NCERT CLASS 8 HISTORY CHAPTER 8: WOMEN, CASTE AND REFORM

 NCERT CLASS 8 HISTORYCHAPTER 8: WOMEN, CASTE AND REFORM

1. What social ideas did the following people support?

Rammohun Roy, Dayanand Saraswati, Veerasalingam Pantulu, Jyotirao Phule, Pandita Ramabai, Periyar, Mumtaz Ali, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar

Answer: Social ideas supported by the following people:

a. Rammohun Roy - advocated for social and religious reforms, including the promotion of education and the abolition of practices such as Sati and child marriage.

b. Dayanand Saraswati - supported the revival of Hinduism and the rejection of social evils such as caste hierarchy, child marriage, and untouchability.

c. Veerasalingam Pantulu - advocated for women's education and the abolition of child marriage and other oppressive customs in the Telugu-speaking regions of South India.

d. Jyotirao Phule - critiqued the caste system and advocated for the education and empowerment of the "lower castes" and women.

e. Pandita Ramabai - championed women's education and the empowerment of widows in the face of social and religious ostracism.

f. Periyar - fought against the caste system and Brahminical dominance in South India, advocating for social equality and rationalism.

g. Mumtaz Ali - supported the idea of female education and criticized the oppressive practices of purdah and polygamy.

h. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar - supported the education of women and fought against oppressive practices such as child marriage and Sati.

3. How did the knowledge of ancient texts help the reformers promote new laws?

The knowledge of ancient texts helped the reformers promote new laws in several ways, such as:

• The use of ancient texts to challenge existing social and religious practices that were oppressive and discriminatory.
• The reinterpretation of ancient texts to promote new ideas and values, such as equality and social justice.
• The use of ancient texts to create a sense of cultural and historical continuity that could support new social and political movements.

4. What were the different reasons people had for not sending girls to school?

The different reasons people had for not sending girls to school included:

• The belief that girls should stay at home and learn domestic skills.
• The fear of social ostracism and stigma, especially for girls from "upper castes" who were expected to maintain their purity and modesty.
• The lack of resources and opportunities for education, especially in rural areas.
• The belief that education was unnecessary for girls, as they were expected to marry and have children.

5. Why were Christian missionaries attacked by many people in the country? Would some people have supported them too? If so, for what reasons?

Christian missionaries were attacked by many people in the country for several reasons, including:

• The perception that they were trying to convert Indians to Christianity and undermine Hindu culture and traditions.
• The belief that they were using education and other forms of social welfare as a means to convert people.
• The fear of losing one's social and cultural identity.

Some people supported Christian missionaries for reasons such as:

• The access to education and other social welfare programs offered by Christian missionaries.
• The belief that Christianity offered a way to escape the oppressive caste system.

6. In the British period, what new opportunities opened up for people who came from castes that were regarded as "low"?

In the British period, new opportunities opened up for people who came from castes that were regarded as "low," such as:

• The availability of Western education, which allowed some individuals to acquire skills and knowledge that could help them achieve social and economic mobility.
• The possibility of joining government and administrative services, which were expanding during this period.
• The emergence of social and political movements that advocated for the rights and empowerment of "lower castes."

7. How did Jyotirao the reformers justify their criticism of caste inequality in society?

Answer: The reformers like Jyotirao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker believed that the caste system was a social evil that needed to be eradicated. They argued that the caste system was unjust and discriminatory, as it denied people of lower castes access to education, employment, and other opportunities. They also criticized the Brahmins, who held a dominant position in society, for perpetuating the caste system and benefiting from it.

 

8. Why did Phule dedicate his book Gulamgiri to the American movement to free slaves?

Answer: Jyotirao Phule dedicated his book Gulamgiri to the American movement to free slaves because he believed that the plight of the lower castes in India was similar to that of the African slaves in America. Phule saw the caste system as a form of slavery, where people of lower castes were treated as inferior beings and denied basic human rights. By dedicating his book to the American movement, Phule wanted to draw attention to the issue of caste discrimination and oppression.

9. What did Ambedkar want to achieve through the temple entry movement?

Answer: B.R. Ambedkar started the temple entry movement with the objective of ending the practice of untouchability in Hindu temples. In many temples, people of lower castes were not allowed to enter, and those who did were subjected to discrimination and violence. Ambedkar believed that this practice was unjust and needed to be abolished. The temple entry movement aimed to create awareness among people about the evils of untouchability and to pressurize the government to pass laws to end the practice.

10. Why were Jyotirao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker critical of the national movement? Did their criticism help the national struggle in any way?

Answer: Jyotirao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker were critical of the national movement because they believed that it was dominated by upper-caste leaders who were not concerned about the rights of the lower castes. They argued that the national movement was not inclusive and that it ignored the struggles of the lower castes. They also criticized the Congress party for not taking strong action against the caste system. However, their criticism did help the national struggle in some ways as it drew attention to the issue of caste discrimination and forced the leaders to take a more inclusive approach.