Chapter Info (Click Here)
Book No. – 19 (Sociology)
Book Name – Social Background of Indian Nationalism (A.R. Desai)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
Note: The first chapter of every book is free.
Access this chapter with any subscription below:
- Half Yearly Plan (All Subject)
- Annual Plan (All Subject)
- Sociology (Single Subject)
- CUET PG + Sociology
LANGUAGE
Social and Religious Reform Movements
Chapter – 13
Table of Contents
Reform Movements, Expression of Rising Nationalism
- Socio-reform and religio-reform movements during British rule reflected rising national consciousness and the spread of liberal ideas from the West.
- These movements increasingly adopted a national scope and aimed at reconstruction in social and religious spheres.
- Social reforms included efforts for caste abolition, equal rights for women, campaigns against child marriage, and a ban on widow remarriage, as well as a crusade against social and legal inequalities.
- Religious reforms combated superstitions, idolatry, polytheism, and hereditary priesthood.
- These movements fought for individual liberty, social equality, and nationalism.
- The new society developing in India, influenced by British rule, had distinct needs from the old society, prompting the new intelligentsia to reform social institutions and religious outlooks.
- The reform movements aimed to democratize social institutions and adapt old religious views to meet the new social needs.
- Indian social reformers criticized the British government for insufficient support in fighting social injustices and reforming institutions.
- Social reform legislation was slow, often enacted only under pressure from progressive Indian opinion.
- Early British rulers initiated reforms such as the abolition of slavery, suttee, and infanticide, but their attitude changed over time.
- The Age of Consent Act of 1891 was the only major reform enacted by the government in several decades, strengthening the determination of Indian nationalists to seek political power to accelerate reforms.
Their Democratic Yearnings
- Indian nationalism felt democratic yearnings from its inception.
- Socio-reform and religio-reform movements embodied these democratic yearnings.
- These movements sought to eliminate privilege in social and religious fields and democratize institutions.
- Aimed to reform or dissolve disruptive institutions like caste which hindered national unity.
- Advocated for equal rights for all, regardless of caste or sex.
- Reformers argued that democratization of institutions was essential for building national unity and achieving political freedom, and social, economic, and cultural advancement.
- National democratic awakening expressed in all aspects of national life, including politics and social and religious spheres.
- In politics, it led to movements for administrative reform, Self-Government, Home Rule, Dominion Status, and ultimately Independence.
- Indian nationalism promoted individual liberty, equality, and self-determination in the social and religious spheres.
- It challenged the undemocratic principle of birth-based privileges like those found in castes.
- Indian nationalism was inherently democratic and fought against both medievalism and foreign rule.
- Socio-reform and religio-reform movements reflected the national awakening and aimed at revising the medieval social structure and religious outlook on a democratic basis, emphasizing individual liberty and human equality.