WBBSE Class 10 History Chapter 2 Reform Characteristics And Observations Short Question And Answers

Chapter 2 Reform Characteristics And Observations Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1: In which year was the ‘Grambarta Prakashika’ paper first published? Who was its first editor?
Answer:

In 1863 the ‘Grambarta Prakashika’ paper was first published. Its first editor was Harinath Majumdar who was popularly known as Kangal Harinath.

Question 2: When was the Bengal Gazette published and by whom?
Answer:

Bengal Gazette was published on 29 January 1780 by James Augustus Hickey.

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Question 3: How significant was Harinath Majumdar as a journalist of rural society?
Answer:

Harinath Majumdar was the editor of ‘Grambarta Prakashika’, the aim of which was to bring out the conditions of rural Bengal in front of everyone. The condition of the rural society and its people due to the social and economic oppression of the British Raj was portrayed by ‘Grambarta Prakashika’.

Question 4: What was the reaction on the part of the English when ‘Nil Darpan’ was published in English?
Answer:

When ‘Nil Darpan’ was published in English under the pseudonym of James Long, the government became furious with James Long and he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000/-.

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Question 5: How was the Babu culture of Calcutta exposed by ‘Hutom Pyanchar Naksha’?
Answer:

Kaliprasanna Singha in his famous work ‘Hutom Pyanchar Naksha’ gave a vivid picture of the mental downfall of the Bengali middle class ‘Babu’. He was very much critical of the culture of the ‘Babus’ who were English-educated and were blind followers of Western culture. The comical mixture of the Eastern and Western modes of life of the ‘Babus’ is the object of ridicule in the book.

Question 6: What were the main features of the weekly paper ‘Hindoo Patriot’?
Answer:

The main features of the paper ‘Hindoo Patriot’ was

1. It exposed the oppression by the indigo planters in Bengal.
2. It protested against the Vernacular Press Act and the Immigration Bill.
3. It protested against polygamy.
4. It created public opinion in favor of women’s education.

Question 7: What was discussed in ‘Grambarta Prakashika’?
Answer:

Grambarta Prakashika: In ‘Grambarta Prakashika’, there were discussions on contemporary social conditions, literature, philosophy, science, etc. It also published news about the oppression of the zamindars on the farmers, the indigo planters on the ryots, the torture faced by the farmers in the hands of the moneylenders, etc.

Question 8: In which year and by whom was Fort William College founded?
Answer:

In 1800, Lord Wellesley founded Fort William College.

Question 9: Why was Fort William College founded?
Answer:

Fort William College was founded in 1800 by Lord Wellesley to provide training to the newly recruited young civilians in India, who were generally ignorant of Indian affairs. The Company’s government felt the need to train these administrators in Indian languages and law as well as European literature and philosophy to work efficiently.

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Question 10: Mention two recommendations of Charles Wood for the expansion of the modern educational system in India.
Answer:

The famous Education Despatch of Sir Charles Wood (1854) recommended certain measures to be adopted for the expansion of the modern educational system in India. Two of its recommendations were:

1. Three universities were to be opened in the three presidential towns of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
2. In each of the five provinces- Bengal, Bombay, Madras, the North West Frontier Province, and the Punjab director of public instruction was to be appointed for systematic supervision of the education system. The Directors were to be assisted by a number of inspectors.

Question 11: Why is Thomas Babington Macaulay famous?
Answer:

Thomas Babington Macaulay was the first Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council. He was the President of the General Committee of Public Instruction. During the Anglicist-Orientalist controversy, he led the Anglicist group. In 1835, he submitted his famous Minute to Bentinck for introducing English as the medium of instruction which was approved by the Governor-General’s Council.

Question 12: When and why was Calcutta Medical College established?
Answer:

The Calcutta Medical College was established in 1835.

Its stated purpose was to train native youths aged between 14 and 20, irrespective of caste and creed, in the principles and practices of medical science in accordance with the mode adopted in Europe.

