Indian Renaissance MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Indian Renaissance - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Chicago.

Important Points 

• Swami Vivekananda participated at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago (USA) on 11th September 1893 and raised the prestige of India and Hinduism very high.
• He preached Vedantic Philosophy. He condemned the caste system and the current Hindu emphasis on rituals and ceremonies.

Key Points

• Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramkrishna Mission at Belur in Howrah in 1897. It is a social service and charitable society.
• The objectives of this Mission are providing humanitarian relief and social work through the establishment of schools, colleges, hospitals, and orphanages.
• He asked the people to improve the lives of the poor and depressed classes. He believed that service to mankind is service to God.
• The original name of Swami Vivekananda was Narendranath Dutta (1863-1902). 
• He became the most famous disciple of Shri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa.
• In 1886, Narendranath took the vow of Sanyasa and was given the name, Vivekananda. 
• Swami Vivekananda emphasized Man making education.
• Man-making means a harmonious development of a child in respect to their morality, humanity, honesty, character health, etc. Therefore, a supportive environment to fulfill these aims of education should be created in our school.

• The correct answer is to liberate Sikh gurudwaras from the control of corrupt mahants.
• The Akali movement (also known as Gurudwara Reform Movement) was an offshoot of the Singh Sabha Movement.
• It aimed at liberating the Sikh gurudwaras from the control of corrupt Udasi mahants (the post had become hereditary).
• Hence option 3 is correct.

• These mahants were a loyalist and reactionary lot, enjoying government patronage.
• The government tried its repressive policies against the non-violent non-cooperation satyagraha launched by the Akalis in 1921, but had to bow before popular demands; it passed the Sikh Gurudwaras Act in 1922 (amended in 1925) which gave them control of gurudwaras to the Sikh masses to be administered through Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) as the apex body.​

The correct answer is 1829.

Important Points

• One of the landmark moments in the history of India was the abolition of the practice of Sati – the self-immolation of the widow on the funeral pyre of her husband.
• The abolition of Sati is one of the first things we are taught when learning about colonialism in India.
• Raja Rammohan Roy, a 19th-century moderate leader from Bengal advocated against the cruel practice of the burning of the widow as a way to guarantee that both the widow and the deceased husband would reside in heaven.
• It was first banned in 1515 by the Portuguese in Goa and then was by Dutch in Chinsura and French in Pondicherry.
• Due to the fierce campaign and lobbying of Raja Rammohan Roy and others, Sati practice was formally banned in all the lands under Bengal Presidency by Lord William Bentinck on 4 December 1829.

The correct answer is Jyotirao Govindrao Phule.

Key Points

• Jyotirao Govindrao Phule wrote a book named Gulamgiri in 1871 about the injustices of the caste system.
• In Gulamgiri, he gave a historical survey of the lower castes.
• From the 19th century, the caste system was written about in India in many printed tracts and essays.
• A few more examples of print and its power to showcase issues are:
  • Kanshiram, a millworker wrote a book "Chhote Aur Bade ka Sawaal" to show links between caste and class exploitation.
  • Sudarshan Chakr and a Kanpur millworker wrote a collection called Sacchi Kavitayein
  • B.R. Ambedkar in Maharashtra and E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in Madras wrote about the caste system in India.

The correct answer is option Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Key Points

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy established the “Atmiya Sabha” a precursor organization in the socio-religious reforms in Bengal in the year 1814 in Kolkata.
• It was a philosophical discussion circle where debates and discussions were held leading to the ideas for social reforms. 

The correct answer is Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Key Points

• Arya Samaj is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas.
• Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay.
• There are 10 principles related to Arya Samaj.
• The famous freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was his disciple.
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati is known as the 'Grandfather of Indian Nation'.
• The original name of Swami Dayananda Saraswati - Mul Shankar.

Additional Information

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known as the 'Father of Indian Renaissance'.
• He is also known as the 'Prophet of Indian Nationalism'.
• He started Atmiya Sabha in 1814 and Brahmo Samaj in 1828.
• He launched a movement for the abolition of Sati through his journals Sambad Kaumudi (1821) and the book named Precepts of Jesus (1820).
• The Mughal emperor Akbar II gave the title 'Raja' to Ram Mohan Roy.

Atmaram Pandurang

• Prathana Samaj was founded by Atmaram Pandurang in Bombay in 1867.
• He was one of the two Indian co-founders of the Bombay Natural History Society.
• Atmaram Pandurang served briefly as sheriff of Bombay in 1879.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was an Indian educator and social reformer considered the 'Father of Bengali prose'.
• The contribution of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar towards such issues, the Widow remarriage Act passed in 1856.

