Chapter 2 Culture: Characteristics And Discussion Short Answer Questions
Question 1. Why is David Hare renowned in history?
Answer:
David Hare came to Calcutta in 1800 as a watch merchant. Soon he became a great patron of spreading western education in Bengal and one of the personalities of the Bengal renaissance.
As a patron of education: David Hare was one of the founders of the Hindu College. He established ‘Pataldanga Academy’. Now it is known as Hare School. When in 1823 the Hindu College faced a financial crisis, H. H. Wilson saved the college at the request of David Hare. In 1818, when the School Book Society was established, David Hare became the secretary of this institution. His enthusiastic role helped in the establishment of some institutions.
Question 2. Write a note on the Hindu College.
Answer:
Hindu College
Establishment: The year 1817 is notable for the spread of Western education. In that year an important institution was founded in Calcutta by some leaders of the Hindu society. However, the initiation for the establishment of this college was taken by Sir Hyde East of the Supreme Court, Baidyanath Mukherjee, and David Hare. The role played by Raja Rammohan Roy is controversial.
Role of the Hindu College: The Hindu College came into prominence in 1826 when Derozio was appointed as a teacher of this college. His high standard of morality, mild and liberal personality, and purity of character greatly influenced his young pupils. The Hindu society received a terrible shock due to the Young Bengal movement. The Hindu College played an important role in the emergence of a 19th-century renaissance in Bengal.
Question 3. Write a note on Debendranath Tagore.
Answer:
Debendranath Tagore
After Rammohan Roy’s death the Brahmo movement lost its momentum to a great extent. Debendranath Tagore was the son of Dwarkanath Tagore, one of the greatest personalities of the 18th century.
Debendranath’s contribution: After 1833, the leadership of the Brahmo movement was taken by Debendranath. He provided the movement with a better organizational structure. He was deeply influenced by Atmiya Sabha and Brahmo Sabha founded by Rammohan Roy. He laid stress on the observance of the rules of Brahmo Samaj. Debendranath transformed the Brahmo Samaj and published Tattwabodhini Patrika to establish the views of Brahmo Samaj. He protested against social evils like polygamy, child marriage, and the caste system that prevailed in Hindu Society.
Question 4. Write about the Young Bengal movement. Or, Assess the contribution of the Derozians to modernizing the society of Bengal. Or, Why is Derozio called “the pioneer of Modern Bengal”?
Answer:
Young Bengal movement
Introduction: Henry Lours Vivian Derozio was the founder of the Young Bengal movement. He spread his ideas and teaching and many people inspired by him became his pupils.
Academic Association: Derozio formed the Academic Association in 1827. It was the 1st debating society of Hindu College. His pupils took part in debates and expressed their opinions against the racial system, untouchability, image worship, and sati system.
Derozions: The followers of Derozio were called Derozians or Young Bengal. Among the followers of Derozio, Ramtanu Lahiri, Krishna Mohan Banerjee, Radhanath Sikdar, etc. were famous and contributed much to the Indian social system. The Derozians were staunch advocates of and female education female rights. In a sonnet, Derozio writes about his pupils “Of new perceptions shed their influence and how you worship truth’s omnipotence”.
Journals: To express their opinions on social, economic, and political questions, Derozio and his pupils brought out several Journals which included ‘Athenaeum’ ‘Parthenon’, ‘Hindu Pioneer’, Kaleidoscope’, Enquirer’, etc.
Post Derozio period: Derozio died in 1831 but his pupils carried on the movement started by him. The pupils strongly demanded the introduction of a jury system, free trade, and freedom of the press. But they couldn’t achieve success and were criticized.
Criticism: The followers of Derozio openly ate beef, drank alcohol, and converted to Christianity as a protest against the Hindu Brahmins. So, there was moral degradation and criticism in the movement which didn’t last for a long time.
Evolution: After Derozio the movement was guided in the wrong path and the people were against it. Derozians failed to leave a lasting impression on the people. Their influence was limited to the educated people of Calcutta. The general opinion about the Young Bengal in the decade of 1830 was that a generation without fathers and children.
Question 5. State the role of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa in arousing religious consciousness.
Answer:
Introduction: Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the saint of Dakhineshwar, had a great role to play in the broad humanitarian propagation and reform movement. Historian Toynbee said, “In this case, Ramakrishna has raised his uniqueness”.
Contributions His contributions in the socio-religious reform movement were as follows:
1. He criticized casteism, untouchability, narrowness, and blind and thoughtless attachment to rites without understanding their reliance. He gave the message of ‘Jata Math, Tata Path’.
2. He urged everybody to offer his devotion to rise above ‘Maya’ and attachments for worldly lives and property and relatives.
3. He preached the message of synthesis between different religious beliefs by suggesting that there are different roads to reach the same place. This theory showed the way of unity and tolerance.
4. He inspired the Muslims to be true Muslims and Christians to be faithful to Christ.
5. He firmly believed that by obtaining self-knowledge or proper devotion to God men would no longer go by the levels of cast and creed. Hence, Shri Ramakrishna lighted the way as Avtar. Keshab Chandra, Grish Ghosh, and Vivekananda were very much influenced by Ramakrishna. Mahatma Gandhi aptly described him, “Ramakrishna presents an example of a bright and living faith which gives solace to thousands of men and women who would otherwise have remained without spiritual light”.
Question 6. Write a short note on Wood’s Despatch.
Answer:
Wood’s Despatch: Sir Charles Wood, the president of the Board of Control, recommended combining the stream of both the lowest and h forms of education in 1854. This is known as Wood’s De or Education despatch.
Recommendations:
1. To f separate department for education
2. To establish 3 in each at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras
3. To take ad measures for teachers and teaching by opening teachers to college,
4. To establish new schools
5. To improve the primary schools
6. To improve the govt, schools, and cc
7. To expand female education, etc.
Thus, Wood’s Despatch is regarded as the ‘Magna Carta’ history of English education in India. Wood rejected the filt< policy, 3 universities were founded, and the private school: provided grants in aid. Gradually the number of universities increased. Dr. R. C. Majumdar said on this despatch, “The educational system in British India has since developed”.
Question 7. Write about the reformation movement of Keshab Chandra Sen.
Answer:
1. Introduction: The second half of the 19th century was an important phase in the history of the reform movement of Bengal. In 1857 AD. Keshab Chandra Sen became the leader of Brahmo Samaj at the age of 19.
2. Contribution: Keshab Chandra Sen made a great contribution to society, religion, and education. Max Muller rightly coined the term ‘Great Son of India’ for Keshab Chandra Sen. He made the Brahno movement popular at the international level. R. C. Majumdar said that “Keshab Chandra was the father of all India Brahmo movement”. Debendranath gave him the title ‘Brahmanada’.
3. Editorial Work: Keshab Chandra edited the papers like ‘Indian Mirror’, ‘Bengalee’, ‘Hindu’, etc. In the August 1861 edition of Tatwabodhini Patrika, he wrote an article for the development of women in India. In 1864 Keshab Chandra travelled throughout India to spread the Brahmo religion.
4. Religious and Social Reforms: In 1869 A.D. Keshab Chandra created a ‘Bharat Barshiya Brahmo Mandir’ assembling the religious ideas of Hinduism and Christianity. He made many attempts to spread the ideas of establishing night schools, ‘widow marriage’, etc. He opposed child marriage. In 1880 he established ‘Nababidhan Samaj’. He died in 1884 and his death was a major loss for Brahmo Samaj.
5. Conclusion: We can conclude in the words of Dr. R.C. Majumdar, “Kesab brought to the Brahmo Samaj a dynamic force which it never processed before”.
Question 8. Write a short note on Hunter Commission.
Answer:
Introduction: The Hunter Commission was formed in 1882 under the leadership of Sir William Hunter during the period of Lord Rippon. The Commission reported that Wood’s Despatch was not fully implemented.
Recommendations:
1. Schools and colleges would be subsidized by the government
2. All government restrictions would be lifted from schools and colleges
3. District boards and municipalities would be entrusted with the foundation and maintenance of primary schools
4. Emphasis would be given to the spread of primary education
5. Special attention would be given to the spread of higher education. Hence, the role of the Hunter Commission in the field of expansion of education was vital. The government rejected the recommendations in the sphere of primary education but accepted other recommendations. As a result, secondary and higher secondary education had some advancement.
Question 9. What was the system of education as practiced in India during the pre-British days?
Answer:
Education in the Pre-British Period :
1. Chief Feature: The system of education prevalent in the pre-British days, however defective, served the needs of the time.
2. Centres of Lower and Higher Learning: Tools and Madrassas were higher centers of learning and Pathsalas and Maktabs were primary schools to impart elementary education.
3. Pathsalas: Pathsalas were held in temple premises or in religious institutions. The pupils here received some knowledge of elementary arithmetic
4. Maktabs: In the Maktabs, attached to masjids, learning was confined to the Muslim scriptures
5. Tools: Tools were essentially centers of higher education for the Hindu scholars. Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in the tools. The subjects, other than the Hindu religious scriptures taught in the tools included philosophy, grammar, etc.
6. Higher Education: Nabadwip, Benaras, Mithila, Bikampur, etc. were important centers of higher education. The Madrassas of Patna, Murshidabad, Delhi, Lahore, etc. emerged as important centers of higher learning in Arabic and Persian. Persian being the state language under the Mughals, a large number of pupils attended the Madarssas spread over different parts of the country.
Question 10. What were the merits and demerits of the system of education prevalent in the pre-British days?
Answer:
Merits and Demerits of Pre-British Education :
1. Failed to Widen the Mental Horizon: The traditional system of education available in India during the pre-British days, indeed, failed to widen the mental horizon of the learners
2. Lack of Rational Outlook: The education imparted in the tools-pathsalas and mastabas-madrassas could neither inculcate individuality nor a rational outlook among the young learners
3. Religious Orthodoxy: In fact, education in the pre-British days made the Hindu and the Muslim pupils, uncritical subscribers to their respective religion
4. Mass Literacy: Despite these limitations, it has been admitted on all hands that there had been a general inclination for education in those days. Besides, a very large section of the population used to receive vernacular education in a good number of elementary schools spread all over the country. J Under the Company’s rule this indigenous elementary education suffered a decline.
Question 11. What were the limitations of English education as introduced by the British in India?