Question 13: Why is the year 1836 a landmark in the history of medical education?
Answer:

The year 1836 was a landmark in the history of medical education because this year first witnessed the dissection of a human corpse by Indian students. Madhusudan Gupta was the first person in modern India to have dissected a human body. He was assisted by Raj Krishna Dey, Umacharan Sett, Dwarkanath Gooptu, and Nabin Chandra Mitra.

Question 14: What was the contribution of John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to the cause of women’s education?
Answer:

John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, a Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council, was a pioneer in promoting women’s education in the 19th century. In 1849, he founded. an institution for women’s education in Calcutta with the support of people like Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee, Ramgopal Ghosh, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Madan Mohon Tarkalankar. The institute later bore his name and became famous as Bethune College.

Question 15: What is the ‘Downward Filtration Theory’?
Answer:

Downward Filtration Theory:

The ‘Downward Filtration Theory’ was devised by the British to wash their hands off primary education. The British agreed that since it was impossible to educate everybody, they would educate a few Indians from the upper and middle classes, who in turn, would educate the common masses.

Question 16: Who founded the Asiatic Society and why?
Answer:

The Asiatic Society was founded by William Jones in 1784 to encourage oriental studies, and to enhance and further the cause of oriental research.

Question 17: What is the educational importance of the Charter Act of 1813?
Answer:

The Charter Act of 1813 set aside a sum of one lakh rupees for the spread of education among the Indians and for the introduction and promotion of knowledge of the sciences among the people of the British Indian territories.

Question 18: What led to the socio-religious reform movements in the 19th Century?
Answer:

The introduction of Western education made a section of Indians well acquainted with the progressive and liberal ideas of the West. Their faiths and beliefs were replaced by reason and judgment. This change in ideas and beliefs led to the rise of socio-religious reform movements in the 19th century.

Question 19: Who was known as Young Bengal? What were the objectives of Young Bengal?
Answer:

1. In the 20s of the 19th century, some students of the Hindu College started a strong rationalist reform movement under the inspiration of their teacher, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. The most favorite students of Derozio-Krishna Mohan Banerjee, Rasik Krishna Mallick, Radhanath Sikdar, Ramtanu Lahiri, etc. were collectively known as Young Bengal.
2. They attacked the evil practices of the society like sati, untouchability, image worship, casteism, etc. They wanted to apply Western ideas in India to pave her path to progress. Their objective was to emancipate the Indians from ignorance, illiteracy, superstitions, and all social evils and to remake India after the images of the West.

Question 20: By what name were Derozio’s followers known? What was the ideal followed by this group?
Answer:

Derozio’s followers were collectively known as Young Bengal. The members of this group took a keen interest in social reforms and were against conservatism, old traditions, and superstitious practices of society. They wanted the emancipation of India from ignorance, and illiteracy and followed the ideals of liberty and democracy.

Question 21: In which year and by whom was the Academic Association established? Why was it established?
Answer:

The Academic Association was established in 1827 by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. Derozio protested against the existing evils of the society like untouchability, caste system, sati system, and idol worship, and established the Academic Association.

Question 22: Mention one social reform movement of the 19th century and its founder.
Answer:

The Brahmo movement was one of the social reform movements of the 19th century. Its founder was Raja Rammohan Roy.

Question 23: Who founded the Brahmo Samaj? What goals of social reforms did it pursue?
Answer:

The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Rammohan Roy. The goals of social reform pursued by the Brahmo Samaj were to promote among the people of different religions, a faith in the unity of the divine and of man and also a spirit of tolerance.

Question 24: Name some famous leaders of the Brahmo Samaj.
Answer:

Some famous leaders of the Brahmo Samaj were Debendranath Tagore, Sivnath Sastri, Keshab Chandra Sen, Rammohan Roy, Ananda Mohon Basu, Bijoy Krishna Goswami, etc.

Question 25: What is meant by ‘Nababidhan’?
Answer:

Nababidhan: Keshab Chandra Sen was a great social reformer of 19th-century Bengal. He came under the influence of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He established a syncretic school of spiritualism called the ‘Nababidhan’ or New Dispensation which attempted to incorporate the best principles of Christianity within the framework of Hindu thought.

