ICSE Class 8 · Chapter 10

Socio-Religious Reforms ICSE Class 8: Reformers of 19th-Century India

Updated 15 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In the 19th century, Indian reformers worked to remove social evils such as sati, child marriage, caste discrimination and the ban on widow remarriage, and to spread education, especially among women. Leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Dayanand Saraswati, Jyotiba Phule and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded organisations, schools and campaigns for change.

What Socio-Religious Reforms is about

Nineteenth-century Indian society faced many problems: the burning of widows (sati), child marriage, the ban on widow remarriage, the denial of education to most women, and discrimination against people of so-called lower castes. At the same time, Western education, the printing press and contact with new ideas encouraged educated Indians to question these practices. Many reformers argued that the true teachings of their own religions did not support these evils.

The CISCE curriculum asks for the contributions, in brief, of ten reformers and movements: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Jyotiba Phule, Annie Besant, Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Sree Narayana Guru, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Singh Sabhas. For each, learn the region, the organisation or institution, and two or three main contributions.

These reform movements matter for the next chapter too. They gave Indians confidence in their own culture, spread modern education and created leaders and organisations that later fed into the national movement.

Weightage: CISCE publishes no question paper, marking scheme or chapter weightage for Class VIII History and Civics: your school sets and marks the exam. Socio-Religious Reforms sits in the History: Socio-Religious Reforms section of the CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII).Source: CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII), RDCD 2016

Key concepts

Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Bengal)

Often called the 'father of modern India' or the 'father of the Indian Renaissance'.

Founded the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, later known as the Brahmo Samaj. It believed in one God (monotheism) and opposed idol worship and meaningless rituals.
Campaigned against sati, using ancient texts to show it had no true religious basis. His efforts helped persuade Governor-General Lord William Bentinck to ban sati in 1829.
Supported women's rights, including property rights for women, and opposed polygamy and child marriage.
Supported modern Western education, especially science and English, alongside Indian learning, and helped set up schools in Calcutta.
Ran newspapers and journals to spread his ideas.

Worked example

(3 marks) State three contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Founded the Brahmo Sabha/Samaj (1828), preaching one God and opposing idol worship - 1 mark.
Campaigned against sati, leading to its abolition in 1829 - 1 mark.
Promoted modern education and women's rights - 1 mark.

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha (later the Brahmo Samaj) in 1828 to preach the worship of one God; led the campaign against sati, which was banned by Lord William Bentinck in 1829; and promoted Western scientific education and the rights of women.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Bengal)

A Sanskrit scholar and principal of the Sanskrit College in Calcutta. 'Vidyasagar' means 'ocean of learning'.

Widow remarriage: he used ancient texts to argue that widows could remarry. His campaign led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856.
Women's education: he helped open many schools for girls in Bengal and supported the school founded in Calcutta by J.E.D. Bethune.
Opened the Sanskrit College to students who were not Brahmins.
Opposed child marriage and polygamy.
Wrote simple Bengali primers, such as Barna Parichay, still used to teach the Bengali alphabet.

Worked example

(2 marks) Why is Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar remembered as a reformer?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

His campaign led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 - 1 mark.
He promoted girls' education and opened the Sanskrit College to non-Brahmins - 1 mark.

Answer: Vidyasagar campaigned for widow remarriage, which led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856, and he promoted girls' education, setting up many girls' schools and opening the Sanskrit College to non-Brahmin students.

Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda

Swami Dayanand Saraswati:

Founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 in Bombay; it became strong in Punjab and north India.
Gave the call 'Go back to the Vedas', believing the Vedas contained true knowledge.
Wrote Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth).
Opposed idol worship, caste discrimination based on birth and child marriage; supported widow remarriage and women's education.
His followers set up Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and colleges, combining Vedic and modern education.

Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta):

A disciple of the saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
At the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago (1893) he spoke about Vedanta and the harmony of religions, earning respect for Indian thought abroad.
Founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897) to serve the poor and sick through hospitals, schools and relief work; he taught that service to humanity is service to God.
Criticised caste distinctions and rituals and urged Indians, especially the youth, to be self-confident.