Answer:
Limitations of English Education: The new education policy introduced by the British, however, had limited success
1. Limited Mass Appeal: In the first place, a handful of persons living in towns could take advantage of the schools which were established in cities or sub-divisional towns. The bulk of the population that lived in villages had been deprived of the benefit of English education
2. Confined to the Middle Class: Secondly, English education was by and large confined to the middle class. The idea prevalent in the official circle that the new education would percolate downward to the masses through the upper classes was never realized
3. Neglecting Primary Education: Thirdly, the greatest defect of the new education policy was that it neglected the education of the people at the elementary stage
4. Setback of Vernacular Education: Fourthly, another important cause of decline of the vernacular education at the elementary level was that the elementary schools spread all over the country suffered ruination due to a lack of financial support from the government. However, the Company’s government could not neglect the vernacular education for long. It was in 1854 that a new education policy recommended by Charles Wood emphasized the need for introducing vernacular education at the elementary level.
Question 12. Discuss the influence of the spread of Western education in the nineteenth century.
Answer:
Impact of Western Education: The Spread of Western education in the 19th century roused the Indians from medieval slumber and gave birth to a new awakening in India
1. Spread of Western Philosophy: Western education proved a great blessing in disguise as the Indians began to come under the influence of Western philosophies and Western political concepts like nationalism, democracy, freedom, equality, secularism, etc. It set up a high standard of rational thinking; reason and judgment took the place of faith and belief; superstition yielded to science
2. Reform Movement: As a result, many reform movements like the Brahmo Samaj, the Arya Samaj, the Prarthana Samaj, etc. started in the 19th century
3. Thirst for Knowledge of Culture: A great urge to know the history of India and its heritage developed among the Indians and research on India’s past and heritage received a great impetus
4. Political Consciousness: The spread of western education gave rise to the middle class and it was the awakening of political consciousness of this class that fostered national unity
5. Favouring Western Culture and Language: The unfortunate consequence of the spread of Western education was that the Western-educated youths began to look down upon their own culture and a big gap now separated educated Indians and the illiterate masses. Indian languages were neglected and as the vernacular education was of little help in securing jobs, many Pathasalas and Maktabs had to be closed down.
Question 13. Analyze the contribution of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in the field of social reform and education in Bengal.
Answer:
Social reforms :
1. Solving Social Problems: Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar was a great social reformer. He gave a new dimension to the social progress of Bengal. He fought for great social issues such as widow remarriage, prohibition of polygamy, etc. He was a crusader against superstitions and bigotry. He opened the gates of Sanskrit College to non-Brahmin students as he was opposed to the monopoly enjoyed by the priestly classes in the study of Sanskrit.
2. Emancipation of Women: He is remembered for his contribution to the upliftment of women. He waged a long struggle for widow remarriage and tried to improve the condition of the suffering Hindu widows. On December 7, 1856, under the supervision of Vidyasagar, the first lawful Hindu remarriage was held. In the years between 1855 and 1860, twenty-five widow remarriages were performed by his inspiration.
Educational reforms :
1. Establishment of Schools: Vidyasagar is best remembered for his role as an educationist. He, with the support of Lord Hardinge, established schools in the rural localities of Bengal. He established 20 model schools in different districts of Bengal. He was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Institution. He also realized the need to establish schools for the education of women. He established 35 girls’ schools in the rural localities of Bengal.
2. Writing of Textbooks: He wrote Varnaparichay, Kathamala, and Bodhodaya to train children in Bengali language and grammar. He supported the study of Sanskrit grammar through the medium of Bengali for which he composed Sanskrit Byakarner Upakramanika and Byakaran Kaumudi.
Question 14. Why was the Vernacular Press Act introduced?
Answer:
Vernacular Press Act :
1. Lack of Government Support for the Famine-Stricken People: Lord Lytton’s administration began under the shadow of a severe famine. In this crisis, the Government’s apathy towards the sufferings of the people drove discontent among the masses
2. Criticism of Govt, by the Press: Quite naturally the simmering discontent came to the surface and the Government policy began to be openly criticized. Vernacular press not only criticized the Policy but also suggested alternative policies and molded public opinion against the Government
3. Restraints on Vernacular Press: Therefore, to suppress adverse criticisms of governmental measures by the Indians in their press, Lytton took a retrograde measure. On March 1878 the Vernacular Press Act was put on the statute book. The Act empowered a magistrate to enter into a bond,
4. Counter Measures: Somprakash, a Bengalee weekly, ceased publication refusing to accept the humiliating conditions under the said Act. To save Amrit Bazar Patrika from the oppression of the Act, Sisir Kumar and Motilal transformed their bilingual paper into a full-fledged English paper overnight
5. Agitation Against the Act: A powerful agitation developed in Bengal. Surendranath Banerjee described the Act as a bolt from the blue. The agitation grew in strength and the Government was forced to repeal the Vernacular Press Act in 1881.
Question 15. What was the role of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the welfare of women?
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, regarded as the ‘1st modern man of India’, was the champion of women’s rights. He condemned all the evil practices that degraded the position of women in society. He upheld the cause of the women and denounced the prevailing idea that women were inferior to men.
(1)Raja Ram Mohan built up a strong movement against the inhuman practice of Sati. He wrote his arguments against it in journals like Samachar Darpan, Calcutta Journal, Friend of India, and Indian Gazettee, etc. against the sati system. Ultimately Lord Bentinck abolished the sati system by enacting Regulation XVII in 1829 A.D.
(2)He protested against the Hindu law for women’s rights on the property of the dead husband. Rammohan called it, a “Modern encroachment on the ancient rights of Hindu females according to the Hindu law of inheritance”.
(3)Rammohan also raised his voice against social and religious evils like child marriage, polygamy, intercaste marriage, the dowry system, etc.
(4)Rammohan also built up a strong movement in favor of the remarriage of Hindu widows.
(5)Ram Mohan Roy contributed to the field of female education
Hence, all these give proof of how Ram Mohan acted for the upliftment of women.
Question 16. What was the role of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in the welfare of women?
Answer:
Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar: The message that Ishwar Chandra brought for the welfare of the women was the greatest event after Ram Mohan. He completed the unfinished effort of reform by Ram Mohan Roy
.
Spread of women’s education:
(1) He formed the ‘Female Juvenile Society’ with the help of Drinkwater Bethune. Bethune School and College were established with their help.
(2) He founded ‘Stri Sikhsa Sammiiani’ in Midnapore, Hoogly, Burdwan, etc. for the expansion of female education.
(3) The most important event was that he founded 35 girls’ schools without any government grant. The number of girls students in these schools was 1300.
(4) He founded ‘Metropolitan Institution’ in 1870 A.D. by challenging George Campbell.
Protest against the social abuses:
(1) He said the strong emphasis on widow re-marriage. He also found proof of widow re-marriage in Boudhayan and Narad Samiti, Agnipurana, etc. Due to Vidyasagar’s untiring effort the Widow Marriage Act of 1856 A.D. was passed.
(2)Vidyasagar also protested against child marriage, polygamy, the killing of lepers, the dowry system, etc. He thought that these social abuses were the greatest enemy of the people.
(3)Vidyasagar also emphasized the freedom of women in every field and her rights in her ancestor’s property.
Thus, Amlesh Tripathi aptly called him a ‘Traditional Modernizer’. Madhusudan Dutta rightly said, “Vidyasagar had the genius and wisdom of an ancient sage, the energy of an Englishman, and the heart of a Bengali mother”.
Question 17. Describe the disabilities from which women suffered in Indian society. Discuss the steps taken by the social and religious reform movements for the emancipation of women.
Answer:
1. Widow Remarriage: The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act was formulated in 1866 A.D. as a consequence of the movement run by Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar about the fight of widow remarriage
2. Stress on Female Education: To remove the cause behind the backwardness of women folk, he stressed the need for female education. Hence, many girls’ schools were opened consequent upon the same, which was a fruitful result of their endeavors. The people otherwise understood that female education was futile.
3. Ban on Child Marriage: As a result of child marriage, the girls often became widows in childhood and ever through life lived under the heavy load of widowhood. Hence Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar gave a staunch opposition to this evil custom.
4. Obstruction of Polygamy: Generally any man could marry any number of girls. This promoted domestic disharmony and exploited the women folk. Hence, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar gave a staunch opposition to this evil custom.
Question 18. What is the University Act?
Answer:
University Act:
University Act: In 1902 AD Lord Curzon formed the Raleigh Commission under the leadership of Sir Thomas Raleigh. This was also known as the ‘Indian University Act Commission’. Sir Gurudas Banerjee and Syed Hussain Bilgrami, the two Indians, were the members of this Commission. The University Act was passed in 1904 A.D. with the recommendations of the Raleigh Commission. According to this Act, strict Government restrictions were imposed on educational institutions to upgrade the ‘Educational Standard’. Primary education was ignored in this Act. So this policy of Curzon was said to be a top-heavy policy. Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University, opposed this Act. At the same time, he developed the infrastructure of the post-graduate education system and made the Bengali language honorable.
Question 19. Why was the Brahma Samaj formed?
Answer: Brahma Samaj :
1. Protest Against Traditional Orthodoxy: Rammohan Roy established the Brahma Samaj in 1828 AD. This society was formed in protest of traditional Hindu superstition and complex religious rituals.
2. Rejection of Idolatry: Evening prayer was the main ritualistic form of Brahma Samaj. They did not believe in ideology.
3. Contribution of Rammohan: Rammohan established the ‘British Indian Unitarian Association’. In the next year, he established Brahma Samaj. Many scholars believed that Rammohan was influenced by Adam, Tarachand Chakraborty, and Chandrasekhar Deb. Later Ramchandra Vidyavagis, Prasanna Kumar Thakur, and Dwarakanath Thakur became supporters of this society
4. Activities of the Samaj: The meetings of the Samaj were held on Wednesdays. Here Bramhasangit was played and also readings from the Vedas were held. Ramananda Chattopadhyay said “Rammohan wanted to assemble all the people from different communities in a single belief”
5. After Rammohan’s Death: Rammohan went to England in 1830 A.D. and died there in 1833 A.D. After his death the importance of this Samaj decreased. In the later period, it gained its importance in the days of Keshab Chandra Sen, Debendranath Thakur, etc.
Question 20. Write a short note on the Charter Act of 1813 AD.
