Important key points from class 8 history chapter 7, “Women, Caste and Reform” –
- Sati banned led by Raja Rammohun Roy: 1829
- Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar advocated for widow remarriage, and the law was passed: 1856
- Jyotirao Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj which promoted caste equality: 1873
- Gulamgiri, published by Jyotirao Phule in 1873.
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj: 1875 (supported widow remarriage)
- Pandita Ramabai critiqued Hinduism’s treatment of women. She also founded a widow’s home in Poona.
- Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Rammohun Roy: 1828
- Child Marriage Restraint Act passed to set the legal marriage age: 1929
- Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain established schools for Muslim girls in the early 20th century.
- Ambedkar led temple entry movements for Dalits: 1927
- E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) initiated the Self-Respect Movement. This movement challenged caste and gender inequality.
- Aligarh Movement that Sayyid Ahmed Khan led focused on Muslim education: 1875
- Singh Sabha Movement promoted Sikh educational reform: 1873
- Mahatma Gandhi supported the Harijan movement. He recommends untouchable rights in the early 20th century.
- Nationalist leaders like Nehru and Bose supported women’s rights and freedom pre-independence.
These points show the key reforms and movements aimed at addressing issues of gender and caste discrimination in India. Check out our collection of MCQ questions for Class 8 History.
MCQ Questions and Answers for Class 8 History Chapter 7 Women, Caste and Reform
Question 1. What was the primary focus of Raja Rammohun Roy’s reform movements?
a) Promoting child marriage
b) Fighting against the practice of sati
c) Supporting caste system
d) Encouraging idol worship
Answer:
b) Fighting against the practice of sati — Raja Rammohun Roy is known for his campaign against the practice of sati.
Question 2. Who founded the Brahmo Sabha, which later became known as the Brahmo Samaj?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Raja Rammohun Roy
c) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
d) Jyotirao Phule
Answer:
b) Raja Rammohun Roy — Raja Rammohun Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha, later known as the Brahmo Samaj.
Question 3. What was Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar’s major contribution to social reform?
a) Promoting the education of girls
b) Advocating for the rights of laborers
c) Supporting the caste system
d) Opposing widow remarriage
Answer:
a) Promoting the education of girls — Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was a key figure in promoting the education of girls.
Question 4. What was the main focus of Jyotirao Phule’s activism?
a) Promoting religious education
b) Supporting Brahmanical supremacy
c) Challenging caste discrimination
d) Encouraging child marriage
Answer:
c) Challenging caste discrimination — Jyotirao Phule was primarily focused on challenging caste discrimination.
Question 5. Who led the temple entry movement for Dalits?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) B.R. Ambedkar
c) Pandita Ramabai
d) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
Answer:
b) B.R. Ambedkar — B.R. Ambedkar led the temple entry movement for Dalits.
Question 6. Which of the following reformers used ancient texts to argue for widow remarriage?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Raja Rammohun Roy
c) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
d) Jyotirao Phule
Answer:
c) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar — He used ancient texts to support his argument for widow remarriage.
Question 7. What was the main achievement of Pandita Ramabai in the context of social reform?
a) She led the movement against the caste system
b) She founded a home for widows and promoted their education
c) She campaigned for child marriage
d) She advocated for the continuation of the sati practice
Answer:
b) She founded a home for widows and promoted their education — Pandita Ramabai founded a home for widows and worked towards their education and empowerment.
Question 8. Who was a prominent leader in the Self-Respect Movement?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) B.R. Ambedkar
c) Pandita Ramabai
d) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
Answer:
d) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy was a prominent leader in the Self-Respect Movement.
Question 9. What was the key focus of Mahatma Gandhi’s efforts in the field of social reform?
a) Eradicating untouchability
b) Promoting industrialization
c) Supporting caste-based occupations
d) Encouraging religious conversions
Answer:
a) Eradicating untouchability — Mahatma Gandhi focused on eradicating untouchability as a part of his social reform efforts.
Question 10. What was Tarabai Shinde’s contribution to social reform?
a) She led the anti-colonial movement
b) She wrote a critique highlighting the injustices faced by women
c) She advocated for religious reforms
d) She promoted the education of boys
Answer:
b) She wrote a critique highlighting the injustices faced by women — Tarabai Shinde is known for her written work critiquing the injustices faced by women in society.
Question 11. Which movement was founded by Ghasidas to improve the social status of leatherworkers?
a) The Satnami Movement
b) The Brahmo Samaj
c) The Self-Respect Movement
d) The Arya Samaj
Answer:
a) The Satnami Movement — Ghasidas founded the Satnami Movement to improve the social status of leatherworkers
Question 12. Which reformer used the ancient texts to advocate for widow remarriage?
a) Raja Rammohun Roy
b) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
c) Jyotirao Phule
d) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Answer:
b) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar — Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar used ancient texts to advocate for widow remarriage.
