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who worked tirelessly to improve the status of widows.
- Native Marriage Act (1872): Also known as the Civil Marriage Act, it prohibited child marriage and permitted inter-caste marriages.
- Age of Consent Act (1891): Raised the age of marriage for girls to 12 years, influenced by the efforts of B.M. Malabari.
Dalit and Anti-Caste Movements
- Jyotirao Phule: Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to secure social justice for the marginalized castes. His famous book, *Gulamgiri*, highlights the oppression of the lower castes.
- B.R. Ambedkar: A stalwart of the later anti-caste movement, he founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924) and emphasized "Educate, Agitate, Organize" to achieve equality.
- Self-Respect Movement: Initiated by E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) in the 1920s in Tamil Nadu, aiming to promote self-respect and rationalism among non-Brahmins.
Exam Tip: For UPSC/SSC, always match the reformer with their specific organization and the corresponding journal or book they published (e.g., *Samvad Kaumudi* by Raja Ram Mohan Roy). Focus on the timeline of major acts to avoid chronological errors in multiple-choice questions.
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About the Author
PS
Priya Sharma Static GK Expert
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.