Answer:
Charter Act:
1. Objective: The Charter Act was passed to understand the exact position of the Company in India in 1813.
2. Ending of Monopoly: This Act ended the monopoly of the East India Company in India. As a result, the Indian markets were opened to all other merchants in Europe
3. Features of the Act: It is also said that the Company should separate its income from trade and that from land revenue. The income would be spent on military and non-military purposes, it was said that the Government would give an amount of 1 lakh rupees annually for the development of literature and science in India. The Christian missionaries were allowed to preach their religion in India
4. Supremacy of the British Govt.: This Act also stated that the approval of the British Government was compulsory regarding the appointment of Governor-General, Governor, and Commander-in-Chief.
5. Revision of the Act: This Act was to be renewed after every 20 years. Accordingly, the Charter Acts of 1833 AD and 1853 AD changed, improved, and developed the earlier ones. Of all these Acts, the Charter Act of 1833 AD was known as the ‘Charter of Laisser Faire’ due to its constitutional and economic significance.
Question 21. Describe the role and activities of Brahmo Samaj after Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Answer:
Brahmo Samaj after Ram Mohan Roy: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 which played a significant role in meeting the requirements of the time.
The principles of Brahmo Samaj were as follows:
1. There is only one omnipotent God.
2. People of all religions and sects have an equal right to worship God.
3. If we remain away from both virtuous and vicious actions, we shall automatically attain salvation.
4. The soul is immortal.
5. Worship God with true heart. Raja Ram Mohan Roy made a strenuous endeavor for the removal of widespread evil customs of contemporary society. He got the sati custom legally banned. He supported the cause of widow remarriage. He stressed the need for female education so that they may come out of their concealment (veil) and become a useful organ of society. The Brahmo Samaj raised their voice against polygamy and child marriage. Debendra Nath Tagore and Keshav Chandra Sen came forward to stretch ahead the programs of reform run by Raja Ram Mohan Roy after his death. They too strove their utmost to bring about a social awakening.
Question 22. Write the contributions of Bamabodhini Patrika.
Answer:
Bamabodhini Patrika :
1. Establishment: Bamabodhini Patrika was a monthly journal edited by Umesh Chandra Dutta (1840-1907) from 1863. He, together with some other young Brahmo leaders, established Bamabodhini Sabha in 1863, aiming to educate Bengali housewives and to publish books and journals for their mental upliftment.
2. Establishment of Schools: Bethune School was founded in 1849 and the total number of Girls’ Schools in Bengal in 1863 was 35 with students numbering only 1183.
3. Objective: Umesh Chandra and others tried to penetrate Bengali families through the medium of a journal to spread women’s education. Bamabodhini Patrika was the result of this pioneering effort.
4. Activities: Bamabodhini Sabha started this journal in August 1863 (Bhadra 1270 BS). Bamabodhini Patrika was a success from the beginning and continued for a long sixty years up to 1922 encountering many vicissitudes. Umesh Chandra edited the monthly journal for forty-four years, helped by Kshetramohan and Basantakumar Dutta in the beginning. After him, Sukumar Dutta, Tarakumar Kab; Ratna, and others continued to edit the journal.
5. Subject Matter of Publication: Bamabodhini brought both conservative and liberal writers in its fold. Religion, ethics, science, history, household medicine, child care, women’s education many such topics were deliberated on in the journal. All articles centered on women and were aimed at their development. It asserted from the very beginning that everything considered necessary for women would be discussed in its pages, with special emphasis on delivering proper and essential knowledge by removing all doubts and superstitions from their minds. Bamabodhini witnessed a turning point in our history and recorded in its pages the women’s role in a changing society and family. It protested against all forces bent on oppressing women.
Question 23. Write a note on Bijoy Krishna Goswami. 4
Answer:
Bijoy Krishna Goswami:
1. Introduction: Bijoy Krishna Goswami was a prominent social reformer and religious figure and the incarnation of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya in India during the British period. He was a spokesman for the new Vaisnavite doctrine.
2. Early Life: Bijay Krishna was born on 2 August 1841 in Santipur, Nadia. His father, Ananda Kishore Goswami, was a great devotee. While in college, he read about Vedanta and developed an interest in it. He met Debendranath Tagore in Kolkata and being influenced by him he joined Brahma Samaj.
3. Religious Activities: Bijoy Krishna visited different parts of India to preach Brahmanism. He came to East Bengal in 1863 and worked for some time in Dhaka with Keshab Chandra Sen. He established Brahma temples in Shantipur, Mymensingh. He was especially interested in the development and education of women and taught for some time at the school established by Keshab Chandra. He wrote a book named Prashnottar to teach yoga. He was always in search of absolute truth. He later left Brahmo Samaj and followed many different religious paths to attain absolute truth. And even after doing so when he was unable to find the absolute truth he understood the importance of a Guru. While residing in Gaya once he was beset with severe longing for the divine when “Brahmananda Paramhansa” who lived near Mansarovar Lake appeared before him in his yogic body and initiated him in the path. This event took place at Akash Ganga Pahar in Gaya. He remained in samadhi for 11 days after getting the initiation, during which his body was taken care of by a sage living nearby
4. His Teaching: He attained God’s realization and he started initiating other people on this path after getting orders from his Guru. The rules of conduct regarding food and cleanliness laid down in the path preached by him are very strict. His teaching can be read in the book named “Sri Sadgurusanga” which is a diary written by his disciple Sri Kuldanand Brahmachari.
5. Death: He left his mortal body in Jagannath Puri Dham, after being poisoned. His samadhi is still famous as “Jatiya Baba Ashram”. Bijay Krishna Goswami was also popularly known as “Gosaiji”,
Question 24. State the importance of Grambarta Patrika. 4
Answer:
Grambarta Patrika :
1. Introduction: Grambarta Prakashika was an influential nineteenth-century journal, first published in April 1863 under the editorship of Kangal Harinath Majumdar. In June-July, 1864 it became a fortnightly and weekly in April-May, 1871. Initially, it was printed at Girish Vidyaratna Press, Kolkata. In 1864 Grambarta was shifted to Mathuranath Press at Kumarkhali. In 1873 the Kumarkhali Press was donated to Harinath by its owner, Mathuranath Maitreya.
2. Rural Inclination: Only 19 episodes of his periodical, the ‘Grambarta7 were published. As this periodical highlighted the life and condition of the villagers and villages of Santipur, Meherpurere Chakdaha, etc., its name had been “Grambarta Prakashika77. It was aimed at informing the whereabouts of the villagers to the British Government for immediate action. So the name ‘Grambarta7, was meaningful. In 1864 (June-July months) this became a fortnightly magazine and in 1871 (April-May months) it was converted to a weekly magazine.
3. Publication: Grambarta Prakashika published articles on literature, philosophy, science, etc. Reputed Bengali scholars used to write in the journal. Rabindranath Tagore’s essays on literature, philosophy, and science as well as poems were also published in it. The well-known Muslim writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain began his literary activities through this paper for which he first worked as a mofussil correspondent. Jalandhar Sen, well-known as a writer of Himalayan travels and journalist, also began his literary career through this journal.
4. Editorial Work: Harinath edited Grambarta Prakasika for a period of full 18 years. During this period he led a relentless struggle to promote education in Bengal and create public opinion against exploitation. He published articles exposing social and political wrongs, and he wrote harshly against the oppression of British indigo farmers and moneylenders.
5. Conclusion: Harinath’s ‘Grambarta Prakashika7 highlighted the sorrows and sufferings of the village people. He strictly criticized the oppressive Zamindars, moneylenders, indigo-planters, and Zamindars of the Tagore family of Jorasanko. ‘Grambarta7 was the only literary magazine that supported the rebel peasants in the Pabna Revolt (1870).
Question 25. Write a note on Hindoo Patriot.
Answer:
Hindoo Patriot
Introduction: The Hindoo Patriot was an English weekly published from Kolkata in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The Hindoo Patriot was a nationalist publication known for its active role in exposing the oppression of indigo planters in Bengal.
Objective: Although the principal objective of the Hindoo Patriot was to focus on anomalies in the British Government in India, it pinned very high Jiopes on the liberalism of the British public and parliament. Thus, it always advised Indians to look for the amelioration of their grievances to the British public and Parliament whenever the British Indian administration failed to redress their complaints. Again, the focus on multiple anomalies relative to British rule was never intended to tarnish the image of the British Indian government. Rather, criticism of anomalies was intended to make the administration aware of public grievances and their causes to enable the government to effect their speedy rectification. To the Hindoo Patriot, British rule in India was not blind imperialism but something highly noble to be supported for public welfare. Indians had still much to learn from the English and English rule was accordingly to be endured. This feature comes out vividly in a lengthy editorial of the 11 October 1855 issue of the newspaper.
1857 revolt: During the revolt of 1857, the Hindoo Patriot used to publish stories of the revolt as the lead articles. He believed that the rebels had harmed their cause by placing their trust in the leadership of the Mughals, whom he described as the rotten house of Tamerlane, in 1859 when Tatia Tope was hanged, the Hindoo Patriot saluted his martyrdom and recognized the efforts of Lakshmi Bai and Kunwar Singh.
Indigo revolt: The Hindoo Patriot, under the able editorship of Harish Chandra Mukherjee, became the mouthpiece of protest against imperial injustices.
1. In the late fifties, the Hindoo Patriot began to expose the oppression and atrocities on Indian peasants by the indigo planters. The latter used to force the peasants into cultivating indigo.
2. In late 1875, when one Jagadananda Mukherjee invited the Prince of Wales to his residence and zenana, The Hindoo Patriot commented that the national feeling had been outraged.
3. After the initial editorship of Girish Chandra Ghosh and Harish Chandra Mukherjee, Krishnadas Pal was the editor of the paper for 23 years. During this period he opposed imperial laws like the Immigration Bill, the Vernacular Press Act, and the Albert Bill through the columns of the Hindoo Patriot. He protested against the oppression of tea workers and termed the Immigration Bill as ‘The Slave Law of India’,
Conclusion: The Hindoo Patriot under Harish Chandra played a vital role against the tyranny of the indigo planters, particularly during the post-Serboy revolt period. Regular editorials against such tyranny on the poor helpless indigo farmers attracted public attention and evoked universal condemnation from a large cross-section of educated Indians.
Question 26. Write a note on Hutom Pyanchar Naksha.