The correct answer is William Jones.

• Sir William Jones was an Anglo-Welsh philologist, a judge on the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal, and a scholar of ancient India.
• The Asiatic Society was founded in 1784 by Sir. William Jones, it is a unique institution having served as a fountainhead of all literary and scientific activities.
• In 1832 the name was changed to "The Asiatic Society of Bengal" and again in 1936 it was renamed "The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal".

Key Points

• It was visualized as a centre for Asian studies including everything concerning man and nature within the geographical limits of the continent. It is located in Kolkata.
• The library of the Asiatic Society has a huge collection of about 1,17,000 books and 79,000 journals of all the major languages of the world.
• The museum of the Asiatic Society was established in 1814 by N. Wallich.

The correct answer is Mahatma Gandhi.

• Harijan Sevak Sangh was organized by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 as a part of his constructive program for the removal of untouchability.

Key Points

• Its parent organization was the All India Anti Untouchability League founded by Mahatma Gandhi earlier on 30 September 1932. 
• This was later renamed Harijan Sevak Sangh. 
• Its first president was Ghanshyam Das Birla and the secretary was Amritlal Takkar.
•  It still exists as a non – governmental organization working for the welfare of Harijan or Dalit people and upliftment of the Depressed Class of India.

The correct answer is Dayanand Saraswati.

Key Points

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj.
• He gave the slogan “Go back to Vedas”.
• Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875.
• He translated the Vedas and wrote three books named Satyartha Prakash, Veda Bhasya Bhumika, and Veda Bhasya.
• Dayananda Anglo Vedic (D.A.V) schools were established based on his philosophy and teachings.

The correct answer is Satguru Ram Singh.

Key Points

• After the fall of the kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, there were several attempts to raise the old glory of the Khalsa.
• Several movements to reform the Sikhism were started.
• First, one being the Namdhari movement, which was started by Baba Ram Singh Namdhari after Anglo Sikh wars.
• He was a soldier in the Khalsa army.
• Like the Nirankari, this second reform movement known as the Namdhari, or Kuka, movement also had its origin in the north-west corner of the Sikh kingdom, away from the places of royal pomp and grandeur.
• It harked back to a way of life more in keeping with the spiritual tradition of the community.
• Its principal object was to spread the true spirit of Sikhism shorn of tawdry customs and mannerism, which had been growing on it since the beginning of the Sikh monarchy.

Additional Information

• In the midst of national pride born of military glory and political power, this movement extolled the religious obligation for pious and simple living.
• They were called "Kukas" because of their particular style to recite the Gurbani (Sayings of the Gurus).
• This style was in a high pitched voice, called Kook in Punjabi, and thus Namdhari Khalsa’s were named Kukas.
• In the post-1857 phase of the freedom struggle, the Namdhari movement occupies a very significant place in the annals of history.
• It was founded at a time when the socio-religious teachings of the great Gurus were slowly being shadowed by other considerations and the political life was at its lowest ebb.
• Namdhari movement was an offshoot of Sikhism.
• The Kuka Movement was launched on the Baisakhi day in April 1857 at Bhaini (sahib), in Ludhiana District of Punjab.
• The leader of the Namdhari movement Baba Ram Singh was inspired by Maharaj Singh’s struggle against aliens and worked for social reforms and gave a call for the political battle against the Britishers.

The correct answer is Jyotirao Phule.

Key Points

• Jyotirao Phule was one of the pioneers of social reforms in western India.
• He campaigned against untouchability and the pathetic condition of low castes, terming them as Dalits.
• Jyotirao Phule was born in a low caste Mali family at Pune in Maharashtra.
• He was aggrieved by Brahmanical domination over rest of the society.
• Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 at Pune, Maharashtra.
• The main task of Phule's organisation was to work for the upliftment of the oppressed classes.
• He welcomed everyone in his Samaj irrespective of caste and religion.
• All the ideas of Phule were compiled in his work titled Satya Sodh published in the year 1887.

• In 1873, Phule wrote a book named Gulamgiri, meaning slavery. 

Therefore, we can conclude that Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj.

Additional Information

• Haridas Thakur:
  • Sri Haridas Thakur appeared in this world in the village of Buron, in the present district of Sat-kira, which was previously a sub-division of Khulna, Bangladesh.
  • By this great fortune that land has been blessed, in that the chanting of the Holy Names of Hari-Nam Sankirtan, became revealed there.  
    
