Question

The women's question arose in modern India as part of the nineteenth century middle class social reform movements. The nature of these movements varied from region to region. Explain any two social reform movements that addressed the women's question.

Hint:

Always remember the specific social reformers and their work in specific regions, while discussing these reform movements.

Answer 1

Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Anti-Sati Campaign:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy led the anti-Sati campaign in Bengal. He was one of the most important social reformers who worked against the practice of Sati.
He established the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to promote reform in society and challenged many aspects of the tradition.
His campaign against Sati was the first large-scale social reform movement, that focused on the rights and the lives of women.
His ideas showed a mix of western rationality and an assertion of Indian traditionality. He had a nuanced approach to social reform.

Ranade and the Widow Remarriage Movement:
Justice Ranade led the Widow Remarriage movement in the Bombay Presidency.
Ranade’s writings, like ‘The Texts of Hindu Law on the Lawfulness of the Remarriage of Widows,’ and ‘Vedic Authorities for Widow Marriage,’ elaborated the shastric sanction for the remarriage of widows.
Other Relevant Point: Other important reformers also include Jyotiba Phule, and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, whose views can be described.