Answer:
Hutom Pyanchar Naksha :
1. Introduction: Custom Pyanchar Naksha or ‘Naksha of the OwT is a compilation of satirical prose by Kaliprasanna Sinha. It is a truly remarkable collection of around 140 pages in length, consisting of descriptions of religious festivals, false saints, Babus, Sahibs, etc. Chalit Bhasha, or colloquial language, is employed throughout Hutom Pyanchar Naksha.
2. Pioneering of Satire: Hutom Pyanchar Naksha, as one of the outstanding literary works of nineteenth-century Bengal, found numerous imitators and established Naksha once and for all as a genre. The term Naksha, too, appears here to denote a satirical sketch written in prose and becomes customary from then on. In this sense, it marks the end of prose experiments and the beginning of a rather tightly-knit tradition, that is, in one phrase, the end of the beginnings.
3. Subject Matter: Kaliprasanna has firmly molded the anarchy and variety of life that is synonymous with the rise, from the early 19th century, of Calcutta as a colonial and global metropolis, a city as yet without a notion of a great modern author (although two great moderns, Kaliprasanna himself and Michael Madhusudan Dutt, and their principal literary offerings, have, by now, in 1861, just come into existence); without a fixed and recognizable notion of Bengali literature (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, who was quick to notice Kaliprasanna’s idiosyncratic genius, would write “A Popular Literature for Bengal” nine years later, lamenting its absence); or even a safe, working idea of Bengali culture, such as we take for granted today. Tagore, at this moment, is a newborn. Everything is transient, confusing, uncertain, and alive. It is not a culture comprising canons, or great authors and maneuvers, but pictures, posters, bulletins, scandals, and fads.
Importance: The book is historically important as it depicts the contemporary life of Kolkata in the middle of the nineteenth century in a realistic manner. It is also significant for its use of the spoken language of Kolkata and its surrounding areas. The writer’s use of the pseudonym ‘HutonV led to the language of the book being known as ‘Hutomi Bangla’. This language is more refined than the Alali language of Peary Chand Mitra (1814-1883) and there is no confusion of spoken and written forms.
Question 27. What do you know about Lalon Fakir?
Answer:
Lalon Fakir :
1. Introduction: Lalon, also known as Lalon Saint, Lalon Shah, Lalon Fakir, or Mahatma Lalon was a Bengali Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer, and thinker.
2. Contribution: In Bengali culture, he is considered as an icon of religious tolerance. His songs influenced considerably many poets, and social and religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Allen Ginsberg, though he “rejected all distinctions of caste and creed”. He was both praised and criticized in his lifetime and after his death. Throughout life, Lalon sang of a society where all religions and beliefs are in harmony. His disciples mostly come from Bangladesh and West Bengal. He founded the institute known as Lalon Akhrah in Cheuriya, about 2 kilometers from Kushtia railway station. He is also regarded as the founder of the Baul music and known as the Baul Samrat (The king of Bauls).
3. Writing of Songs: Lalon composed numerous songs and poems that describe his philosophy. It is estimated that Lalon composed about 2,000 -10,000 songs, of which only about 800 songs are generally considered authentic. Lalon left no written copies of his songs, which were transmitted orally and only later put to writing by his followers. Also, most of his followers could not read or write either, so few of his songs are found in written form. Rabindranath Tagore published some of Lalon’s songs in the monthly Prabasi magazine of Kolkata.
4. Hits Philosophy: The songs of Lalon aim at an indescribable reality beyond realism. He was observant of social conditions and his songs spoke of day-to-day problems in simple yet moving language. His philosophy was expressed orally, as well as through songs and musical compositions using folk instruments that could be made from materials available at home, for example, the ektara (one-string musical instrument) and the doggie (drum).
5. Conclusion: Some of the famous singers who have used his compositions are Farida Parveen and Anusay Andil. Zamindar Jatirindranath Tagore of Shilaidaha sketched the image of Lalan Fakir. His life and thoughts were made into a movie ‘Moner Manush’ in 2010.
Question 28. What do you know about Madhusudan Gupta?
Answer:
Madhusudan Gupta
Pandit Madhusudan Gupta (1800 – 15 November 1856) was an Indian doctor and the first Indian trained in Western medicine to dissect a human corpse. When the Medical College was set up in Kolkata, Gupta broke prevalent social taboos and came forward to dissect a human corpse.
Foundation of the Medical College: In 1835, the Medical College was set up. The Baidyak discipline was discontinued at the Sanskrit College and Gupta joined Medical College as an assistant teacher. He studied Western medicine along with the students and passed in 1840. In 1845, he became the Superintendent of the Hindusthani medium. In 1848, he was promoted to a first-class sub-assistant surgeon. In 1852, the Bengali medium was opened at the Medical College for the first time. Gupta took charge as the Superintendent of the Bengali medium. ,
Contributions: Gupta made a significant contribution to the history of Calcutta Medical College (CMC) and the hospital. During the prime stage of the medical college, Indian students were not coming to join the course partly because they were from aristocratic Indian families who had disdain for surgery (reluctant to touch the dead body) and partly because the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine were popular at that time.
He was a Sanskrit scholar and Ayurvedic doctor and he proclaimed that he would dissect the dead body and that created waves among the people after that many students came to join the medical education at CMC. He was one of the first batch of students that passed from the CMC. He did not pass the first batch of CMC graduates. He was assisted by Raj Krishna Dey, Umacharan Sett, Dwarkanath Gooptu, and Nabin Chandra Mitra, students of the Medical College.
In 1830, he was appointed a professor at the Sanskrit College, replacing Khudiram Visharad, which created a ripple among the student community. Madhusudan’s role may be viewed as one of the first internalizes of modern anatomical education who acted as the agent for the Company’s education.
Books: He wrote Anatomy Arthat Sharir Vidya in Bengali, translated London Pharmacopoeia in Bengali, and translated Anatomist Vade Mecum in Sanskrit.
Conclusion: The British East India Company administration honored him by firing guns from Fort William. It should be noted that ancient Indian sages such as the legendary surgeon Sushruta had almost certainly performed human autopsies to gain knowledge of the human body. However, Dr. Madhusudan Gupta was the first Indian to do it as a practitioner of modern Western medicine.
Question 29. Write a note on the Brahmo Movement.
Answer:
Brahmo Movement:
1. Introduction: The mantle of leading the Brahmo Samaj fell on the shoulders of Debendranath Tagore (1877-1905) who led Tattwabodhini Sabha (founded in 1839), which was engaged in search of spiritual truth. The informal association of two sabhas gave new strength to the membership and purpose of the Brahmo Samaj.
2. Contribution of Tagore: Tagore worked on two fronts. Within Hinduism, the Brahmo Samaj was a reformist movement, and outside he resolutely opposed the Christian missionaries for their criticism of Hinduism and their attempts at conversion. Tagore also condemned idol worship and discouraged pilgrimages, ceremonials, and penance among the Brahmos. Under his leadership, it established its branches in different parts of the country
3. Contribution of Sen: Keshab Chandra Sen joined the Brahmo Samaj in 1858 and became Acharya. With his dynamic leadership, the branches were opened outside Bengal, in the U.P., Punjab, Bombay, Madras, and other towns. But Keshab’s liberal and cosmopolitan outlook brought about a split in the Samaj. It began to cut itself from Hindu moorings; henceforth religious scriptures of every sect including the Christians, Muslims, and Parsis began to be read in the Brahmo Samaj meetings
4. Difference between Tagore and Sen: On the social front, Keshab spoke against the caste system and even advocated intercaste marriages. On this premise, there arose differences between Tagore and Keshab, leading to the split of the organization. Keshab and his followers left the Samaj in 1866 and formed the Brahmo Samaj of India. Debendranath’s Samaj henceforth came to be known as the Adi Brahmo Samaj. But over time, Keshab’s actions became controversial, and again his followers got separated in the name of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.
Question 30. State the contributions of the Brahmo movement.
Answer:
Contributions of Brahmo Movement: Despite the schisms and ideological disputes, over a period of time, its contribution towards the Indian Renaissance was manifold. In the field of social reform, it discarded many of the established principles and practices:
1. It discarded faith in divine Avatars.
2. It denied that any scripture could enjoy the status of ultimate authority transcending human reason and conscience.
3. It denounced polytheism and idol worship.
4. It also criticized the caste system.
5. It took no definite stand on the doctrine of karma and transmigration of the soul and left it to individual Brahmos to believe either way.
6. It condemned the prevailing Hindu prejudice against going abroad.
7. It worked for a respectable status for women in society by condemning sati, and the purdah system, discouraging child marriages, and polygamy, and crusading for widow remarriage, women’s education, etc.
8. It also attacked untouchability and casteism but with limited success.
Question 31. State the characteristics of socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century.
Answer:
Characteristics of Socio-Religious Reform Movements in the 19th Century :
1. Introduction of Western Philosophy: The impact of the West began to operate through perceptible and imperceptible ways. It had its positive and negative aspects. Through actions and reactions, antagonism, and assimilation, western ideas began to penetrate thoughts and habits. The orthodox revolted outwardly but searched inwardly for a change. For the intellectuals, there was the need to rationalize the traditional society. To the learned, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity had common grounds on which to meet; the essence of all religions being the same
2. Awakening of Reform Movements: A wave of unrest swept during the early years of the 19th century. Of that unrest, the Indian Renaissance began to take shape. In the wake of that awakening, there also emerged the socio-religious reform movements
3. Clasification: These reform movements fall into two broad categories: reformist movements like the Arya Samaj, the Ramakrishna Mission, the Deoband movement, and Theosophical society. Both the reformist and the revivalist movements depended on a varying degree of an appeal to the lost purity of the religion
4. Difference Between Reform Movements: The only difference between one reform movement and the other was in the degree to which it relied on tradition or reason and conscience
5. Emphasis on Both Social and Religious Reforms: Another significant aspect of these reform movements was their emphasis on both religious and social reforms. This link was primarily due to two main reasons. Almost every social custom and institution in India derived sustenance from religious injunctions and sanctions. This means that no social reform could be undertaken unless the existing religious notions, which sustained the social customs, were also reformed. Secondly, the Indian reformers understood the close interrelation between the different aspects of human activities. Rammohan Roy believes that religious reform must precede demand for social reform or political rights.
Question 32. Write an essay on Ramakrishna Paramhansadeva.