Worked example

(3 marks) Name the organisations founded by Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda and state one main aim of each.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Dayanand: Arya Samaj (1875) - 1 mark.
Aim: return to the Vedas; oppose idol worship and caste discrimination - 1 mark.
Vivekananda: Ramakrishna Mission (1897); aim: social service to the poor and sick - 1 mark.

Answer: Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to return to the teachings of the Vedas and oppose idol worship, caste by birth and child marriage. Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to serve the poor and sick through education, healthcare and relief work.

Jyotiba Phule and Annie Besant

Jyotirao (Jyotiba) Phule (Maharashtra):

Fought against caste discrimination and for the rights of people treated as 'lower castes'.
With his wife Savitribai Phule, opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848, one of the first schools for girls run by Indians.
Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873 to work for caste equality.
Wrote Gulamgiri (Slavery) in 1873, comparing caste oppression with slavery.
Also opened schools for children of all castes and supported widows.

Annie Besant:

A London-born social reformer of Irish descent who came to India in 1893 and from 1907 led the Theosophical Society, based at Adyar (Madras).
Praised India's ancient culture and religions, helping Indians feel pride in their heritage.
Founded the Central Hindu College at Benares (1898), which later became part of Banaras Hindu University.
Started the Home Rule League (1916) and became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress (1917).

Worked example

(3 marks) What were the contributions of Jyotiba Phule to social reform?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Opened a girls' school in Pune (1848) with Savitribai Phule - 1 mark.
Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) for caste equality - 1 mark.
Wrote Gulamgiri, attacking caste oppression - 1 mark.

Answer: Jyotiba Phule, with his wife Savitribai, opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848; founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to fight caste discrimination; and wrote Gulamgiri, which compared the treatment of 'lower castes' to slavery.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Sree Narayana Guru

Kandukuri Veeresalingam (Andhra):

Often called the father of the Telugu renaissance; a writer and social reformer.
Campaigned for widow remarriage and arranged widow remarriages in Andhra, facing strong opposition.
Opened schools for girls and worked for women's education.
Opposed child marriage and the dowry system, and used his writings and journals to spread reform ideas in Telugu.

Sree Narayana Guru (Kerala):

Born in the Ezhava community, which faced caste discrimination in Kerala.
Gave the message 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind'.
Consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram (1888), challenging the rule that only Brahmins could consecrate temples.
Opened temples to all and set up schools.
Inspired the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam (1903), which worked for education and social equality.

Worked example

(2 marks) What was Sree Narayana Guru's message and how did he challenge caste rules?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Message: 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind' - 1 mark.
Consecrated a temple idol at Aruvippuram (1888), which only Brahmins were allowed to do; opened temples to all - 1 mark.

Answer: Sree Narayana Guru preached 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind'. He challenged caste rules by consecrating a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram in 1888, a right earlier claimed only by Brahmins, and by opening temples and schools to all.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Singh Sabhas

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan:

Believed that Indian Muslims should take up modern Western education and science to progress.
Founded the Scientific Society (1864) to translate Western works into Urdu.
Founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875; it became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. His movement is called the Aligarh Movement.
Published the journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq to spread modern ideas and social reform.
Used his writings to criticise superstition and outdated customs and to urge rational thinking.

The Singh Sabhas (Punjab):

The first Singh Sabha was formed at Amritsar in 1873, and another at Lahore in 1879.
Aim: to reform Sikhism by removing practices and rituals they saw as foreign to the teachings of the Gurus, and to restore the purity of Sikh religion.
Promoted education: they set up schools and colleges, including the Khalsa College at Amritsar (1892), and encouraged Punjabi language and literature.
They also encouraged social reform and created awareness that later supported movements to reform the management of gurdwaras.

