The question asks for the year in which the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act was passed. This is a direct factual question related to Indian history, specifically social reform movements during the British Raj. Recalling key legislative milestones in social reform is crucial.
The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, also known as Act XV, 1856, was passed on July 26, 1856. It legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows, a significant social reform initiative championed by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and enacted under the Governor-Generalship of Lord Canning.
C) 1856 — The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act was indeed passed in 1856. This act was a landmark social reform that legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows, a practice previously forbidden in many parts of India. It was largely due to the efforts of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar that this act was passed.
The question asks for the birth year of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a prominent figure in the Bengal Renaissance and a social reformer. This is a factual recall question from Indian history.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was born on 26 September 1820, in Birsingha village, Paschim Medinipur district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal).
Correct Option: D) 1820 is the correct birth year of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
The question asks about the Governor-General who initiated the drafting of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Bill. To answer this, one needs to recall the timeline of social reforms and the tenures of various Governor-Generals in British India.
A) Lord Dalhousie — Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. It was during his administration that the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Bill was drafted. He actively supported the reform efforts led by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, which culminated in the drafting of this crucial legislation.
The question asks to identify the famous Bengali primer written by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar that is still in use today. This requires knowledge of prominent literary works by key figures in Indian history, particularly in the context of educational reforms.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891) was a prominent figure in the Bengal Renaissance. He was a philosopher, academic educator, writer, translator, social reformer, and philanthropist. His most significant contribution to Bengali education was the simplification and modernization of the Bengali alphabet and prose. He wrote a primer called Barna Parichay (Introduction to the Alphabet), which revolutionized Bengali education and is still widely used today to teach children the Bengali alphabet and basic reading skills.
Correct Option: B) Barna Parichay is Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's famous Bengali primer that is still used today. It was published in two parts in 1855 and played a crucial role in modernizing the Bengali script and making education accessible.
The question asks to identify the most progressive step taken by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar as Principal of Sanskrit College, Calcutta. This requires knowledge of his reforms and their impact on traditional educational practices in 19th-century India.
D) Allowing lower-caste (non-Brahmin) students to study in the college — This was a radical departure from the traditional, caste-exclusive nature of Sanskrit education. It demonstrated Vidyasagar's commitment to social equality and universal access to education, making it his most progressive reform as Principal of Sanskrit College.
The question asks for the location where the first Hindu widow remarriage, under the newly enacted Act of 1856, took place. This is a factual question related to social reforms in British India.
Correct Option: C) North Calcutta was the location of the first Hindu widow remarriage under the Act of 1856, arranged by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.