Modern social organisation like the Brahma Samaj in Bengal and Arya Samaj in Punjab were set up. The All-India Muslim Ladies Conference (Anjuman-E-Islam) was founded in 1914. Indian reformers debated not just in public meetings but through public media like newspaper and journals. Translations of writings of social reformers from one Indian Language to another took place for instance, Vishnu Shastri published a Marathi translation of Vidyasagar's book in Indu Prakash in 1868. New ideas of liberalism and freedom, new ideas of home making and marriage, new roles for mothers and daughter new ideas of self-conscious pride in culture and tradition emerged. The value of education became very important. It was seen as very crucial for a nation to become modern but also retain its ancient heritage. The idea of Female education was debated intensely. Significantly, it was the social reformer Jyotiba Phule who opened the first school for women in Pune. Reformers argued that for a society to progress, women have to be educated. Some of them believed that in pre-modern India, women were educated. Others contested this on the grounds that this was so only of a privileged few. Thus attempts to justify female education was made by recourse to both modern and traditional ideas. They actively debated the meanings of tradition and modernity.
Who proposed a resolution against the evils of polygamy in the All India Muslim Ladies Conference?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Jahanara Shah Nawas
NCERT (2025-26): “2.1 Social reform movements in the 19th and early 20th century … Likewise Muslim social reformers actively debated the meaning of polygamy and purdah. For example, a resolution against the evils of polygamy was proposed by Jahanara Shah Nawas at the All India Muslim Ladies Conference. She argued: …the kind of polygamy which is practiced by certain sections of the Muslims is against the true spirit of the Quran…and it is the duty of the educated women to exercise their influence among the relations to put an end to this practice.…” |