Social Sciences, asked by aruko8690, 1 year ago

Contribution of christianity to social reforms in india

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Answered by Shhii
1
Hey mate !!!
- Christianity came into India, even before it reached the West. There is a strong tradition that St. Thomas one the twelve disciples of Jesus came to India in 52 A.D. and later died as martyr in Mylapore (Chennai - Madras). The history of Christianity in the state of Kerala is in its 20th century. But the Christian faith was limited to the geographical boundaries of Kerala until 15th century. Then a new surge began as Vasco da Gama reached Kerala in 1498. This was followed by Catholic missionaries like St. Francis Xavier (1542) who came to India and evangelized coastal areas of South India. Thus he was able to plant strong churches among the fishermen in the Western and Eastern coastal regions of the country. The first Protestant global mission was Danish Mission that sent missionaries to Indian in 1706 A.D. Zeigenbalg and Plauetau came to Tranquebar which is in the shores of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu. But flood gates of mission opened after William Carey, under the banner of a para church organization – Baptist Missionary Society reached India in 1792. Thus an era of modern missions began. Then there were many missionary agencies that emerged in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand who started reaching to many parts of the world. India was also one of the great beneficiaries of the Global Advance of missions.
Answered by MonarkSingh
3
Here is your answer

Contributions of Christianity to Reformation, and Modern democracy

The modern social awakening of the oppressed groups in India had its beginning with the conversion of some untouchables, out casts and lower casts of people into Christianity. It strived against existing in equalities. The marginalized were mainstreamed and gained opportunities for education, new occupation for life with personal dignity and social acceptance. Prominent among them was Madras Native Christian Association (1893). It appreciates, “Christianity wrought miracles in our midst. It has lifted many of us from the mire of social degradation; it has enlightened us, liberated us from the trammels of superstition and custom and has planted in us the instincts of a free and noble humanity”. It exploded caste structure, helped to humanize cultural ethos and structures of the society. It protested against division, exclusion and exploitation. Swedeshi banks were started and cooperative societies were on boom.

William Carey and his team studied Indian languages and translated Bible. In 1802 Bengali translation of Mahabharata and Ramayana was published by Carey. In 1818 Bengali newspaper was published in vernacular language as a means of social education. Carey’s contribution as a social reformer is unforgettable. He pioneered the movement that led to the abolition of the inhuman practice of Sati. He relentlessly fought against other social evils such as infanticide and caste system. Alaxander Duff played significant role in the foundation of Calcutta University and influenced the thinking of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. St. Xavier’s college (1835), La Martiniers in 1836 etc are among few colleges that missionaries started as part of their contribution to the society.

International congress started in the year 1885 by A.O.Hume which was a community for temporal interest. In its 3ed Session 15 members were Christians. Prominent among them were Madhu Sudhan Das from Orissa who raised voice for expansion of legislature, N Subrahmanyam who asked for separation of judiciary and executive and Pandita Ramabhai Saraswati who raised voice for women empowerment. She said that ‘It is not strange; my country men that my voice is small, for you have never given women the chance to make her voice’

The modern elementary school system was almost entirely supported by Christian mission. In the educations sphere, the opening of schools, colleges and hospitals for India women was undoubtedly the effort of the Christian mission. The coming of missionaries from America in 1857 and their financial resources facilitated the development of medical and social work in India. In 1842 they started first school in Himalyan Region. And at the end of 19th century there was general consciousness among Indians to take up the work of education for them. The presence of H.L.Beutal and A.B. Chandu Lal in Simla and the medical service rendered to patients suffering from cholera in the year 1917 was remarkable. Apart from Catholics various denominations of protestant church like the Church Missionary society, American Presbyterian Mission, American Methodist Episcopal Church, Baptist Church, The Oriental Missionary Society etc were present in the region.

Christians raised voice against evil practice of widowhood of child widows before attainment of 18 without her consent to be widow. Kali Charan Banerjee, Bengali Christian proposed government administrative reforms through educational system. Swedeshi Movement of 1905 and Non-cooperation movement was supported by Hindu Christians believing “It is not religion but human values and patriotism stands first. Brahma Bandhab Upadhya was in forefront of the movement as leader.

In the case of Civil disobedience, Bombay Christian movement in its first resolution stated that Members of Indian Christian community were one with other communities in their desire to win complete Swaraj. Thus Christian contribution in the country marked with: Democratization of the government, women empowerment and pro-democracy movement, pioneering force in nationalization- Young Christian council of Action established in 1930- and to the Reform movement especially to Bengal Reform movement through education, awareness creation and mission of charity. The Serampore Mission helped for cultural renaissance in Bengal under the leader ship of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. It not only manifested a spirit of emancipation from social and religious bondages, but also infused a sense of creativity into modern intellectual history. Kesheb Chandra Sen (1838- 1884) Advocated that political, social and moral regeneration is possible through the practice of Christianity. He states “we breathe, think, feel and move in a Christian atmosphere.” The contributions of the Christianity in the field of social work are mainly in four aspects. They are: education, occupation, religion and social and ethnic identity.



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