Topic: Individual Reformers (Part of SRRM)

 

Topic: Individual Reformers (Part of SRRM)

Context:

• This section discusses key reformers acting largely outside the major societies already covered.

• The focus is on their specific contributions, especially regarding women's rights, education, and journalism.

• Source Mentions: NCERT, Bipin Chandra, Degree Books, Pragati Series (for specific details).

1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (ఈశ్వర చంద్ర విద్యాసాగర్)

• Title: "Vidyasagar" (విద్యాసాగర్) - Meaning: Ocean of Knowledge (జ్ఞాన పండితుడు). Given due to his deep knowledge and role as Principal of Sanskrit College (సంస్కృత కళాశాల).

• Educational Reforms:

  • Opened admissions to the Sanskrit College for non-Brahmins.

  • Encouraged Western thought (పాశ్చాత్య ఆలోచనలు) alongside traditional learning.

  • Considered a key figure representing the "confluence/synthesis of Eastern (Prachya) and Western (Paschatya) culture/knowledge" (ప్రాచ్య సంస్కృతి, పాశ్చాత్య సంస్కృతిల సంగమం). (Stated as a TSPSC exam question).

  • Involved in establishing the Bethune College (బేతూనె కాలేజీ) in 1849 (along with Bethune/Thomson) - First college for women's education.

    • Kadambini Ganguly (కాదంబిని గంగూలీ): First woman graduate from this college (and in India).

• Social Reforms (Women):

  • Most Famous Contribution: Championed Widow Remarriage (వితంతు పునర్వివాహ).

  • His efforts were crucial for the passing of the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856.

    • Act drafted/introduced by: Lord Dalhousie (డల్హౌసీ).

    • Act passed during the tenure of: Lord Canning (కానింగ్). (Important Distinction).

• Newspaper: Som Prakash (సోమ్ ప్రకాష్).

  • Founder: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

  • Editor (as per speaker): Dwarkanath Vidyasagar (ద్వారకనాథ్ విద్యాసాగర్).

  • Fate: Shut down because it refused to sign the bond required under Lord Lytton's Vernacular Press Act (1878).

2. Balashastri Jambhekar (బాలశాస్త్రి జంబేకర్)

• Region: Maharashtra / Maratha region (మరాఠా).

• Key Role: Pioneer of Marathi Journalism.

• Title: "Father of Marathi Journalism".

• Newspapers/Magazines:

  • Darpan (దర్పణ్): First Marathi newspaper. (√ - Important)

  • Digdarshan (దిగదర్శన్): First Marathi monthly magazine. (As per Degree book reference by speaker).

    • Clarification: The speaker distinguishes this from Marshman's Bengali Digdarshan (1818, April), which was the first vernacular monthly. Jambhekar's Digdarshan is specifically the first Marathi monthly.

3. Gopal Hari Deshmukh (గోపాల్ హరి దేశముఖ్)

• Region: Maharashtra.

• Title: "Lokahitawadi" (లోకహితవాది).

  • Origin: Used 'Lokahitawadi' as his pen name (కలం పేరు) for articles written in the Prabhakar (ప్రభాకర్) newspaper.

• Famous Quote: "If religion does not sanction social reform, then change religion" (ఒక మతం సంస్కరణను ఆమోదించకుంటే, మతాన్నే మార్చు). (Very Important).

• Vatan System: His title 'Deshmukh' relates to the hereditary land/revenue rights ('Vatan' - వతన్) system, implying he was a local figure/representative ('Desh' = country/region, 'Mukh' = head).

4. Behramji M. Malabari (బహరంజీ ఎల్ మలబారి)

• Community: Parsi (పార్శీ).

• Focus: Social reform, particularly for women within the Parsi community and beyond.

• Key Campaigns:

  • Against Child Marriage.

  • For Widow Remarriage.

• Newspaper Connection: Associated with Times of India (involved with its founding members like Robert Knight).

• Major Achievement: His persistent campaign was instrumental in the enactment of the Age of Consent Act, 1891.

  • Passed by: Lord Lansdowne (లాన్స్‌డౌన్).

  • Provision: Raised the minimum age of consent for marriage/consummation for girls from 10 years to 12 years.

  • Opposition: Notably opposed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who viewed it as unwarranted British interference in Hindu social/religious customs.

Concluding Points:

• These four individuals made significant contributions outside the main reform societies.

• The next lecture will cover movements opposing reform (Dharma Sabha, Dharma Mahamandal) and then proceed to Muslim, Sikh, and Parsi reform movements.