Dalit Movements MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Dalit Movements - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Tamil Nadu.

Key Points

• The Self-Respect Movement was initiated by EV Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, in Tamil Nadu in 1925.
• The movement aimed to promote rational thinking, self-respect, and equality, especially among the marginalized communities in Tamil Nadu.
• It sought to eradicate caste discrimination and challenge the dominance of Brahmanical ideology in Tamil society.
• Periyar emphasized the importance of education, gender equality, and social justice as the cornerstone of the movement.
• The Self-Respect Movement played a significant role in shaping the socio-political landscape of Tamil Nadu and laid the foundation for Dravidian ideologies.

Additional Information

• EV Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar)
  • Periyar was a social reformer, thinker, and politician who advocated for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly Dalits and women.
  • He strongly opposed the caste system and superstitions prevalent in Indian society.
  • He is regarded as the "Father of the Dravidian Movement" for his significant contributions to social justice and rationalism.
• Dravidian Movement
  • The Dravidian Movement emerged from the principles of the Self-Respect Movement and aimed to establish social justice in Tamil Nadu.
  • It emphasized regional pride, linguistic identity, and opposition to Hindi imposition.
  • The movement led to the rise of political parties like the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).
• Impact of the Self-Respect Movement
  • It led to the questioning of traditional social norms and practices, including arranged marriages and religious rituals.
  • Empowered marginalized communities to demand equality and rights in Tamil society.
  • Contributed to the spread of progressive ideologies and reforms in Southern India.
• Key Concepts Promoted by the Movement
  • Rationalism: Advocated logical reasoning over blind belief and superstition.
  • Self-respect: Encouraged individuals to reject caste-based discrimination and inequality.
  • Gender Equality: Focused on women's education and rights to achieve societal progress.

Key Points

• Ghasidas was a significant social reformer who worked among the leatherworkers to improve their social status.
• He is the founder of the Satnami sect in Central India, aiming to uplift the marginalized sections of society.
• The Satnami movement was particularly influential among the Dalits and other oppressed communities in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Ghasidas emphasized the importance of equality, non-violence, and abstinence from intoxicants in his teachings.

Additional Information

• Satnami Movement:
  • The Satnami movement was a socio-religious reform movement that started in the 19th century in Central India.
  • It was founded by Ghasidas in Chhattisgarh with the aim to eradicate social evils and uplift the downtrodden.
  • The followers of this movement are known as Satnamis, who believe in one God, Satnam.
  • The movement played a crucial role in fighting caste-based discrimination and promoting the idea of social equality.
• Ghasidas:
  • Ghasidas was born in 1756 in Girodpuri, a village in Chhattisgarh.
  • He belonged to the Chamar caste, a community traditionally involved in leatherworking.
  • He preached against the caste system and encouraged his followers to abandon the practice of untouchability.
  • Ghasidas' teachings and the Satnami movement continue to have a significant impact on the social fabric of Central India.
• Other Reformers:
  • Haridas Thakur: A prominent Vaishnavite saint who played a significant role in the Bhakti movement.
  • Shri Narayana Guru: A social reformer from Kerala who worked against the caste system and promoted social equality.
  • Periyar: An Indian social activist and politician known for his anti-caste movements in Tamil Nadu.

The correct answer is 1930.

Key Points

• The Kalaram Temple entry movement was organised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the year 1930.
• This movement was a significant part of the Dalit movement in India, aiming to secure the rights and equality of the untouchables.
• The main objective of this movement was to allow Dalits entry into the Kalaram Temple at Nasik, Maharashtra, which was traditionally forbidden.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent social reformer and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, led this movement.
• The movement was part of a broader struggle against caste-based discrimination and aimed at the social and religious equality of Dalits.

 Additional Information

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
  • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a jurist, economist, and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination towards Dalits.
  • He played a vital role in drafting the Constitution of India and was the first Law Minister of Independent India.
  • He converted to Buddhism and inspired the modern Buddhist movement in India.