Answer:
Ramakrishna Paramhansa :
1. Introduction: Sri Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhansadeva (1836-1886 A.D.) had a great role to play in the broad humanitarian religious propagation and reform movement. His impact on social conservatism and religious rigidity was a great gain for the nation. The simple, easy, broad view of life was a new light towards the darkened society. Sri Ramakrishna lighted the way as Avatar. Historian Toynbee said, ‘In this case, Ramakrishna has raised his uniqueness7
2. Early Life: Ramakrishna was born in a poor Brahmin family of Kamarpukur in Hooghly. Later he was appointed as a priest in the Bhabatarini temple of Dakshineswar under the instructions of Rani Rashmoni. From this time, his depth ness towards religion started increasing and he became famous. Despite being a real Hindu, Ramakrishna said that God is one and only one and the goal is the same even if some call him Christ, Krishna, or Allah. So Mahatma Gandhi wrote about him “The story of Ramakrishna Paramhansa’s life is a story of religion in practice. His life enables us to see God face-to-face—in this age of skepticism. Ramakrishna presents an example of a bright and living faith that gives solace to thousands of men and women who would otherwise have remained without spiritual light.”
3. Disciples: Swami Vivekananda was the main disciple of Ramakrishna but people like Keshab Sen, Girish Ghosh, Vidyasagar, Nati Binodini, etc. came in close contact with him. Max Muller praised them very highly about him. This great man had a tremendous hypnotizing power. Bal Gangadhar Tilak said at one time, “If Sri Ramakrishna is a living Vedanta, then the commentator of that Vedanta will be Swami Vivekananda.”
4. Teaching: His main motto was an unprejudiced mind. So he emphasized spiritual thoughts, devotion, and self-realization. In his opinion, one can reach God through any of the methods like Bhaktiyoga, Gyanyoga, Rajyoga, and Karmayoga. In his opinion, it is not necessary to detach yourself from your house to realize God. He became a prodigy of humanity and mankind to all castes, races, and creeds. So, the famous French scholar Sylvian Levi remarked, “As Ramakrishna’s heart and mind were for all countries, his name too is a common property of mankind.”
5. Impact on People: Keshab Sen’s mind was changed when he came to see Ramakrishna in 1875 A.D. He became a non-believer in idolatry. Besides this, Keshab Sen was absorbed in realizing God for some time by forming Sadhanashram. People like Vijay Krishna Goswami, Balaram Basu, Girish Ghosh, Mahendranath Gupta, etc. were very much influenced by Ramakrishna. The highly confused and afraid public in the nineteenth century found within Ramakrishna the right path of truth and justice, the hope and inspiration of Hinduism, and the real picture and existence of religion. According to Amiya Kumar Majumdar, “He (Ramakrishna) stripped religion of its theological and sacerdotal garments and made it coeval with life.”
6. Conclusion: The contribution of Ramakrishna is well accepted by everybody in the upsurge of the cultural movement of Bengal in the 19th century. The philosophy of Ramakrishna was combined with Brahmo philosophy and the cultural movement got a definite shape. A spiritual personality like his is seldom found and has very rarely appeared in this world.
Question 33. What social legislations were passed by the British Government regarding Sati and widow remarriage?
Answer:
Sati:
1. Early Measures: The East India Company proceeded very cautiously against the abolition of Sati til! Raja Rammohan Roy represented the view of the rational Indian against evil. After hectic parleys at various levels, some attempts were made to ban evil. Lord Minto’s Government declared in 1812 that the practice of sati must be allowed in those states where it has religious approval. Certain circular orders were introduced in 1812, 1815, and 1817 which aimed at stopping the use of force in making a woman commit sati, preventing pregnant women or girls under puberty or mothers with infants, etc. But these circulars had no legal sanctity
2. Contribution of Bentincr: With the entry of Lord William Bentinck, there began a true era of reforms. By consulting many army officers, judges, and the executive, he felt satisfied that the abolition of sati could be possible. With the consent of the Council on 4th December 1829 by Regulation XVII of government, the custom of Sati was declared illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. He had successfully faced opposition from orthodox sections with the support of band reformers.
Widow Remarriage:
Contribution Of Vidya Sagar: The Abolition of Ati indirectly brought into prominence the face and future of the 19th century, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar began a campaign for widow remarriage. The Hindu shastras in his opinion did not prohibit widow marriage, rather they permitted it. His ideas were also brought out in the form of an English book entitled ‘Marriage of Hindu Widows’,
Act XV: Notable landlords like Maharaja Mahatab Chand of Burdwan and Maharaja Shrishchandra of Nadia also supported his efforts to bring legislation for it. Accordingly, on 26 July 1856, Act XV was passed legalizing widow marriage and giving the status of legitimacy to the children of the married widows. The act provoked the orthodox Hindus to submit a petition against it, but of no use.
Question 34. Write a note on Orientalist Anglicist controversy.
Answer:
Orientalist: Anglicist Controversy :
1. Division Among Committee Members: The General Committee of Public Instruction consisted of 10 members, divided into two groups over the issue of the medium of instruction. H. T. Princep led the Orientalists who advocated the policy of encouraging oriental literature and imparting education in vernaculars. On the other hand, the Anglicists favored the adoption of English as the medium of instruction giving importance to Western literature. The division among the members of the committee made it extremely difficult for it to function effectively
2. Macaulay’s Minute: Ultimately, both the parties in the committee submitted their dispute to the Governor-General-in-Council for orders. As a member of the Executive Council, Macaulay wrote his famous Minute on Education Policy dated 2 February 1835 and placed it before the council
3. Favouring the Anglicist Group: Macaulay supported the viewpoint of the Anglicist group. He showed great contempt for the Indian literature when he said, a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia/ Regarding the utility, importance, and claims of the English language, he wrote: ‘Whoever knows that language has ready access to all the vast intellectual wealth which all the wisest nations of the earth have created and handed in the course of generations. In India, English is the language spoken by the ruling class. It is spoken by the higher class of natives at the seats of the East’
4. Real Motive: Possibly, Macaulay aimed to create a class of persons who should be Indian in blood and color, but English in tastes, opinions, morals, and intellect/ In other words, he sought the production of ‘brown Englishmen’ to fit! the lower cadres in the company’s administration
5. Government Decision: The government of Lord William Bentinck in the resolution of 7 March 1835, accepted the viewpoint of Macaulay that, in the future, the object of the Company’s government should be the promotion of European literature and sciences, through the medium of English language and in future all funds were to be spent for that purpose.
Question 35. State the contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy in the field of spreading education.
Answer:
Ram Mohan Roy in the Field of Education :
1. Economic Reason for Supporting Education: The main factor that tipped the scale in favor of the English language and Western literature was the economic factor Indians wanted a system of education that could help them to earn their livelihood. Progressive Indian elements also favored the spread of English education and Western learning,
2. Futility of Oriental Education: Raja Ram Mohan Roy protested against the Government’s proposal to strengthen the Benaras Sanskrit College and establishment of more oriental colleges in Bengal. He wrote to Lord Amherst in 1823 that Sanskrit education could “only be expected to load the minds of youth with grammatical niceties which are of little or no practical use to their possessors or society. The pupils will there acquire what was known two thousand years ago, with the addition of vain and empty subtleties since then produced by speculative men.” He added. “Youths will not befit to be better members of society by the Vedantic doctrines which teach them to believe that all visible things have no real existence, that as a father, brother, etc… have no real entity, they consequently deserve no real affection and therefore the sooner they escape from them and leave the world, the better.”
3. Importance of Scientific Learning: Advocating the importance of modern scientific learning, he wrote, “The Sanskrit system of education would be the best calculated to keep the country in darkness if such had been the policy of the British Government. But as the improvement of the native population is the object of the Government, it will consequently promote a more liberal and enlightened system of instruction, embracing Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Anatomy with other useful sciences.”
4. Measures Advancement of Education: The protests of Raja Ram Mohan Roy did not go unheeded. The Government agreed to encourage the study of English as well as Oriental languages. A grant was sanctioned for the Calcutta Hindu College to be set up in 1817 by enlightened Bengalis, which imparted instruction mainly in the English language and emphasized the study of Western humanities and sciences. The Government also set up three Sanskrit Colleges, each at Calcutta, Delhi, and Agra. In addition, funds were set apart for the translation of European scientific works into Oriental languages.
Question 36. Describe the contribution of Brahmo Samaj in socio-religious reforms.
Answer:
Brahmo Samaj: The Brahmo Samaj played a notable role in the Indian Renaissance. H.C.E. Zacharias writes: “Rammohan Roy and his Brahmo Samaj form the starting point for all the various Reform Movements whether in Hindu religion, society or politics: which have agitated modern India”. The intellectual mind which had been cut off its moorings by the Christian propaganda found a way out in the Brahmo Samaj. In the field of religious reform, the main significance of Brahmo Samaj lay not in what it retained of traditional Hinduism but in what it discarded of the old beliefs of Hinduism.
Its overall contribution may be summed up thus :
1. It discarded faith in divine Avatars
2. It denied that any scripture could enjoy the status of ultimate authority transcending human reason and conscience
3. It denounced polytheism and idol-worship
4. It criticized the caste system
5. It took no definite stand on the doctrine of Karma and transmigration of the soul and left it to individual Brahmos to believe either way. In matters of social reform, Brahmo Samaj has influenced Hindu society. It attacked many dogmas and superstitions. It condemned the prevailing Hindu prejudice against going abroad. It worked for a respectable status for women in society—condemned sati, worked for the abolition of the purdah system, discouraged child marriage, and polygamy, crusaded for widow remarriage, provision of educational facilities, etc. It also attacked casteism and untouchability though in these matters it attained limited success.
Question 37. State the contributions of Raja Radhakanta Deb in the field of spreading Western education in India.
Answer:
Raja Radhakanta Dev :
1. Early Life: Radhakanta belonged to the aristocratic family of Shobhabazar. The aristocracy was established by his grandfather Munshi Nabakrishna. Radhakanta had his primary education at Calcutta Academy. He had learned both Sanskrit and French languages
2. Involvement with Hindu Collage: After his father Gour Mohan’s demise he was associated with the managing council of the Hindu College in 1818. He continued his involvement in this for the next 32 years of his life and in this period he contributed extensively towards the shaping of the college’s rules and regulations. He would help college students to pursue higher University education and also, if necessary, provide financial help for this purpose.
3. Contribution Towards Education: Radhakanta was the first person to emphasize the need for an engineering and agricultural college with the medium of instruction being Bengali. He was very zealous for the spread of women’s education. Through his magazine Tatwabodhini, and his Hindu Charitable Institution he tried to break the influence of Christian missionary activities. When he was at loggerheads with the government regarding the running of the Hindu College, he resigned from its management council in 1850. But Radhakanta’s interest in the spread of Western education was not a little bit diminished due to this incident.