Question 13. Who founded the Self-Respect Movement?
a) B.R. Ambedkar
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
Answer:
c) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy founded the Self-Respect Movement.
Question 14. What was the main focus of the Aligarh Movement?
a) Promoting widow remarriage
b) Abolishing child marriage
c) Offering modern education to Muslims
d) Eradicating untouchability
Answer:
c) Offering modern education to Muslims — The Aligarh Movement focused on offering modern education to Muslims.
Question 15. Who established the Ramakrishna Mission?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Raja Rammohun Roy
c) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
d) Jyotirao Phule
Answer:
a) Swami Vivekananda — Swami Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission.
Question 16. Which social reformer is known for her efforts in improving conditions for widows?
a) Pandita Ramabai
b) Tarabai Shinde
c) Savitribai Phule
d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer:
a) Pandita Ramabai — Pandita Ramabai is known for her efforts in improving conditions for widows.
Question 17. The Arya Samaj was founded by:
a) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
b) Swami Vivekananda
c) Raja Rammohun Roy
d) Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
Answer:
a) Swami Dayanand Saraswati — The Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
Question 18. Which movement aimed at the upliftment of the untouchables was led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?
a) Self-Respect Movement
b) Satyashodhak Samaj
c) Dalit Buddhist Movement
d) Brahmo Samaj
Answer:
c) Dalit Buddhist Movement — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the Dalit Buddhist Movement, which aimed at the upliftment of the untouchables.
Question 19. Who was the author of the influential work “Gulamgiri”?
a) Jyotirao Phule
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) B.R. Ambedkar
d) Swami Vivekananda
Answer:
a) Jyotirao Phule — Jyotirao Phule authored the work “Gulamgiri,” which played a significant role in the social reform movement.
Question 20. What was the main objective of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), founded by Kanshi Ram?
a) Promoting religious reforms
b) Advocating for upper caste rights
c) Representing the interests of Dalits and other marginalized groups
d) Focusing on industrial development
Answer:
c) Representing the interests of Dalits and other marginalized groups — The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), founded by Kanshi Ram, aimed at representing the interests of Dalits and other marginalized groups.
Match the columns for Class 8 History Chapter 7
Unmatched Columns (Questions)
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Raja Ram Mohan Roy | (a) Advocacy for widow remarriage |
| (ii) Jyotirao Phule | (b) Movement against child marriage |
| (iii) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | (c) Campaign against Sati practice |
| (iv) Swami Dayananda Saraswati | (d) Establishment of Arya Samaj |
| (v) B.R. Ambedkar | (e) Fight for Dalit rights and social equality |
| (vi) Pandita Ramabai | (f) Empowerment and education of women |
Matched Columns (Answers)
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Raja Ram Mohan Roy | (c) Campaign against Sati practice |
| (ii) Jyotirao Phule | (e) Fight for Dalit rights and social equality |
| (iii) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | (a) Advocacy for widow remarriage |
| (iv) Swami Dayananda Saraswati | (d) Establishment of Arya Samaj |
| (v) B.R. Ambedkar | (b) Movement against child marriage |
| (vi) Pandita Ramabai | (f) Empowerment and education of women |
Class 8 History Chapter 7 Fill in the Blanks with Answers – Women, Caste and Reform
1. Two hundred years ago, both Hindu and Muslim men could marry more than ___ wife.
Answer:
one
2. Women who died by burning themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands were called ___.
Answer:
sati
3. Raja Rammohun Roy founded a reform association known as the ___ Sabha.
Answer:
Brahmo
4. In 1829, the practice of ___ was banned.
Answer:
sati
5. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar used ancient texts to suggest that widows could ___.
Answer:
remarry
6. Vidyasagar and other reformers set up schools for ___ in the mid-nineteenth century.
Answer:
girls
7. The Arya Samaj in Punjab and Jyotirao Phule in Maharashtra established schools for ___.
Answer:
girls
8. Pandita Ramabai founded a widows’ home at ___ to provide shelter and training.
Answer:
Poona
9. The Child Marriage Restraint Act was passed in ___.
Answer:
1929
10. The Satnami movement in Central India was founded by ___.
Answer:
Ghasidas
11. Shri Narayana Guru from the Ezhava caste proclaimed the ideals of ___ for his people.
Answer:
unity
12. Jyotirao Phule wrote a book named ___, meaning slavery.
Answer:
Gulamgiri