Worked example

(3 marks) Explain the role of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in spreading modern education among Muslims.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Believed Muslims needed modern Western education and science - 1 mark.
Founded the Scientific Society (1864) to translate Western books into Urdu - 1 mark.
Founded the MAO College at Aligarh (1875), later Aligarh Muslim University - 1 mark.

Answer: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan believed Muslims could progress only through modern education. He founded the Scientific Society in 1864 to translate Western books into Urdu and the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875, which later became Aligarh Muslim University.

Socio-Religious Reforms in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Using tradition to argue for change

Suppose your grandparents insist on an old family custom, and you persuade them to change it by showing them that the family's oldest written records never mentioned the custom at all.

Which strategy did 19th-century reformers use in the same way? Give an example.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Reformers did not simply reject tradition; they used ancient texts.
They argued that practices like sati or the ban on widow remarriage were not supported by the original scriptures.
Ram Mohan Roy and Vidyasagar both used this method.

Answer: Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy (against sati) and Vidyasagar (for widow remarriage) quoted ancient texts to show that these customs had no true religious basis, which made their arguments harder to dismiss.

Memory hook: Old texts, new freedoms.

Education as a tool of reform

Imagine a village where girls are not sent to school. A couple opens a small school for them, even though neighbours throw mud and insults at them on the way.

Which reformers does this remind you of, and why did they see education as so important?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule opened a girls' school in Pune in 1848 despite opposition.
Educated people can question unfair customs and claim their rights.
Education also gives economic independence.

Answer: It recalls Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule, who faced abuse while running their girls' school in Pune. Reformers saw education as the key to ending caste and gender injustice, because educated people could understand and claim their rights.

Memory hook: A schoolbook is a reformer's tool.

Service as religion

Suppose a group of students decides that, instead of only praying for flood victims, they will collect food and medicines and travel to help them.

Which reformer's teaching does this reflect, and which organisation did he found?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Swami Vivekananda taught that serving people is serving God.
He founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
The Mission runs schools, hospitals and relief work.

Answer: It reflects Swami Vivekananda's teaching that service to humanity is service to God, which he put into practice through the Ramakrishna Mission, founded in 1897.

Memory hook: Serve people, serve God.

Topics in this chapter

Social Reformers: Roy, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Others

Socio-Religious Reforms: key facts

Bengal: Ram Mohan Roy: Brahmo Sabha 1828, sati banned 1829; Vidyasagar: Widow Remarriage Act 1856
Western and northern India: Phule: girls' school Pune 1848, Satyashodhak Samaj 1873; Dayanand: Arya Samaj 1875, Satyarth Prakash
All-India and abroad: Vivekananda: Chicago 1893, Ramakrishna Mission 1897; Annie Besant: India 1893, Central Hindu College 1898, Home Rule League 1916
South India: Veeresalingam: widow remarriage in Andhra; Sree Narayana Guru: Aruvippuram 1888, SNDP Yogam 1903
Muslim and Sikh reform: Syed Ahmad Khan: Scientific Society 1864, MAO College Aligarh 1875; Singh Sabha: Amritsar 1873, Lahore 1879, Khalsa College 1892

How the school exam asks Socio-Religious Reforms

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Question type	How it is asked	Method
Contributions (2-3 marks)	State the contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy / Vidyasagar / Phule / Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.	Organisation or institution, main evil fought, one achievement such as a law or college.
Match the following (1-3 marks)	Match reformers with organisations, books or regions.	Learn reformer-organisation-region triplets.
Picture-based (2-3 marks)	A portrait of a reformer is shown: identify and state contributions.	Name, region, organisation, two contributions.
Analytical (4 marks)	How did the reform movements help the growth of nationalism?	Pride in culture, education, unity, organisations and leaders.

Tricks to remember Socio-Religious Reforms

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

Reformers and their bodies
'Ram's Brahmo, Dayanand's Arya, Viveka's Mission, Phule's Satyashodhak.'
Use it when: Matching reformers and organisations.
Widow remarriage champions
'V and V for widows': Vidyasagar (Bengal) and Veeresalingam (Andhra).
Use it when: Who worked for widow remarriage.
1875 twins
Arya Samaj (Bombay) and MAO College (Aligarh) both began in 1875.
Use it when: Dates.

