INSIGHT GS MAINS TEST SERIES MODERN INDIAN HISTORY & WORLD HISTORY 1. The western contact gave a jolt to India’s traditional life and created “a new awareness, a sense of urgency as well as alertness in thought and action”. Discuss. 10 Approach of an Answer Start with a brief introduction to the Socio-religious reform movements. Focus on the role of western contact on the emergence of socio-religious reform movements. Elaborate on the terms “new awareness”, “a sense of urgency”, “alertness in thought and action” by providing suitable examples. Conclude on how the movements laid foundation for the future course on striving for independence. Introduction In the opening decades of 19th century emerged a number of socio-religious reform movements such as the Brahmo Samaj of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Arya Samaj of Dayanand Saraswati, Rama Krishna Mission of Swami Vivekananda etc. These reform movements initially emerged in Bengal and then spread to other parts of the country as the factors responsible for the emergence were most active in Bengal. During 19th century, Indian society and religion were entrapped in a number of evils such as caste system, untouchability, sati, child marriage etc. These evils used to affect the common masses and were acting as hindrance in the path of India’s progress. That is why many reformers started raising their voices to wipe out the prevailing evils. Role of Western Contact and the Emergence of Socio-religious reform movements Although a number of factors played role in the emergence of the socio-religious reform movements, it was the closer contact of India with the western world that acted as a catalyst and persuaded the Indian intelligentsia to raise their voice against the prevailing evils. The ideas of enlightenment such as rationality, scientific outlook, democratic principles etc entered India. The reformers could see the effects of the American Revolution of 1776, the French Revolution of 1789, the European Revolutions of 1830 and 1848 etc. The members of the educated middle class were convinced that they could wipe out the conventional ideas and thoughts prevailing in India just like people in other countries could do. Elaboration on the terms of new awareness, a sense of urgency as well as alertness in thought and action Central Delhi: 60/17, Above Subway, Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi-110060 North Delhi: B-18, Satija House, Main Road, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi -110009 Ph: 011 - 45090051, 9818333201, 9871216382 INSIGHT GS MAINS TEST SERIES New Awareness Thomas Paine coined 18th century as “the age of reason”. This holds true for India also. Ideas of enlightenment such as rationalism, scientific outlook, egalitarianism, humanism, efficacy of logic and reason etc started entering the Indian landmass as well. These tenets created a sense of awareness among the educated middle class in India such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Debendranath Tagore etc. Enlightenment propagated empiricism. Democracy and Constitutionalism of enlightenment; the ideals of Republic and Rule of law of the America; Liberty, equality and fraternity of French Revolution; the principle of nationalism of European revolutions, Spanish revolutions also entered the minds of the reformers. A Sense of Urgency The British conquest and the consequent dissemination of colonial culture and ideology had led to an inevitable introspection about the strengths and weaknesses of indigenous culture and institutions. The response, indeed, was varied but the need of urgent reforms in social and religious life was a commonly shared conviction. The social base of this quest which has generally was the newly emerging middle class and the traditional as well as western educated intellectuals. Reformers started exposing the hollowness of the British concepts of “Providential Mission” and “White Man’s Burden”. Subjugation of Indians at the hands of the English was also realized by the reformers. They wanted to throw away the yoke of British colonial regime in India. They felt that there was an urgent need to strengthen nationalist consciousness among Indians. Alertness in Thought and Action Accordingly, the reformers started reviewing the institutions in India through the prism of reason. They concluded that the prevailing evils in the Indian society were obstructing the path of development. For this, a number of reform movements by various organizations such as Prarthana Samaj, Sathyashodak Samaj, Paramahans Mandali was carried out. The positive environment created by the reformers such as Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Behramji Malabari, K.C. Sen pressurized the British Indian government to enact a number of laws to wipe out the prevailing evils. Sati was prohibited in 1829 by Governor General William Bentinck. In 1843 the practice of slavery was abolished by Lord Ellenborough. Widow Remarriage act was enacted by Lord Dalhousie in 1856. In 1872 Native Marriage Act was enacted which prohibited child marriage and polygamy. In 1891, Age of Consent act was enacted to prohibit child marriage. The period witnessed opening of several educational institutions such as the Vedanta College at Calcutta of Brahmo Samaj, school for girls by Jyotibha Phule, institutions at Lahore of Arya Samaj etc as the reformers felt that education was fundamental in creating awakening among the Indians. Central Delhi: 60/17, Above Subway, Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi-110060 North Delhi: B-18, Satija House, Main Road, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi -110009 Ph: 011 - 45090051, 9818333201, 9871216382 INSIGHT GS MAINS TEST SERIES Conclusion The writings and speeches of reformers of the 19th century played an important role in the growth of nationalist awakening in India. These reformers brought about intellectual revolution in India. Different socio- religious groups were brought closer and gradually this cultural awakening got converted into nationalist political awakening. This nationalist political awakening of the reformers were carried to the next higher levels by several leaders along years to oust the British out of India and to free the people from the exploitative colonial regime. 2. Indian nationalism, that confronted British imperialism in the nineteenth century and celebrated its victory in the formation of India nation-state in 1947, was a product of colonial modernity. Comment critically. 10 Approach of an Answer A few words on nationalism and then an introduction on the emergence of Indian nationalism. Role of the positive impact of British rule. Critical examination of the role of the positive impact of British rule. Introduction Nationalism is an ideology which emphasizes on collective cultural consciousness among the citizens. The concept of India as a country existed for more than 3000 years. On various occasions in past India enjoyed the political identity of a State. But it was during 1860s that the spirit of nationalism started becoming visible in India. British colonial rulers followed modem methods-political, military, economic and intellectual-to establish and continue their stranglehold over India and for fuller economic exploitation of India's resourses. A dose of modernisation was an essential concomitant of the colonial scheme of administration and this modernization distorted though it was generated some developments and one of these was growth of Indian nationalism. Role of Colonial Modernity Modernization of Politico-administration The British had carried out political unification of India by annexing several native states and by subjugating the other. A uniform system of administration and modern judicial-legal system based on the concept of rule of law was introduced in India. These developments paved the way for growth of one common identity among Indians and gradually the spirit of nationalism emerged. Modern means of communication Modern means of communication were introduced by the British such as railways, road networks, telegraph and modern postal system in India. These means of communication decreased the geographical distance Central Delhi: 60/17, Above Subway, Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi-110060 North Delhi: B-18, Satija House, Main Road, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi -110009 Ph: 011 - 45090051, 9818333201, 9871216382 INSIGHT GS MAINS TEST SERIES among the citizens living in far places and gradually a common identity developed. Modern press was also introduced in India by the British. Initially the newspaper and journals were owned and edited by the British. But later on Indian leaders started publishing many newspapers. The growth of press brought about intellectual unification of India. The events taking place in one corner of India started generating reactions in other corner of the country. A common cultural consciousness emerged and India got transformed into a nation. Modern Education Modern western education was also introduced in India by the British. It resulted in the growth of rational and scientific outlook. Modern western ideas entered India through the western education. Nationalism was one such ideal. Modern Social Outlook In the 19th century educated-Indians began to examine afresh their religious beliefs and customs and their social practices in the light of new knowledge of Western science and philosophy which they had acquired. The result was various religious and social reform movements in Hindu religion like the Brahmo Samaj, the Prarhana Samaj, the Arya Samaj, the Ramakrishna Mission and the Theosophical Society. Similar movements reformed Muslim, Sikh and Parsi societies also. Colonial rulers also