The correct answer is Only a and b

Key Points

• Journals started by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar–
  • Mooknayak (Mute Hero – 1920),
  • Bahishkrut Bharat (India Ostracized – 1927),
  • Janata (Masses – 1930) and
  • Prabudhha Bharat (An Awakened India – 1956).
• Most contemporary writings on Ambedkar and Dalit politics largely ignore the significance of Dalit newspapers and their role in the history of the Dalit movement. 
• In 1920, Ambedkar entered the world of newspapers.
• Mooknayak literally translates to the leader of the voiceless.
• Despite its short life, Mooknayak laid the foundations of assertive and organised Dalit politics.
• Sandesh, Harijan was written by Mahatama Gandhi. Hence the option c is excluded from the above options.

The correct answer is Mahad Satyagraha.

Key Points

• The Mahad Satyagraha was led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1927 in the town of Mahad, Maharashtra.
• The primary aim was to assert the rights of untouchables to access public water resources, specifically the Chavdar Tank.
• This movement marked a significant step in the fight against the caste system and social discrimination in India.
• Dr. Ambedkar and his followers publicly drank water from the Chavdar Tank to symbolize their right to access public resources.
• The Mahad Satyagraha is considered a milestone in the Dalit movement in India, inspiring further actions against social injustice.

Additional Information

• The Chavdar Tank: A public water tank in Mahad, Maharashtra, which became the focal point of the Mahad Satyagraha.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: A prominent social reformer, jurist, and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, who led the Mahad Satyagraha.
• Dalit Movement: A social movement in India that seeks to eliminate the caste-based discrimination faced by Dalits (formerly known as untouchables).
• Satyagraha: A form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance initiated by Mahatma Gandhi, later adopted by various leaders including Dr. Ambedkar.
• Social Reforms: The Mahad Satyagraha was part of broader efforts to secure social justice and equal rights for marginalized communities in India.

The correct answer is 1927.

Key Points

• Dr. Ambedkar start a temple entry movement in 1927.
• It was a movement to allow lower caste people to enter temples.
• Ambedkar led three such movements for temple entry between 1927 and 1935.
• One of them was the Kalaram Temple entry movement initiated under the guidance of Dr B.R. Ambedkar on 2nd March 1930.​

Additional Information

• Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar is known as the father of the Indian constitution.
• Dr. Ambedkar fought to eradicate social evils like untouchability and for the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes throughout his life.

The correct answer is Bhimrao Ambedkar. 

Key Points

• Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an eminent lawyer, economist, and social reformer who fought for the cause of the Dalits for his whole life.
• He was born on 14 April 1891 in the small town of Mhow in the present M.P.
• He is regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution" as he served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly.
• He also served as the Minister of Law and Justice in the first Cabinet (1947-51) of Independent India.
• He was also one of the parties of the famous "Poona Pact" signed between Mahatma Gandhi and him in the year 1932.
• He is also amongst the few persons who attended all the three Round Table Conferences held in the year 1930,1931 and 1932 respectively.
• He died on December 6, 1956, after renouncing Hinduism and converting to Buddhism along with his thousands of followers in Nagpur.

Additional Information

Books Written by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar- 

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Separate electorates for untouchables.

All India Depressed Classes Leaders' Conference

• Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar belonged to the untouchable Mahar caste.
• He tried to integrate untouchables into Indian society in modern ways, not traditional ways.
• His program was based on education and exercise of legal and political rights.
• He started an all-India organization for the rejection of all forms of feudalism imposed upon the Dalits and started mass campaigns to demand separate electorates.
• In the 1920s a major untouchability movement was launched by Ambedkar in Maharashtra. 
• In 1924 Dr. Ambedkar founded the  "Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha" a Depressed Classes Institute in Bombay.
• In 1927 he started "Bahishkrit Bharat" a Marathi fortnightly and established the Samaj Samta Sangh to propagate the gospel of social equality between caste Hindus and untouchables.
• In 1927 he led the Mahad Satyagraha to establish the rights of untouchables to draw water from public wells and tanks.
• He also organized temple entry movements.
• Before the Round Table Conference of 1930-31 Ambedkar emerged as the major leader of the depressed classes and demanded constitutional safeguards for the depressed classes.
• In the All India Depressed Classes Leaders' Conference at Bombay in 1931, he demanded separate electorates for untouchables. Hence option 2 is correct.