This syncretic religious philosophy promoted fraternity and love and also chastised the evils that persisted in society. It enunciated the ideology that ‘God is conscience’.

Question 26: Give some examples of social movements of the Brahmo Samaj under the initiative of Keshab Chandra Sen.
Answer:

Under the initiative of Keshab Chandra Sen the Brahmo Samaj carried a movement in favor of widow remarriage, women’s education, and against untouchability, caste system, purdah system, etc.

Question 27: Write about two social reform movements of the Brahmo Samaj.?
Answer:

Two social reform movements of the Brahmo Samaj are as follows:

1. The Brahmo Samaj compelled the government to enact Regulation III prohibiting child marriage and polygamy and sanctioning widow remarriage and intercaste marriage.
2. The Brahmo Samaj created public opinion in favor of women’s education and anticipation of women.

Question 28: Why was the Atmiya Sabha established?
Answer:

The Atmiya Sabha was established in 1815 by Raja Rammohan Roy to discuss the religious and social problems of society, challenge and denounce orthodox religious views, and promote free and collective thinking.

Question 29: When and by whom was the Widow Remarriage Act passed?
Answer:

The Widow Remarriage Act was passed by Lord Dalhousie in 1856 with the help of the Bengali social reformer Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.

Question 30: What doctrine did Swami Vivekananda expound on at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago?
Answer:

Swami Vivekananda, at the Parliament of Religions (1893) in Chicago, propounded the true meaning of Hinduism. He proclaimed Vedanta as a great universal religion of the world. He expounded the universalism of Indian culture, and its capacity to embrace friends and foes as brothers. He said, “As different streams mingle their waters in the ocean, so different paths which men take lead to the lord.”

Question 31: What was the contribution of Swami Vivekananda to the social movement of the 19th century?
Answer:

Swami Vivekananda was a great social reformer. He gave a call for building up a new India by struggling against untouchability, poverty, social evils, and injustices. He condemned the caste system, rituals, ceremonies, and superstitions. He urged the people to imbibe the spirit of liberty, equality, and free thinking. He remarked, “I do not believe in a religion that cannot wipe out a widow’s tears or bring a piece of bread to an orphan’s mouth.”

Question 32: Who was Haji Muhammad Mohsin?
Answer:

Haji Muhammad Mohsin was a prominent philanthropist in Bengal. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca and visited Medina, Kufa, Karbala, and other holy places. After he performed the Hajj, he was given the title ‘Haji’. He spent much to spread education among the Mohammedans. He also spent his money on helping poor people.

Question 33: Where is Hooghly Mohsin College located? When and under whose initiative was it established?
Answer:

The Hooghly Mohsin College is located in Chinsura in the district of Hooghly. Muhammad Mohsin made a remarkable contribution to the cause of education. He deposited a large sum with the government and the Hooghly Mohsin College was established in 1836 under the initiative of Metcalfe.

Question 34: Who was Lalon Fakir?
Answer:

Lalon Fakir: Lalon Fakir was a Bengali Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, thinker, and social reformer. He is considered to be an icon of religious tolerance whose songs inspired and influenced many poets, and social and religious thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, etc. He rejected all distinctions of caste and creed and his songs spoke of day-to-day problems in a simple yet moving language.

Question 35: What were the major expressions of the renaissance in Bengal?
Answer:

The major expressions of a renaissance in Bengal were the appearance of a large number of newspapers, periodicals, and literary works, the growth of numerous associations and societies, and the spread of Western education and ideas.

Question 36: Name some scientists and literary personalities of the Renaissance period in Bengal.
Answer:

In the Renaissance period the annals of Bengali literature were crowded with bright names such as those of Rammohon Roy, Akshay Kumar Dutta, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Madhusudan Dutta, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Dinabandhu Mitra, etc, Science also flourished under the initiative of scientists like Satyendranath Bose, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, and Jagadish Chandra Bose.