During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation? [2012]

Different social reform groups or organisations of the Bengal region united to form a single body to discuss the issues of larger interest and to prepare appropriate petitions/ representations to the government.
Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose.
Behramji Malabari and M. G. Ranade decided to bring together all the social reform groups of the country under one organisation.
None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

The National Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao.
- In the 1886 Calcutta Session, Dadabhai declared that the Congress would take up only national questions and not deal with religious and social matters.
- Hence, Ranade established the National Social Conference, a separate body for social reforms, in 1887, during INC’s third session.
- Ranade called the National Social Conference the younger sister of Congress.

Mahadev Govind Ranade

Mahadev Govind Ranade, popularly known as Justice Ranade, was an Indian scholar, social reformer, judge, economist, educationist and historian.
He was a professor at Elphinstone College, Bombay and finally became the Judge of the Bombay High Court.
M. G. Ranade was a leading member of Prarthana Samaj (1867), Pune Sarvajanik Sabha (1870), the Indian National Congress (1885), and the Indian Social Conference (1887).
Ranade’s work inspired other Indian social reformers, including Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who continued his efforts after his death.
Philosophy of Theism: Ranade believed in the existence of one God and was, therefore, a monotheist. In his book, Philosophy of Indian Theism, he expounded the theistic interpretation of the Universe. Ranade did not believe in the Advaita philosophy (non-dualism) of Adi Shankaracharya because he held that God and man were not the same thing.
Social Reforms: He worked for widow remarriage, inter-caste marriage, and the education of women and backward communities. Ranade established the Vidhva Vivaha Uttejak Mandal (Widows Remarriage Association) in 1865.
He strongly believed in taking steps to encourage industrialization in India. Ranade founded the Institution ‘Industrial Association of Western India’ in 1889 to promote the Industrial development of India. In 1890, he organized the ‘Industrial Conference’. The conference was held annually during the monsoons in Poona.

Behramji Malabari

He was an Indian poet, author, publicist, and social reformer.
He was best known for his intense advocacy for the protection of the rights of women and his activities against child marriage.
His efforts led to the passage of the Age of Consent Act of 1891, which raised the age of consent for all girls, married or unmarried, from ten to twelve. It made sexual intercourse illegal with a girl below the age of twelve and also forbade child marriage below the age of twelve.
Shri Behramji Malabari and his friend Diwan Dayaram Gidumal established the Seva Sadan Society in 1908 in Mumbai. The organization aimed to offer shelter to impoverished and oppressed women from all communities. Additionally, it provided education, medical, and welfare services to them.

Answer: (b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose.; Difficulty Level: Hard

2012, PYQs

During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

Mahadev Govind Ranade

Behramji Malabari

Answer: (b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose.; Difficulty Level: Hard

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