Satyashodhak Samaj was a social reform society founded by Jyotiba Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24 September 1873.

• It espoused a mission of education and increased social rights and political access for underprivileged groups, focusing especially on women, Shudras, and Dalits, in Maharashtra.

Important Points

1. In June 1873 Jotirao Phule wrote Gulamgiri, a scathing critique of the Brahmanical texts and the Shetji–Bhatji complex that had enslaved the minds and bodies of Shudras and Ati-Shudras.
2. A few months later, on 24 September, a conference was organised where Phule proposed to form a common platform devoted to the cause of the downtrodden masses.
3. After serious deliberation, the conference culminated to found an organisation that would revolutionise the Maharashtrian society for decades to come—the Satyshodhak Samaj (the Truthseekers’ Society).

Additional Information

• Satnami Andolan was founded by Saint Birbhan at Narnaul, Haryana in 1657.
• The Arya Samaj was established by Dayananda Saraswati in Mumbai on 10 April 1875. It is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief of the Vedas.
• Matua Mahasangha is a religious reformation movement that originated, around 1860 AD with a considerable number of adherents both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal of India.

Hence, Satyashodhak Samaj was founded in Maharashtra to fight against Caste discrimination.

The correct answer is Wahishkrit Samaj.

Key Points

• The Wahishkrit Samaj was published for removing difficulties of the untouchables and placing their grievances before the government.
• The Wahishkrit Hitakarni Sabha was a central institution formed by B.R. Ambedkar for the same purpose.
• B.R. Ambedkar is also known as the 'Father of the Constitution.
• He was the Chairman of the Drafting Commission Commission of the Constituent Assembly.

Important Points

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar adopted various means to safeguard Dalit rights.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar provided certain constitutional provisions to protect the rights of Dalits in social, economic, educational, employment, and political fields, in the form of protective discriminations or preferential treatments or reservation policy.
• Ambedkar launched a movement against Dalit rights Ambedkar launched a movement against Dalit discrimination by creating public opinion through his writing in several periodicals.
• For the defence of Dalit rights, he started five periodicals – Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat, Samta (Equality, 1928), Janata (The People, 1930), and Prabuddha Bharat (Enlightened India, 1956).

Additional Information

• Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born April 14, 1891, Mhow, India and leader of the Dalits (Scheduled Castes; formerly called untouchables) and law minister of the government of India (1947–51).
• In 1935, Ambedkar was appointed principal of the Government Law College, Bombay, a position he held for two years.
• In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party, which contested the 1937 Bombay election to the Central Legislative Assembly.
• On 29 August 1947, he was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee and was appointed by the Assembly to write India's new Constitution.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e C.N. Mudaliar.

• The Justice Movement in Madras Presidency was started by C N Mudaliar, T M Nair and P Tyagaraja to secure jobs and representation for the non-brahmins in the legislature.
• In 1917, Madras Presidency Association was formed which demanded separate representation for the lower castes in the legislature.
• E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker started the Self Respect Movement.
• Aravipuram Movement was launched by Sri Narayana Guru on Shivaratri day of 1888.

The correct answer is Jagjivan Ram. 