4. Establishment of Metropolitan College: In 1853 along with help from Debendranath Tagore, Motilal Shil, and Rajendra Lai Dutta, he established the Metropolitan College. This was the first national college fully owned by an Indian. However, due to a paucity of funds, this college was later converted into a school.
5. Achievement: His work Shabdakalpadrum which ran into 8 volumes is highly appreciable. The British government awarded him the title of Raj Bahadur for this monumental piece of work. He was a member of the Zamindar Sabha and the Bengal British Society. The general idea prevalent in Britain is that Radhakanta was the first Hindu who had changed with time and was a great supporter of women’s education.
Question 38. Describe the history of Calcutta Medical College and also its medical education.
Answer:
Calcutta Medical College :
1. Establishment: With the initiative of Lord William Bentinck, on 28th January 1835 the Calcutta Medical College came into being in Calcutta. In Asia this is supposed to be the second medical college established by the EuropeAnswer: The first one was Ecole De Medicine at Pondicherry. On 2nd February 1835, the Madras Medical College was established on the same lines as Calcutta Medical College
2. Academics: After studying for nearly five and half years the students were awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). The first principal of the college was M. J. Ramley (1835-1837). He was followed by David Hare (1837-1841), F. J. Mouat (1841-1851), and H. Goodway (1851-1856).
3. Admission: The first batch of 100 students was drawn from young boys in the age group of 14 to 20 years of age after a preliminary test. The first batch started its classes on 20th February 1835 in different venues like Hindu College, Hare School, or the Scottish Church College. Every student was given a stipend of one rupee
4. Graduation: After completion of studies in four to six years they were called Native Doctors. These doctors were then sent for general public service at a pay of Rs. 30 per month. Later on, this salary was increased to Rs. 40 after seven years and to Rs. 50 after 14 years
5. Notable Students: The first batch of students included Umacharan Seth, Rajkrishna Dey, Dwarkanath Gupta, and Nabin Chandra Mitra. On 29th June 1883, the first woman Kadambini Ganguly was admitted to the college. Next year Bidhumukhi Bose was admitted to the college. They were given a stipend of Rs. 20 every month. After the foundation of the Medical College, its two famous Indian physicians were Madhusudan Gupta (1800-1856) and Dr. Surya Kumar Chakraborty (1824-1874). In his later life, Surya Kumar got an MD degree from a foreign country and also passed the I.M.F. in the first position. Then he joins the Medical College as a professor.
Question 39. Write a note on the Indian Universities Act, of 1904.
Answer:
The Indian Universities Act, 1904: In September 1901, Curzon summoned the highest educational officers of the government throughout India and the representatives of various universities at a round table conference at Simla. The conference adopted 150 resolutions, which touched almost every conceivable branch of education. This was followed by the appointment of a commission under the presidency of Sir Thomas Raleigh on 27 January 1902, to enquire into the conditions and prospects of universities in India and to recommend proposals for improving their constitution and working. The commission was precluded from reporting on primary or secondary education. Based on the recommendations of the commission, the Indian Universities Act was passed in 1904.
The main changes proposed were as follows :
1. The universities desired to make provision for the promotion of study and research by appointing professors and developing laboratories and libraries.
2. The Act laid down that the number of fellows of a university should neither be less than 50 nor greater than 100, and a fellow should normally hold office for 6 years instead of life.
3. The fellows of the university were to be nominated by the government. The elective members at the Universities of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay were to be 20 each and in the case of other universities, 15 only.
4. The government control over the universities was further increased by vesting the government powers to veto the regulations passed by the Senate of a university. The government could also make additions or alterations in the regulations framed by the Senate and even frame regulations itself over and above the head of the Senate.
5. The act increased university control over private colleges by laying down stricter conditions of affiliation and periodical inspection.
6. The Governor-General-in-Council was empowered to define the territorial limits of a university or decide the affiliation of colleges to universities.
Chapter 2 Culture: Characteristics And Discussion Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1. Name two important works of Kaliprasanna Singha.
Answer: Hutum Pyanchar Naksha and the translation of Mahabharata.
Question 2. What was Hindu Patriot?
Answer: Hindu Patriot was a weekly newspaper.
Question 3. When did the Sanskrit College start functioning?
Answer: 1st January 1884.
Question 4. Name the school established by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Answer: Anglo Sanskrit Free School in Virsingha Village.
Question 5. Name the first national college fully owned by Indians.
Answer: The Metropolitan College.
Question 6. Which Medical College came into being at the initiative of Lord Bentinck?
Answer: The Calcutta Medical College.
Question 7. Who were the first two women graduates from Calcutta University?
Answer: Kaumudini Ganguli and Chandramukhi Basu.
Question 8. Who was primarily responsible for the abolition of the Sati system?
Answer: Raja Rammohan Roy.
Question 9. Name one organization which was set up as a part of religious reform in the 19th-century Bengal.
Answer: Brahmo Samaj.
Question 10. Who was the first Bengalee to dissect a dead body?
Answer: Madhusudan Gupta.
Question 11. What was the original name of Swami Vivekananda?
Answer: Narendra Nath Dutta.
Question 12. Name the first Indian student of anatomy at Calcutta Medical College.
Answer: Madhusudan Gupta.
Question 14. Who gave the concept of Navavedanta?
Answer: Swami Vivekananda.
Question 15. Who founded Gendaria Ashrama in Dhaka?
Answer: Bijoy Krishna Goswami.
Question 16. Where is Ramakrishna Math located?
Answer: In Belur.
Question 17. Name the Governor General who abolished the Sati system.
Answer: William Bentinck.
Question 18. Who was the author of the book ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’?
Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji.
Question 19. Write the name of the founder of the Asiatic Society.
Answer: Sir William Jones.
Question 20. Name a European philosopher who influenced Rammohan Roy.
Answer: Rousseau.
Question 21. Name a European philosopher who helped in the growth of Indian nationalism.
Answer: Montesquieu.
Question 22. Name the first English newspaper published in Bengal.
Answer: Bengal Gazette.
Question 23. Name the first newspaper published in Bengal.
Answer: Bengal Gazette.
Question 24. When was the ‘Bengal Gazette’ published?
Answer: In 1780.
Question 25. Name the first newspaper published in Madras.
Answer: Madras Courier (1780).
Question 26. When was the ‘Hindu Patriot’ published?
Answer: 1853.
Question 27. Who founded the Benaras Sanskrit College?
Answer: Jonathan Duncan.
Question 28. Name one of the founders of Hindu College.
Answer: Radhakanta Deb.
Question 29. Who directed the Company to spend yearly Rs. 1 lakh towards education?
Answer: British Parliament through Charter Act, 1813.
Question 30. When was the Company directed by the British Parliament to spend Rs. 1 lakh towards education in India?
Answer: In 1813.
Question 31. When was the Baptist Mission founded?
Answer: In 1818.
Question 32. Name an Orientalist supporter.
Answer: Sutherland.
Question 33. Name an Anglicist supporter.
Answer: Saunders.
Question 34. Who was the first Chancellor of Calcutta University?
Answer: Lord Canning.
Question 35. When was the Hindu College founded?
Answer: In 1817.
Question 36. When was the Committee of Public Instruction first appointed in Bengal?
Answer: In 1823.
Question 37. Who was appointed as the President of the Committee of Public Instruction in 1834?
Answer: Macaulay.
Question 38. When was English education officially introduced in India?
Answer: In 1835.
Question 39. When was the University of Calcutta established?
Answer: 24 January 1857.
Question 40. When did Lord Curzon pass the Indian Universities Act?
Answer: In 1904.
Question 41. When was the Atmiya Sabha founded by Rammohan Roy?
Answer: In 1815.
Question 42. When did the Atmiya Sabha come to be known as the Brahmo Samaj or Brahmo Sabha?
Answer: In 1828.
Question 43. When was the practice of Sati declared illegal?
Answer: In 1829.
Question 44. When was the Tatwabodhini Patrika published?
Answer: ln 1843.
Question 45. By what name were the followers of Derozio known?
Answer: Young Bengal.
Question 46. When was Ramakrishnadeva born?
Answer: In 1836.
Question 47. When was the first girls’ school established at Poona?
Answer: In 1851.
Question 48. When was the Widow Remarriage Association founded in Maharashtra?
Answer: In 1850.
Question 49. Who founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College?
Answer: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
Question 50. When was the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College founded at Aligarh?
Answer: In 1875.
Question 51. Who addressed an open letter to the graduates of Calcutta University in 1883?
Answer: A. O. Hume.
Question 52. Name the social reformer whose movement resulted in the abolition of ‘Sati’.
Answer: Raja Rammohan Roy.
Question 53. Who founded the Nababidhan Brahmo Samaj?
Answer: Keshab Chandra Sen.
Question 54. Who was the founder of Adi Brahma Samaj?
Answer: Maharshi Debendra Nath Thakur.
Question 55. Who was called the ‘first modern man of India’?
Answer: Raja Rammohan Roy.
Question 56. In which year was the Sanskrit College of Calcutta founded?
Answer: In 1824 AD.
Question 57. Who abolished the Vernacular Press Act?
Answer: Lord Ripon.
Question 58. Who were the founders of the Baptist Mission at Serampore?
Answer: William Carey, Marshman, and Ward.
Question 59. In which year was the School Book Society founded?
Answer: In 1817.
Question 60. Who founded the School Book Society?
Answer: David Hare.
Question 61. Which were the two parties involved in the controversy regarding the introduction of Western education in India?
Answer: Anglicist and Orientalist.
Question 62. During whose, Governor Generalship was the Calcutta Medical College established?
Answer: Lord William Bentinck.
Question 63. Who is called ‘Bharat Pathik’?
Answer: Rammohan Roy.
Question 64. Name a journal published by the Brahmo Samaj.
Answer: Sulabh Samachar.
Question 65. Name two newspapers published by Rammohan Roy.
Answer: Sambad Kaumudi, Mirat-ul-Akbar.
Question 66. Who started the anti-Sati movement?
Answer: Rammohan Roy.
Question 67. Who started the movement in favor of widow remarriage?
Answer: Iswarchandra Vidyasagar.