  B.R Ambedkar:
  • ​In 1927, Ambedkar started a temple entry movement, in which his Mahar caste followers participated. 
  • Ambedkar led three such movements for temple entry between 1927 and 1935.
  • His aim was to make everyone see the power of caste prejudices within society.
• Ghasidas:
  • ​The Satnami movement in Central India was founded by Ghasidas who worked among the leatherworkers and organised a movement to improve their social status.

Raja Rammohan Roy had contributed to the banning of Sati in 1829.

Key Points

• Sati was the practice of the immolation of a Hindu woman on the death of her husband in his funeral pyre.
• The widow was supposed to ascend to heaven and this was considered the ultimate sacrifice and proof of a woman’s devotion to her husband.
• Raja Rammohan Roy, the great Hindu reformer from Bengal fought many social evils prevalent in the Hindu society of Bengal and Sati pratha was one of the chief ones.
• He had witnessed the live immolation of his own sister-in-law. He started his struggle against this practice in 1812.
• Raja Rammohan Roy was a vociferous campaigner against Sati. He argued that the Vedas and other ancient Hindu scriptures did not sanction Sati.
• He wrote articles in his journal Sambad Kaumudi advocating its prohibition. He stressed with the East India Company administration to ban this practice.
• Lord William Bentinck became the Governor-General of India in 1828. He helped Raja Rammohan Roy to suppress many prevalent social evils like Sati, polygamy, child marriage and female infanticide.

• Lord Bentinck passed the law banning Sati throughout the British India and this act was made illegal and punishable by the courts in 1829.

Therefore, the correct answer is - Raja Rammohan Roy.

The correct answer is Canning.

• The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act 1856 legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows on 16th July 1856. The Act was enacted on 26th July 1856.
• At the time of implementation of this Widow Remarriage Act 1856; the Governor-General of India was Lord Canning.
• The Act was drafted by Lord Dalhousie.
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played a major role in the establishment of the act.

Key Points

•  Key Features of the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act 1856:
  • The act provided legal safeguards to men who married widows.
  • The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 provided legal safeguards against the loss of certain forms of inheritance for remarrying a Hindu widow.
  • The widow was authorized to forfeit any inheritance that she may have obtained from her deceased husband.
  • The first widow remarriage that took place after the law was enforced took place on 7th December 1856 in north Calcutta.

Additional Information

Sati was the practice of the immolation of a Hindu woman on the death of her husband in his funeral pyre.

• Although this practice does not have any Vedic sanction, it had become prevalent in some parts of India.
  • The widow was supposed to ascend to heaven and this was considered the ultimate sacrifice and proof of a woman’s devotion to her husband.
• Many cases of Sati were voluntary whereas some were forced.

Important Points

Abolition of Sati (1829):

• Raja Rammohan Roy, the great Hindu reformer from Bengal fought many social evils prevalent in the Hindu society of Bengal and Sati pratha was one of the chief ones.
• He had witnessed the live immolation of his own sister-in-law. He started his struggle against this practice in 1812.
• William Carey, an English missionary also fought against this barbaric practice.
• In the year 1817 alone, about 700 widows were burnt alive.
• Even though the British initially allowed it, it was first banned in 1798 in Calcutta. However, the custom continued in the surrounding areas.
• Raja Rammohan Roy was a vociferous campaigner against Sati (also spelt Suttee). He argued that the Vedas and other ancient Hindu scriptures did not sanction Sati.
• He wrote articles in his journal Sambad Kaumudi advocating its prohibition. He stressed with the East India Company administration to ban this practice.
• Lord William Bentinck became the Governor-General of India in 1828. He helped Raja Rammohan Roy to suppress many prevalent social evils like Sati, polygamy, child marriage and female infanticide.
• Lord Bentinck passed the law banning Sati throughout the Company’s jurisdiction in British India.
• The act was made illegal and punishable by the courts. Sati Regulation XVII A. D. 1829 of the Bengal Code:
  • "The practice of suttee, or of burning or burying alive the widows of Hindus, is revolting to the feelings of human nature; it is nowhere enjoined by the religion of the Hindus as an imperative duty; on the contrary, a life of purity and retirement on the part of the widow is more especially and preferably inculcated, and by a vast majority of that people throughout India the practice is not kept up, nor observed: in some extensive districts it does not exist: in those in which it has been most frequent, it is notorious that in many instances acts of atrocity have been perpetrated which have been shocking to the Hindus themselves, and in their eyes unlawful and wicked….The practice of suttee, or of burning or burying alive the widows of Hindus, is hereby declared illegal, and punishable by the criminal courts."

Hence, it is clear that Bengal Sati Regulation (Regulation XVII) was passed by the then Governor-General of India, Lord William Bentinck making the practice of Sati illegal in all of British India.