summary of chapter REFORM IN INDIAN SOCIETY class 8th
Answers
Two hundred years ago the lives of women were totally different from what it is today. There were so many restrictions imposed on women.
Widows were praised and called ‘satis’ meaning ‘virtous’ if they chose to by burning themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands.
People were also divided along lines of caste. Brahmins and Kshatriyas considered themselves in upper caste, after them traders and moneylenders referred to as Vaishyas and the lower caste were Shudras and included peasants, artisans, weavers, and potter.
The attitude towards women & social customs started changing from the early 19th century.
Working Towards Change:
(i) In early 19th century things changed because of the development of new forms of communication.
(ii) Social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj in Calcutta.
(iii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy pioneered this reform movement. He opposed social practices such as discrimination on the basis of caste, untouchability, superstitions and the custom of ‘sati’. He wanted to spread the knowledge of western education and bring about freedom and equality for women.