Question 68. Who was the editor of Tattwabodhini Patrika?
Answer: Debendranath Tagore.
Question 69. Name two textbooks written by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Answer: Varnaparichay and Kathamala.
Question 70. Name the college established by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Answer: Metropolitan College.
Question 71. Who founded the Hindu Female School (Bethune Girls’ School)?
Answer: John Drinkwater Bethune.
Question 72. ‘Go back to the Vedas’ Who said this?
Answer: Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
Question 73. Who wrote the book ‘Satyaratha Prakash’?
Answer: Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
Question 74. When was the Vernacular Press Act passed?
Answer: In 1878.
Question 75. Who founded a girls’ school at Poona in 1851?
Answer: Jyotiba Phule.
Question 76. Name two social reformers who worked for the welfare of women.
Answer: Rammohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Question 77. Where was the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College established?
Answer: Aligarh.
Question 78. Who founded the Ramakrishna Mission?
Answer: Swami Vivekananda.
Question 79. Who was the editor of Bengal Gazette?
Answer: Augustus Hickey.
Question 80. Who was the editor of Hindu Patriot?
Answer: Harish Chandra Mukherjee.
Question 81. Who was the editor of Amrita Bazar Patrika?
Answer: Sisir Kumar Ghosh.
Question 82. Name two newspapers edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Answer: Kesari and Maratha.
Question 83. Who composed Anandamath?
Answer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Question 84. Who introduced Western education in India?
Answer: Lord William Bentinck.
Question 85. When did Lord Bentinck establish Medical College in Calcutta?
Answer: In 1835.
Question 86. Mention the year of Wood’s Despatch.
Answer: 1854.
Question 87. Who was the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta?
Answer: William Coleville.
Question 88. Who was the first graduate of Calcutta University?
Answer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Question 89. When was the Indian Education Commission (Hunter Commission) appointed?
Answer: In 1882.
Question 90. When was the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act passed?
Answer: In 1856.
Question 91. Who wrote ‘Bartaman Bharat’?
Answer: Swami Vivekananda.
Question 92. In which year was the Hunter Commission appointed?
Answer: In 1882 A.D.
Question 93. Who built Gurukul Ashram Vidyalaya in Haridwar ?
Answer: Swami Sradhananda.
Question 94. Who was the founder of Sadharan Brahma Samaj?
Answer: Shivnath Shastri (1878).
Question 95. Who was the leading personality of Adi Brahma Samaj?
Answer: Debendranath Tagore.
Question 96. Who was the founder of Indian Brahma Samaj?
Answer: Keshab Chandra Sen.
Question 97. Who was the founder of Nababidhan Samaj?
Answer: Keshab Chandra Sen.
Question 98. What was the main advice of Sri Ramakrishna?
Answer: The main advice of Sri Ramakrishna was “Jato mat, tato path”.
Question 99. Which was the first Bengali daily?
Answer: Sambad Prabhakar of Iswar Chandra Gupta (1830 AD) was the first Bengali daily.
Question 100. Who gave the title ‘Raja’ to Ram Mohan Roy?
Answer: Akbar Shah II.
Question 101. What was the role of Raja Rammohan Roy in the emancipation of women?
Answer: He tried to remove the primitive dogmas prevalent in society and spread education among women. He was also instrumental in stopping the practice of Sati or the burning of widows on the funeral pyre of the dead husband. He worked for the improvement of women’s class.
Question 102. What was ‘Young Bengal Association’?
Answer: The Young Bengal Association was started by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio as a movement against social evils existing in India. His followers were mostly students of Hindu College.
Question 103. What was Swami Vivekananda’s idea of religious reformation?
Answer: Swami Vivekananda, one of the most popular sages of modern India, used scientific analysis of Hinduism to oppose orthodox values of the religion. He changed the entire religious discourse to the ideals of Naba Vedanta.
Question 104. What was the outlook of the newspaper Hindoo Patriot?
Answer: The Hindoo Patriot addressed contemporary social problems. For example, in the opinion of the Hindoo Patriot, the Hindu marriage law imposed disability on the part of the girls in exercising their right to marry on their initiative. It remarked that the abolition of early marriage would destroy the system, it was also a newspaper with a national outlook.
Question 105. How did Lord Hardinge boost English education?
Answer: In 1844 Lord Hardinge gave further stimulus to English education by linking up knowledge of English with government employment. He declared that English-knowing Indians would be given preference in government employment. This made English education more popular.
Question 106. What important provision was made by the Charter Act of 1813 for the promotion of education in India?
Answer: The Charter Act of 1813 directed the Company to take the initiative to promote ‘knowledge of the sciences among the inhabitants of the British territories in India’. According to the Act, the government-sanctioned one lakh rupees for the promotion of education.
Question 107. What was the importance of Lord Macaulay’s minute regarding the Company’s education policy?
Answer: The Charter Act of 1813 directed the Company to set apart every year one lakh rupees for the promotion of knowledge among the IndiAnswer: But a debate among the members of the General Committee of Public Instruction prevented the money from being spent. Lord Macaulay, the President of GCPI, submitted his famous Minute to the Governor General supporting the cause of Western education in India. His Minute helped the government to adopt a definite education policy.
Question 108. What led to the social-religious reform movement in India in the 19th century?
Answer: The introduction of England education made a section of the Indians well acquainted
with liberal and progressive thoughts and ideas of the West. Their faith and beliefs were replaced by reason and judgment. This change in thoughts led to the socio-religious reform movement.
Question 109. Why did the British Government cut off the expense of higher education?
Answer: Anglo-Indian journals and papers had always expressed the view that English education among the middle class led to the growth of disloyalty towards the British Government. Being influenced by this view the government cut off the expense of higher education.
Question 110. What was the contribution of Keshab Chandra Sen to the movement of Brahmo Samaj?
Answer: Keshab Chandra brought to the Brahmo Samaj a dynamic force that it had never possessed before. His magnetic personality and his powerful oratory skills drew hundreds of young men. The Brahmo movement acquired wide popularity under the leadership of Keshab Chandra Sen.
Question 111. Why was the original Brahmo Samaj split up?
Answer: Keshab Chandra Sen was supposed to be more progressive in his religious outlook than Debendranath Tagore. So, there arose a difference between Debendranath and Keshab Chandra on the question of using sacred thread and performing rituals. Keshab Chandra came out of the old Brahmo Samaj and set up a new organization called the Bharatvarshiya Brahmo Samaj.
Question 112. Who introduced widow marriage by passing the Act?
Answer: Lord Dalhousie passed the Act of Widow Marriage at the request of Vidyasagar but Lord Canning gave it official recognition on 26th July 1856 A.D.
Question 113. What are the names of the first Bengali weekly and monthly magazines and newspapers?
Answer: The first Bengali weekly was Samachar Darpan and the monthly was Digdarshan. Marshman was the editor of both of them.
Question 114. Why is Derozio remembered?
Answer: Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-31), a young Eurasian teacher at the Hindu College, left a remarkable impression on his pupils as a thinker and a lover of truth. His students came to be known as the ”Young Bengal” or “Derozians”. He was the man who wrote the poem “To India my native land”. Derozio challenged the various evil activities of society.
Question 115. Name two Indian personalities who were influenced by the Western ideas of democracy and nationalism. How were the Young Bengal influenced by such ideas?
Answer: Raja Rammohan Roy and Professor Derozio were much influenced by the Western ideas of democracy and nationalism. The Young Bengal people were influenced by the Western ideas of democracy and nationalism. It is borne out by the fact that they translated into Bengali and circulated the Age of Reason of Thomas Paine.
Question 116. What was the role of the press in the growth of nationalist sentiments among the people of India?
Answer: Vernacular and other Indian newspapers like Amrit Bazar Patrika, Somprakash, Sanjivani, etc. not only criticized the Government policy but also suggested alternative policies suitable to Indian interest and molded the public opinion against the Government.
Question 117. Who were the Evangelists? Who was the chief exponent of Evangelists?
Answer: Evangelists were a group of people in England who put pressure upon the British government for the spread of education in India. The chief exponent of Evangelism was Charles Grant.
Question 118. Who was Macaulay? When did he present his Minute?
Answer: Macaulay was the Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council. As the President of the Committee of Public Instruction, Macaulay presented his famous Minute in 1835.
Question 119. When was Calcutta University established? Who was its first Vice-Chancellor?
Answer: Calcutta University was founded on 24 January 1857. The first Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University was Sir James William Colvile.
Question 120. Who founded Atmiya Sabha and when? When did it become Brahmo Samaj?
Answer: Atmiya Sabha was founded by Rammohan Roy in 1815. Atmiya Sabha was transformed into Brahmo Samaj in 1828.
Question 121. Who founded Brahmo Samaj? What was the objective of its social reforms?
Answer: Rammohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828. In social reform, the agenda of Brahmo Samaj was: the welfare of the womenfolk and abolition of the system of caste distinction. Besides, the Samaj also launched a movement against the practice of Sati.
Question 122. Why was the joining of Keshab Chandra Sen in Brahmo Samaj important?
Answer: The joining of Keshab Chandra in Brahmo Samaj was important on many grounds. By his oratory, the Brahmo movement earned popularity in various parts of the country. Further, Keshab Chandra added social service and reform alongside popularizing the Brahmo religion. According to Dr. R. C. Majumdar, Keshab Chandra Sen turned the Brahmo movement into an all-India movement.
Question 123. Who was Derozio? By what name were his followers known?
Answer: Derozio, a Portuguese-Indian by birth, was a teacher at the Hindu College. He looked upon India as his motherland and inculcated a deep love for the motherland among his students through his teachings. The students of Derozio were collectively known as the ‘Young Bengal’ or ‘Derozians’.
Question 124. What was the main point of Vivekananda’s speech at the Parliament of Religions?
Answer: Swami Vivekananda participated in a world religious conference held in Chicago in 1893. There he expounded the spirit of synthesis and universal JSM and humanism of Vedanta and created a deep and lasting impact on his western audience.
Question 125. What did Ramakrishnadeva have to say on social reform?
Answer: Ramakrishnadeva, a spiritual wonder, had no formal education. But he realized that the disparities of caste and creed were an ill in the Indian society. He believed that by obtaining self-knowledge and proper devotion to God men would no longer go by the levels of caste and creed.
Question 126. Name a book written by Vivekananda. What did Vivekananda aim at?
