Many factors were responsible for the growth of Nationalism in India. In this context, write briefly on each one of the following:
(a) Role of Raja Rammohan Roy and Jyotiba Phule.
(b) Rediscovery of India's past.
(a) Role of Raja Rammohan Roy and Jyotiba Phule.
(b) Rediscovery of India's past.
a) Raja Rammohan Roy: He was one of the greatest social and religious reformers of the 19th century. He wanted to eradicate the religious and social evils that were prevalent in Bengal. In 1828, he founded the Brahmo Sabha, which was later renamed as Brahmo Samaj. Rammohan Roy was against the rigidity of the caste system. He started a campaign for the abolition of sati and purdah system, condemned polygamy, discouraged child marriages and advocated widow remarriage. Due to his efforts, William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India, passed a law in 1821 making the practice of sati illegal and punishable by law.
Jyotiba Phule: He was an urban educated member of a so-called low caste. In 1854, he established a school for untouchables and started a private orphanage for the widows. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 with the aim of securing social justice for the weaker sections of society. He pioneered the widow remarriage movement in Maharashtra and worked for the education of women.
b) Rediscovery of India’s past can be explained as:
During freedom struggle many eminent British scientists, poets; archaeologists came to live in India. They studied cultural heritage of India and carried out many archaeological studies and brought a large number of historical facts to light.
Some Indian reformers pointed out the richness of Indian cultural and heritage and the political achievements of rulers like Ashoka, Chandragupta, Akbar. The nationalist leaders and reformers were helped by the work of European scholars like Sir Charles Wilkins, Sir William Jones, James Princep, Alexander Cunningham etc.
Sir Charles Wilkins was the first European to translate the Bhagvad Gita into English in 1785.
Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal to encourage Oriental studies.
James Princep was the first European scholar to decipher the edicts of the ancient emperor, Ashoka.
Alexander Cunningham through his archaeological excavations brought out majestic history of the Mauryas, Guptas, Chalukyas and Pallavas.
Thus, the rediscovery of India's national heritage in literature, philosophy, science, arts and politics by both European and Indian scholars created a new picture of India's past glory.
a) Raja Rammohan Roy: He was one of the greatest social and religious reformers of the 19th century. He wanted to eradicate the religious and social evils that were prevalent in Bengal. In 1828, he founded the Brahmo Sabha, which was later renamed as Brahmo Samaj. Rammohan Roy was against the rigidity of the caste system. He started a campaign for the abolition of sati and purdah system, condemned polygamy, discouraged child marriages and advocated widow remarriage. Due to his efforts, William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India, passed a law in 1821 making the practice of sati illegal and punishable by law.
Jyotiba Phule: He was an urban educated member of a so-called low caste. In 1854, he established a school for untouchables and started a private orphanage for the widows. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 with the aim of securing social justice for the weaker sections of society. He pioneered the widow remarriage movement in Maharashtra and worked for the education of women.
b) Rediscovery of India’s past can be explained as:
During freedom struggle many eminent British scientists, poets; archaeologists came to live in India. They studied cultural heritage of India and carried out many archaeological studies and brought a large number of historical facts to light.
Some Indian reformers pointed out the richness of Indian cultural and heritage and the political achievements of rulers like Ashoka, Chandragupta, Akbar. The nationalist leaders and reformers were helped by the work of European scholars like Sir Charles Wilkins, Sir William Jones, James Princep, Alexander Cunningham etc.
Sir Charles Wilkins was the first European to translate the Bhagvad Gita into English in 1785.
Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal to encourage Oriental studies.
James Princep was the first European scholar to decipher the edicts of the ancient emperor, Ashoka.
Alexander Cunningham through his archaeological excavations brought out majestic history of the Mauryas, Guptas, Chalukyas and Pallavas.
Thus, the rediscovery of India's national heritage in literature, philosophy, science, arts and politics by both European and Indian scholars created a new picture of India's past glory.
