Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is known for promoting:

Correct answer: (D) Widow remarriage.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is known for promoting widow remarriage, a reform associated with the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856.

  1. (A)

    Anti-caste movement

  2. (B)

    Female education only

  3. (C)

    Sati abolition

  4. (D)

    Widow remarriage

Explanation

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is linked most directly with widow remarriage. He championed the reform, and this campaign led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, under Lord Dalhousie/Canning. The Government of West Bengal culture page names Vidyasagar as the person who started widow remarriage after it had long been forbidden. His wider reform work also included promoting women's education and opposing child marriage and polygamy. His most specific association is widow remarriage, not a broader or different reform movement.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) The anti-caste movement is associated with Phule, whereas Vidyasagar's specific reform is widow remarriage.
  • (B) Female education alone is too narrow because Vidyasagar also championed widow remarriage.
  • (C) Sati abolition is tied here to Raja Ram Mohan Roy, while the Government of West Bengal culture page separately credits Vidyasagar with widow remarriage.

Concept

Modern Indian social reform movements require matching reformers with their signature causes. RAS often covers Bengal Renaissance figures through direct reformer-reform pairings.

Source

Related questions