Answer: One of the many books written by Vivekananda is ‘Bartaman Bharat’. Vivekananda’s program of reform aimed at establishing a new social order based on freedom and equality. His ideal of a classless society helped the process of unity among the Indian people.
Question 127. Why was the Vernacular Press Act introduced by the British?
Answer: Viceroy Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1876. The sole purpose of the Act was to restrict the publication of newspapers in Indian languages. The printer or publisher of any paper was to execute a bond with the government.
Question 128. What was Wood’s Despatch?
Answer: Sir Charles Wood, President of the Board of Control, announced the famous Education Despatch (Wood’s Despatch) in 1854. The Despatch among other things asked the British Government of India to assume responsibility for the education of the masses. According to the direction of the Despatch, universities were set up in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras in 1857.
Question 129. Mention two recommendations of Charles Wood for the expansion of the modern educational system in India.
Answer: The famous educational despatch of Sir Charles Wood (1854) recommended certain measures to be taken for the expansion of the modern educational system in India and two of its recommendations were:
(1)Three Universities were to be opened in the three presidency towns of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
(2)A Director of Public Instruction was to be appointed in each of the five provinces – Bengal, Bombay, Madras, the North West Frontier province, and the Punjab for systematic supervision of the education system. The Directors were to be assisted by several inspectors.
Question 130. Who was known as Young Bengal? What were the objectives of Young Bengal?
Answer: The students of Hindu college started a strong nationalist reform movement under the inspiration of their teacher, Derozio. This movement is known as Young Bengal. Thus, the followers of Derozio were known as Young Bengal.
Objectives of Young Bengal :
1. To judge everything by reason and not by tradition alone.
2. To oppose social evils and meaningless customs.
Question 131. Who introduced the Vernacular Press Act? Which right of the Indian people was infringed by this Act?
Answer: Lord Lytton passed the Vernacular Press Act. The rights of the Indians to freedom of speech and expression and the right to honest criticism of the British Government were infringed by this Act.
Question 132. Who was Macaulay? What was his suggestion for English Education in India?
Answer: Macaulay was the president of the Education Council. He said that by giving English education the British had to prepare a group in India who have their Indian blood and color but whose interests, conduct, intelligence, and thoughts were of English type.
Question 133. Name the prominent social reformers of the 19th century in India.
Answer: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda, and Swami Ananda were the prominent social reformers of 19th-century India.
Question 134. Name two offshoots of Brahma Samaj in Bengal. Who were the founders of them?
Answer: Adi Brahma Samaj whose founder was Maharshi Devendranath Thakur and Indian Brahma Samaj whose founder was Keshav Chandra Sen.
Question 135. Who founded Nav Bengal? What was the importance of Nav Bengal?
Answer: The founder of Nav Bengal was Derozio. Nav Bengal encouraged the propaganda of English education and protested against child marriage, untouchability, and parda pratha.
Question 136. State the two most important social contributions of Iswarchandra Vidyasagar.
Answer:
1. Provided the right of education to women by opening many schools for women’s education.
2. Firmly supported widow remarriage.
Question 137. Name one social reform of the 19th century and its founder.
Answer: One main social reform of the 19th century was restriction over the Sati system and its founder was Raja Rammohan Roy.
Question 138. What was the real name of Vivekananda? Who was his spiritual Guru?
Answer: Real name of Vivekananda was Narendranath Dutta. His spiritual Guru was Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
Question 139. Under whose initiative was the Hindu College established?
Answer: Hindu College was established under the initiative of David Hare, Radhakant Dev, and other people in 1817. Later on, it was transformed to a Presidency College.
Question 140. What was declared by Bentinck in the matter of education in the 19th century?
Answer: In 1835, Lord William Bentick declared that the Government would devote the stipulated amount to promote European literature and science among the natives of India through the English medium alone.
Question 141. What were the two objectives behind the introduction of Western education by Macaulay?
Answer:
(1) The main objective of Western education was to produce clerks for the British administration.
(2) The stress on English also tended to create a gulf between the English-speaking educated Indians and the rest of the Indian population.
Question 142. State any two basic principles of Brahmo Samaj.
Answer: The basic principles of Brahmo Samaj were
1. Brahmo Samaj preached monotheism and universal brotherhood.
2. Worship should be acceptable for all faiths. It stood against casteism, Polygamy, and Sati and supported the cause of widow remarriage.
Question 143. Give in brief any two social reforms advocated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Answer: He prepared the general public mentally to ban the social evil of the Sati system and inspired Governor-General Lord Bentinck to formulate a law. He stressed the need for female education. He stressed the need for widow re-marriage.
Question 144. In which two significant ways did the Young Bengal Movement help in modernizing the youth of Bengal?
Answer:
(1) National educational institutions where literary, technical, or physical education was imparted were opened by nationalists.
(2) The students of Bengal practiced and propagated Swadeshi and took the lead in the picketing of shops selling foreign goods.
Question 145. When and under whose editorship was the publication of Bamabodhini Patrika started?
Answer: Bamabodhini Patrika was published by Umesh Chandra Dutta in the year 1863.
Question 146. What were the chief aims of Bamabodhini Sabha?
Answer: The chief aims of Bamabodhini Sabha were to educate Bengali women, particularly housewives, and to publish books for their moral development.
Question 147. When and under whose editorship was the publication of Masik Patrika started?
Answer: Masik Patrika was first published by Pyaricbandra Mitra and Radhanath Sikdar in the year 1854.
Question 148. When and under whose leadership was Hindu Patriot published?
Answer: Hindu Patriot was first published by Madhusudan Roy under the editorship of Girish Chandra Ghosh in 1853.
Question 149. Who was Harishchandra Mukherjee?
Answer: Harish Chandra Mukherjee was the publisher of Bengal Recorder & Hindu Patriot magazines.
Question 150. Name two main editors of Bengal Recorder.
Answer: Shreenath Ghosh & Harish Chandra Mukherjee were the two main editors of Bengal Recorder.
Question 151. Who and when founded the magazine Indian Field?
Answer: Indian Field magazine was published by Kishori Chandra Mitra in 1859.
Question 152. Which bills were debated in Hindu Patriot under the editorship of Krishna Das Pal?
Answer: Under the editorship of Krishna Das Pal, the Immigration Bill, Vernacular Press Act, Albert Bill, etc. were debated in Hindu Patriot.
Question 153. What is Hutum Pyanchar Naksha?
Answer: Hutum Pyanchar Naksha (Naksha of the Owl) is an ironic prose literature written by Kaliprasanna Singha.
Question 154. Who and when wrote the drama Nil Darpan?
Answer: Dinbandhu Mitra wrote Nil Darpan in 1858-1859.
Question 155. Who and when founded the National Theatre?
Answer: The National Theatre was founded by Girish Chandra Ghosh in the year 1872.
Question 156. Where and when was Nil Darpan performed first?
Answer: Nil Darpan was first performed in the National Theatre of Calcutta in 1872.
Question 157. Who and by whose efforts translated Nil Darpan into English?
Answer: Michael Madhusudan Dutta with the support of Kali Prasanna Singha, Girish Chandra Ghosh, and James Long translated Nil Darpan into English.
Question 158. What is called the Magna Carta of Indian education?
Answer: The Magna Carta of Indian education is the Wood’s Despatch because of its impressive change in the education system.
Question 159. Which educational institutions were set up by David Hare in India?
Answer: Hindu School, Hare School, School Book Society, and Calcutta School Society were set up by David Hare.
Question 160. When was Medical College established in Calcutta and Bombay?
Answer: Medical College was established in Calcutta in 1835 and in Bombay, it was established in 1861.
Question 161. When and by whose efforts was Bethune School founded?
Answer: Bethune School was established by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune in 1862.
Question 162. Who and when founded the School Book Society?
Answer: The School Book Society was founded by David Hare on 6th May 1817.
Question 163. Who and when founded Secular Native Female School?
Answer: Secular Native Female School was established by Bethune with the efforts of Ram Gopal Ghosh and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1849.
Question 164. When and by whom was Science College established in Calcutta?
Answer: Ashutosh Mukherjee established Science College in Calcutta in 1904.
Question 165. When and by whose effort was Calcutta University was set up?
Answer: Calcutta University was established in 1857 by Charles Wood.’
Question 166. When were Mysore University and Benaras Hindu University established?
Answer: Mysore University and Benaras Hindu University were established in 1916.
Question 167. State the objectives of social reform movements of the nineteenth century.
Answer: The objectives of the social reform movements of the nineteenth century were :
1. Emancipation of women
2. To allow womenfolk equal rights with men
3. Abolition of casteism
4. Abolition of untouchability.
Question 168. Who wrote Hutum Pyachar Naksha and when was it published?
Answer: Kaliprasanna Singha wrote Hutum Pyachar Naksha which was published in 1862.
Question 169. What was the purpose of Gram Barta?
Answer: Kangal Harinath Mazumdar was the editor of Gram Barta Prakshika. Its objective was to inform the whereabouts of the villagers and villages of Santipur, Meherpur, Chakdaha, etc. to the British Government for immediate action.
Question 170. Why is Madhusudhan Gupta remembered?
Answer: Madhusudan dissected the dead body of a man and brought a revolution in orthodox Hindu society.
Question 171. Name the movie that was based on the life & thoughts of Lalan Fakir and state its year of release.
Answer: The life & thoughts of Lalan Fakir were made into a movie named ‘Moner Manush’ in the year 2010.
Question 172. Name two followers of Bijoy Krishna Goswami.
Answer: The two followers of Bijoy Krishna Goswami were Bipin Chandra Pal and Ashwini Kumar Datta.
Question 173. What were the impacts of missionaries in India?
Answer: The most important fields where remarkable developments were seen as a result of the missionary impact on India were education, vernacular literature, printing, and publication. These became very convenient evangelistic agencies in the hands of the missionaries. It is true that the educational endeavors of the missionaries, even though religiously motivated, did spread enlightenment among certain sections of society by dispelling their superstitions and making them feel equal and self-respectful in society.
Question 174. What was the role of the Charter Act of 1813 in spreading education?
Answer: The Court of Directors made a humble beginning towards the development of education in India in 1813 when the Charter Act (1813) provided for an annual expenditure of one lakh rupees ‘for the revival and promotion of literature and the encouragement of the learned natives of India and for the introduction and promotion of knowledge of sciences among the inhabitants of the British territories’. The administrative needs of the company required Indians well-versed in the classical and vernacular languages.
