Class 8 - Bharat Bharati Book | Chapter - 8 | Improvement in Women's Condition | Question Answer| Ncert

Class VIII

Chapter 8 Improvement in Women's Condition

A. Put (✓) on right options:

1. In records of Aron, it was mentioned that on the death of commander _______ his wife became Sati.

Ans.- Gopraj

2. When did the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act get recognition?

Ans.- 1856

3. When was Sharda Act formed?

Ans.- 1929

B. Fill in the blanks.

1. _________ had been banned by Sharda Act 1929.

Ans.- Child Marriage

2. The social reformers who had efforts to stop Sati practice was ________.

Ans.- Raja Ram Mohan Roy

3. The first proof of Sati custom come from ______ records.

Ans.- Aron

4. ________ worked hard for widow Remarriage.

Ans.- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

5. Indian women entered the universities in decade of ______.

Ans.- 1870s

6. Begum of Bhopal opened schools for girls education in ______.

Ans.- 1817

C. Short answer type questions.

1. When and by which governor general was the Sati custom prohibition law implemented?

Ans.- The Sati custom prohibition law was implemented in 1829 by Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor-General of India.

2. Widow remarriage Act was implemented under which governor general’s term and why?

Ans.- The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856 under Lord Dalhousie to support widows’ rights to remarry.

3. Before William Bentinck who tried to stop Sati custom and when?

Ans.- Before William Bentinck, Raja Ram Mohan Roy tried to stop the Sati custom in the early 19th century through social reforms and awareness.

4. Who was Jyoti ba Phoole?

Ans.- Jyotiba Phule was a 19th-century social reformer who fought for women’s education and the rights of lower castes, founding the first girls’ school in Pune in 1848.

D. Short Answer Type Questions:

1. Why were the girls prevented from going to schools in 19th century?

Ans.- In the 19th century, girls were prevented from going to school due to societal norms and the belief that education was unnecessary for women.

2. Which act abolished child marriage and when?

Ans.- The Child Marriage Restraint Act (Sarda Act) was passed in 1929, setting the minimum marriage age at 14 for girls and 18 for boys to prevent child marriages.

3. When and where was the first girls school opened?

Ans.- The first girls’ school in India was opened in 1848 in Pune, by Jyotiba Phule. It aimed to provide education to girls, especially from lower-caste communities.

D. Long answer type questions:

1. What the Indian got from the British?

Ans.- Indians gained infrastructure like railways, education, legal systems, and some industrial development from the British. However, British rule also led to economic exploitation and loss of self-sufficiency.

2. How did Widow remarriage be possible ?

Ans.- Widow remarriage became possible due to the efforts of social reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who strongly advocated for the rights of widows. The Widow Remarriage Act, passed in 1856 under Lord Dalhousie, legalized widow remarriage and aimed to improve the status of widows in society, challenging the social norms that previously stigmatized them and prevented remarriage.

3. Tell Jyotiba Phule’s contribution against the caste system.

Ans.- Jyotiba Phule fought against the caste system by founding the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873, promoting social equality, and advocating for the education and rights of lower-caste communities and women.Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar supported widow remarriage to uplift widows and give them a dignified life, challenging oppressive societal norms.

He presented himself as a reformer advocating for social equality, women’s rights, and education, working against traditional customs like child marriage.

4. Mention various efforts done for women education.

Ans.- Efforts for women’s education in India include:-

 Jyotiba Phule: Founded the first girls’ school in Pune in 1848.

 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: Advocated for women’s education in Bengal.

 Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Supported female education.

 British Government: Established schools and universities for women.

 Sarojini Naidu and Kamini Roy: Promoted women’s education and empowerment.

5. Why did Ishwar Chand supported widow remarriage? What ideal did he present himself?

Ans.- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar supported widow remarriage to uplift widows and give them a dignified life, challenging oppressive societal norms.

He presented himself as a reformer advocating for social equality, women’s rights, and education, working against traditional customs like child marriage.

6. How was the social status of women in ancient times?

Ans.- In ancient times, women had a low social status, with limited rights and opportunities for empowerment. They were mostly confined to household roles and faced restrictions in education and public life, though some women were respected as scholars or religious figures. Overall, societal norms restricted women’s independence and empowerment.