Socio-Religious Reforms: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Example 1: Arya Samaj · 1 mark · MCQExam level

The Arya Samaj was founded by:
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Swami Vivekananda
(c) Dayanand Saraswati
(d) Jyotiba Phule

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Roy: Brahmo Samaj; Vivekananda: Ramakrishna Mission; Phule: Satyashodhak Samaj.
Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj (1875).

Answer: (c) Dayanand Saraswati.

Example 2: Assertion and reason: sati · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder exam level

Assertion (A): Raja Ram Mohan Roy quoted ancient texts in his campaign against sati.
Reason (R): He wanted to show that the practice had no true basis in the scriptures.
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

He did use ancient texts: A is true.
His purpose was to show sati was not required by religion: R explains A.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Example 3: Comparing reformers · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Compare the approaches of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dayanand Saraswati to religion and reform.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Both opposed idol worship and social evils and believed in one God.
Roy welcomed Western education and drew on reason, the Upanishads and ideas from other faiths.
Dayanand stressed the authority of the Vedas: 'Go back to the Vedas'.
Both promoted education: Roy through English schools; Dayanand's followers through DAV schools combining Vedic and modern learning.

Answer: Both opposed idol worship, rituals and evils such as child marriage, and both preached one God. Roy, however, welcomed Western scientific education and reason and drew on several traditions, while Dayanand made the Vedas the final authority with the call 'Go back to the Vedas'. Both valued education: Roy supported English schools, while Dayanand's followers founded DAV institutions combining Vedic and modern learning.

Example 4: Caste reformers · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

How did Jyotiba Phule and Sree Narayana Guru challenge the caste system?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) and wrote Gulamgiri against caste oppression.
He opened schools for children of all castes and for girls.
Sree Narayana Guru consecrated a temple idol at Aruvippuram (1888), opened temples to all, and preached 'One caste, one religion, one God'.

Answer: Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj, wrote Gulamgiri comparing caste oppression with slavery, and opened schools to children of all castes and to girls. Sree Narayana Guru consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram in 1888, opened temples to all and preached 'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind'.

Example 5: Annie Besant · 3 marks · Short answerExam level

Why is Annie Besant remembered in Indian history?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Led the Theosophical Society in India; praised Indian culture.
Founded the Central Hindu College at Benares (1898), later part of BHU.
Started the Home Rule League (1916); first woman president of the Congress (1917).

Answer: Annie Besant led the Theosophical Society in India and encouraged pride in Indian culture; she founded the Central Hindu College at Benares, which became part of Banaras Hindu University; and she started the Home Rule League in 1916, becoming the first woman president of the Congress in 1917.

Example 6: Aligarh Movement · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

What was the Aligarh Movement? Give two of its achievements.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

A movement led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to spread modern education and reform among Muslims.
Achievement: MAO College at Aligarh (1875), later Aligarh Muslim University (1920).
Achievement: Scientific Society and the journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq spread modern ideas in Urdu.

Answer: The Aligarh Movement, led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, aimed to spread modern Western education and social reform among Indian Muslims. It established the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875, which became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, and spread modern ideas through the Scientific Society and the journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq.

Example 7: Reform and nationalism · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Explain how the socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century helped the growth of nationalism.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

They gave Indians pride in their culture and heritage (Vivekananda, Theosophists).
They spread modern education, creating an educated class that understood ideas of liberty.
They attacked divisions of caste and gender, encouraging a sense of equality.
Their organisations and leaders (such as Annie Besant) later took part in the national movement.

Answer: Reformers like Vivekananda and the Theosophists restored Indians' pride in their heritage. Schools and colleges set up by reformers spread modern education and ideas of liberty. Their attacks on caste and gender discrimination encouraged a sense of equality and unity. Their organisations and leaders, such as Annie Besant with the Home Rule League, fed directly into the national movement.

