Defenders of Sati formed Dharma Sabha against Brahmo Samaj and petitioned British not to legislate against Sati. Which concept does this statement reflect?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Counter Movement
Option (1) Social Movement — Incorrect. A social movement is collective action, sustained over time, that seeks to bring in social change, like Raja Rammohun Roy’s campaign against sati. The defenders of sati wanted the opposite: to stop the change.
Option (2) Social Conflict — Incorrect. Social conflict is a clash between groups with opposed interests or views. The reformers and the Dharma Sabha did clash, but the example shows something more specific: an organised effort to defend the existing practice against a reform.
Option (3) Counter Movement — Correct. While social movements seek to bring in social change, counter movements sometimes arise in defence of status quo. When Raja Rammohun Roy campaigned against sati and formed the Brahmo Samaj, the defenders of sati formed the Dharma Sabha and petitioned the British not to legislate against sati.
Option (4) Social Reform Movement — Incorrect. Social reform movements, like that of the Brahmo Samaj, worked to remove practices such as sati. The Dharma Sabha stood against that reform, not for it.
NCERT (2025-26): “8.1 Features of a Social Movement … While social movements seek to bring in social change, counter movements sometimes arise in defence of status quo. There are many instances of such counter movements. When Raja Rammohun Roy campaigned against sati and formed the Brahmo Samaj, defenders of sati formed Dharma Sabha and petitioned the British not to legislate against sati. When reformers demanded education for girls, many protested that this would be disastrous for society. When reformers campaigned for widow remarriage, they were socially boycotted.…” |