Model Answers- Answer Writing Practice- Day 3

Day 3: Model Answers for Mains Questions posted on 24th June

Q1. “The Revolt of 1857 was the culmination of the spirit and tradition of resistance developing since the 18th century” Elucidate 

Answer: 

Introduction

The Revolt of 1857 was an important watershed moment in the history of Indian history. It marked the end of Company Rule and inaugurated Crown Rule in India. As an event, the Revolt has been perceived as a standalone mutiny or revolt. However, after surveying the causes of the revolt, we can understand it the high point in a long tradition of resistance in India

Body 

• Expansionist policy under Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse: Dalhousie also refused to recognize the titles of many ex-rulers or to pay their pensions. Thus, the titles of the Nawabs of Carnatic & of Surat & the Raja of Tanjore were cancelled. Similarly, after the death of the ex-Peshwa Baji Rao II, Dalhousie refused to extend his pay or pension to his adopted son, Nana Saheb. This created resentment in these rulers 
• Rampant Corruption, Exclusion of the natives from high appointments and misgovernance which led to growing grievances. 
• Economic Policies of the Raj: The land revenue settlements and commercialization had only created landless peasantry and famines. Peasantry was severely impacted and poverty became the new reality. 
• Tribal policies: The colonial forest policy and treatment of the tribal population was based on exclusion and discrimination. This had created a lot of resentment which will create a spirit of resistance in them. 
• Pre-1857 moments of resistance: The Revolt of 1857 was not the first expression of the resistance. It was the culmination of the long tradition of revolts which started with the Sanyasi Rebellion. The following major events preceded the 1857 are as follows: 
• Sanyasi Revolt.
• Vellore Mutiny 
• Civil Uprisings in Gorakhpur, Basti and Bahraich
• Civil Rebellion in Awadh
• Rangpur rebellion 
• Mappila Uprising
• Paika Rebellion
• Bhil Uprising
• Kol Uprising
• Kuka Movement
• Santhal Rebellion

Conclusion: 

Therefore, the Revolt of 1857 was not even the first Mutiny as Vellore was the first. It is part of a long tradition of rebellions and resistance and needs to be understood in the same context.  

Q2. “Brahmoism and Brahmo Samaj introduced a reformist tendency in Bengal and spearheaded the reformist movement” Comment 

Answer 

Introduction 

In the cultural history of India, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and his Brahmo Samaj pioneered the reformist path in the socio-religious reform movement. It introduced in the Bengali society a spirit of removing the social evils and this had a rippling effect across British India. It emerged as a major religious movement of the middle-class educated Bengalis, based on the essential principle of monotheism. Since its formation in 1828 it became the epicentre of the following ideas: 

Body 

• The main theme of the Brahmo was “Nirguna Sapna” and promoted Monotheism.
• It believes "God" is the Supreme Unifying Principle responsible for existence and Brahmos believed that all religions lead to this truth.
• The new society was to be based on the two pillars of reason and the Vedas and Upanishads.
• The Samaj actively supported the movement for 
• Widow remarriage
• Abolition of Polygamy
• Women's education 
• It opposed superstitious practices & rituals.
• It also denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting religious writings.
• It was the first intellectual reform movement in modern India. It led to the emergence of rationalism and enlightenment in India which indirectly contributed to the nationalist movement.
• The important followers of Samaj were Keshab Chandra Sen, Debendranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Ashwani Kumar Datta, Derozians, Prasanna Kumar Tagore, Chandrashekhar Deb and Tarachand Chakravarty. 
• After the death of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the Samaj was taken forward by Debendranath Tagore and K.C. Sen. They attacked the missionaries for their activities. 
• K.C. Sen was able to expand the geographical reach of the Samaj beyond Bengal and his follower became extremely radical and started to promote inter-caste marriages. 
• Sen’s followers even gave up the sacred thread and sponsored an inter-caste marriage that was also a widow remarriage. 
• These activities infuriated the conservative faction of the Brahmo. 
• Over these issues, in 1866, Brahma Sabha was split into two, namely Brahmo Samaj of India led by Keshub Chandra Sen and Adi Brahmo Samaj led by Debendranath Tagore.

Conclusion 

The Brahmo Samaj created the foundation on which the reformist movement in India was launched. It set the agenda and promoted the basic aspects of the Socio-reform movement that being Widow Remarriage, Sati, infanticide and women’s education.