Case-study practice (Section B style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 7-mark question split into 2 + 3 + 2 marks.

Picture-based: a reformer's portrait

Study the description and answer the questions.

The portrait shows a young monk in a saffron turban and robe, arms folded, standing confidently. Below is a caption: 'Chicago, 1893'.

(i) · 2 marks
Identify the person and the event referred to in the caption.
Answer
Answer: Swami Vivekananda, at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago (1893).
1 mark each.
(ii) · 3 marks
Name his spiritual teacher and the organisation he founded. State one aim of the organisation.
Answer
Answer: Teacher: Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Organisation: the Ramakrishna Mission (1897). Aim: service to the poor and sick through schools, hospitals and relief work, as service to God.
1 mark each.
(iii) · 2 marks
How did his speech at Chicago help Indians at home?
Answer
Answer: Its success won respect for Indian philosophy abroad, which increased Indians' self-confidence and pride in their culture at a time of foreign rule.
1 mark for respect abroad, 1 for self-confidence at home.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

State two contributions of Swami Vivekananda. (2 marks) (2 marks)

Step	Marks
Chicago, 1893: won respect for Indian thought.	1
Ramakrishna Mission, 1897: social service.	1

Write a short note on Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. (3 marks) (3 marks)

Step	Marks
Widow remarriage; Act of 1856.	1
Girls' schools; women's education.	1
Sanskrit College opened to non-Brahmins / Bengali primers / opposed child marriage.	1

Describe the work of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. (4 marks) (4 marks)

Step	Marks
Brahmo Sabha 1828; one God.	1
Sati abolished 1829.	1
Women's rights; against polygamy and child marriage.	1
Modern education and newspapers.	1

Where students lose marks in Socio-Religious Reforms

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Writing that Ram Mohan Roy abolished sati
He campaigned; the law was made by the government.
Do this: Lord William Bentinck banned sati in 1829, supported by Roy's campaign.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Mixing up the Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj
Similar names.
Do this: Brahmo: Ram Mohan Roy, Bengal, 1828. Arya: Dayanand, Bombay, 1875.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Giving long biographies instead of contributions
Students write life stories.
Do this: The curriculum asks for contributions in brief: organisation, evil fought, achievement.
Usually costs: Time and focus.
Mistake: Forgetting the region of each reformer
Ten names are learnt as a list.
Do this: Tag each with a region: Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra, Kerala, Aligarh.
Usually costs: 1 mark in match or note questions.

