SOCIAL CHANGE IN LATE 19TH CENTURY INDIA (POST–1858)
The national awakening in India during the nineteenth century had a profound impact on the social fabric of the country, primarily manifested through a vigorous social reform movement. This movement was characterized by a critical examination and subsequent revolt against the entrenched social conventions and practices that were deemed irrational, inhumane, and degrading. The newly educated Indian populace, equipped with humanistic ideals of social equality and the intrinsic worth of every individual, led this challenge against traditional norms.
1.Religious Sanction of Social Evils: Many of the social injustices prevalent in Indian society, such as the caste system and gender inequality, were historically reinforced by religious sanctions. Religious reformers, recognizing the intertwined nature of religious doctrine and social practice, naturally extended their efforts to include social reform.
2.Contribution of Religious Reformers: Figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and others who initially focused on religious reform, also actively championed social causes, advocating for the abolition of practices like sati, child marriage, and promoting women's education and rights.
1.Diverse Organizations: Beyond individual reformers, several organizations, including the Social Conference, Servants of India Society, and efforts by Christian missionaries, played crucial roles in advocating for and implementing social reforms.
2.Prominent Personalities: Leaders and intellectuals such as Jotiba Phule, who fought against caste discrimination; D.K. Karve, a proponent of women's education; and B.R. Ambedkar, a champion of Dalit rights, significantly contributed to the social reform landscape. Their work laid the groundwork for subsequent legal and societal changes in India.