Question

which evil customs were prevalent in our society before independence?
ANSWER IN TWO SENTENCES​

Answer 1

Answer:

There is a misunderstanding that women were suppressed in Hinduism without independence. People quote Manusmruti in this context, which says that woman should not be independent (Na stree svatantryamarhati). But, the same Manu says that women should be worshipped to please God (Yatranaryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah). Both these contradict each other. If you are not giving even basic independence to somebody, how can you worship him or her? Will you worship a person without independence put in prison? This means that the first statement of Manu is misinterpreted. The actual meaning of first statement is that women should not move independently without escort, because she is weak in physical constitution to fight against anyone attacking her.

Moreover, women are always associated with golden ornaments and there is every probability of attack on her by thieves. Therefore, she needs protection and hence, Manu said that the women must be accompanied by her father in childhood, by her husband in youth and by her son in old age. Here, the independence means not move alone. It does not mean suppression of women leading to their slavery to men. In Hinduism.

Answer 2

The main social evil of 19th century Indian society was deep rooted superstition in the name of religious belief. To day, we can't imagine the volume of superstition that were in existence then. "SATI" was one notorious superstitious belief then in Indian society, when a widows were compelled to follow their dead husband in the burnig ghat, and the widows were used to be burnt alive along with her dead husband. Ram mohan Roy and his followers who protested this inhuman system were boycottet