Practice questions on Socio-Religious Reforms

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level
Sati was banned in 1829 by:
(a) Lord Cornwallis
(b) Lord William Bentinck
(c) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Canning
Hint
Supported by Ram Mohan Roy's campaign.
Answer
(b) Lord William Bentinck.
Q2 · 1 mark · MCQHarder exam level
Who wrote Gulamgiri?
(a) Dayanand Saraswati
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Sree Narayana Guru
(d) Veeresalingam
Hint
Means 'slavery'.
Answer
(b) Jyotiba Phule.
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level
Which Act was passed in 1856 as a result of Vidyasagar's campaign?
Hint
Widows.
Answer
The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856.
Q4 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level
Where was the first Singh Sabha formed and in which year?
Hint
City of the Golden Temple.
Answer
Amritsar, 1873.
Q5 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level
What was the message of Sree Narayana Guru?
Hint
One, one, one.
Answer
'One caste, one religion, one God for humankind.'
Q6 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level
Name the book written by Dayanand Saraswati and give its meaning.
Hint
Light.
Answer
Satyarth Prakash, meaning 'The Light of Truth'.
Q7 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level
State two aims of the Singh Sabhas.
Hint
Purity and education.
Answer
To remove practices they considered against the Gurus' teachings and restore the purity of Sikhism, and to spread modern education and Punjabi language through schools and colleges such as the Khalsa College, Amritsar.
Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level
Why did many reformers focus on the condition of women?
Hint
Sati, child marriage, education.
Answer
Women suffered from sati, child marriage, the ban on widow remarriage, purdah and lack of education. Reformers believed society could not progress while half its members were oppressed and uneducated, so they campaigned for laws and schools to improve women's position.
Q9 · 3 marks · Short answerExam level
What were the contributions of Kandukuri Veeresalingam?
Hint
Andhra; widows and girls.
Answer
He campaigned for and arranged widow remarriages in Andhra despite opposition, opened schools for girls, opposed child marriage and dowry, and used his Telugu writings and journals to spread ideas of social reform.
Q10 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Suppose you had to choose one reformer whose work is most relevant to India today. Choose one and justify your choice with two points.
Hint
Link a past contribution to a present issue.
Answer
Sample answer: Jyotiba Phule. (1) Caste discrimination still exists in some forms, and his struggle for equal dignity through the Satyashodhak Samaj remains relevant. (2) Girls' education is still a challenge in parts of India, and his girls' school in Pune (1848) shows how education empowers women. (Any reformer may be chosen if two clear links to present-day issues are given.)
Q11 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
Why did Sir Syed Ahmad Khan stress English and science for Muslims after 1857?
Hint
Jobs and progress.
Answer
He felt Muslims had fallen behind in modern education and government jobs, especially after 1857. He believed that learning English and modern science would help them gain employment, take part in public life and progress, so he founded the Scientific Society and the MAO College.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj?Show answer
Jyotiba Phule (1873).
2.Where did Vivekananda speak in 1893?Show answer
Chicago, at the Parliament of the World's Religions.
3.What did Annie Besant found at Benares?Show answer
The Central Hindu College (1898).
4.Where did Sree Narayana Guru consecrate an idol in 1888?Show answer
Aruvippuram, Kerala.
5.When did the MAO College become Aligarh Muslim University?Show answer
1920.
6.What does 'Vidyasagar' mean?Show answer
Ocean of learning.

Best order to study it

Learn why reform movements arose.
Learn the Bengal reformers: Ram Mohan Roy and Vidyasagar.
Learn Dayanand, Vivekananda, Phule and Annie Besant.
Learn the southern reformers: Veeresalingam and Sree Narayana Guru.
Learn Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Singh Sabhas.
Practise a 4-mark answer linking reform to nationalism.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

Ram Mohan Roy: Brahmo Sabha 1828; one God; anti-sati (banned 1829 by Bentinck); women's rights; modern education.
Vidyasagar: Widow Remarriage Act 1856; girls' schools; Sanskrit College opened to non-Brahmins; Barna Parichay.
Dayanand: Arya Samaj 1875; 'Go back to the Vedas'; Satyarth Prakash; DAV schools. Vivekananda: Chicago 1893; Ramakrishna Mission 1897; service.
Phule: girls' school Pune 1848 (with Savitribai); Satyashodhak Samaj 1873; Gulamgiri. Annie Besant: Theosophical Society; Central Hindu College 1898; Home Rule League 1916.
Veeresalingam: widow remarriage and girls' schools in Andhra. Sree Narayana Guru: 'One caste, one religion, one God'; Aruvippuram 1888; SNDP Yogam 1903.
Syed Ahmad Khan: Scientific Society 1864; MAO College Aligarh 1875 (AMU 1920). Singh Sabhas: Amritsar 1873, Lahore 1879; purity of Sikhism; Khalsa College 1892.

Socio-Religious Reforms: frequently asked questions

How much should I write about each reformer?

The CISCE curriculum asks for contributions in brief. For each, know the region, organisation or institution, the main evils fought and one or two key dates.

Were the reformers against religion?

No. Most were deeply religious and wanted to reform practices within their own religion, often by returning to what they saw as its original teachings.

Why is Annie Besant in a chapter on Indian reformers?

Though born in Britain of Irish family, she made India her home, promoted pride in Indian culture, founded educational institutions and took part in the national movement.

Based on: CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII), History and Civics (Class VIII); CISCE RDCD: Curriculum Pre-School to Class VIII