Key Points

• Jagjivan Ram, popularly known as Babuji was a national leader, a freedom fighter, a crusader of social justice, a champion of depressed classes. 
• Jagjivan Ram was born in a small village, Chandwa in Shahabad District, now Bhojpur, in Bihar on 5 April 1908 to Shobhi Ram and Vasanti Devi.
• Jagjivan Ram had organized a number of Ravidas Sammelans and had celebrated Guru Ravidas Jayanti in different areas of Calcutta (Kolkata).
• He formed Ravidas Sabha in the year of 1928. 
• In 1934, he founded the Akhil Bhartiya Ravidas Mahasabha in Calcutta and the All India Depressed Classes League.
• Through these Organizations he involved the depressed classes in the freedom struggle.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key PointsDr. B. R. Ambedkar:

• Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a prominent Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician.
• He was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
• His father, Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was a well-read person and follower of Sant Kabir.
• He was the Chairman of Drafting Committee and remembered as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
• In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar became Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.
• He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
• Later in life, He converted to Buddhism. He passed away on December 6, 1956, which is commemorated as Mahaparinirvan Diwas
• Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B R Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.
• He was also awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
• Journals:
  • Mooknayak (1920)
  • Bahishkrit Bharat (1927)
  • Samatha (1929)
  • Janata (1930)
• Organisations:
  • Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
  • Independent Labor Party (1936)
  • Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)

Key Points

• Shahu Maharaj appreciated the work done by Arya Samaj.
• He declared that "I am a member of Arya Samaj".
• He had given Rajaram High School and Rajaram College to Arya Samaj for administrative purposes.
• He had opened the Arya Samaj branch in Kolhapur in 1918.
• He had also made a compulsion of teaching "Satyartha Prakash" in schools.

Additional Information 

• He was born in 1874 in the Ghatge Maratha family, of Kagal village in Kolhapur.
• He worked for the cause of the lower caste subjects in his state.
• Primary education to all regardless of caste and creed was one of his most significant priorities.
• Vedokta Controversy-When Brahmin priests of the royal family refused to perform the rites of non-Brahmins in accordance with the Vedic hymns, he took the daring step of removing the priests and appointing a young Maratha as the religious teacher of the non-Brahmins, with the title of Kshatra Jagadguru (the world teacher of the Kshatriyas).
• The first Kshatra Jagadguru was Sadashiv Patil-Benadikar.
• This was known as the Vedokta controversy.
• He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906.
• He established hostels for different ethnicities and religions, including Panchals, Devadnya, Nabhik, Shimpi, Dhor-Chambhar communities as well as for Muslims, Jains, and Christians.
• Shahu made great efforts to abolish the concept of caste segregation and untouchability.
• He introduced (perhaps the first known) reservation system in government jobs for untouchable castes.
• In Nipani he established "Deccan Rayat Sanstha".
• He legalized widow remarriage in 1917 and made efforts towards stopping child marriage.
• He opened a branch of Satyashodhak Samaj in Kolhapur in 1920.
• In 1920, Shahu introduced a law banning the devadasi Pratha, the practice of offering girls to God.
• He was president of the 13th "All India Kurmi Kshatriya Conference" in Kanpur.
• He has addressed the "Mangaon Conference of Untouchables" where he advised people to accept the leadership of B.R.Ambedkar.
• He was president of "Arya Dharma Parishad" in Bhavnagar Gujrat in 1920.
• The people who helped Shahu Maharaj were Keshavrao Thakare, Bhaskarrao Jadhav, Mukundrao Patil. 
• Cambridge University gave him an "L.L.D Degree".
• Bhai Madhavrao Bagal had said, "He was King but a Democratic King".

The correct answer is Temple entry movement.

Key Points

•  Temple entry movement:-
  • The Temple Entry Movement was a social movement in India that campaigned for the right of all Hindus, regardless of caste, to enter Hindu temples.
  • It was a major part of the Indian independence movement and played a crucial role in the fight against caste discrimination.
  • In 1927, B.R Ambedkar started this movement with Dalits.
  • The movement began in the early 20th century, when a number of social reformers began to challenge the practice of untouchability. 

Additional Information

• Self-Respect Movement:-
  • It was a social movement in South India that began in the early 20th century.
  • It was founded by E.V. Ramasamy
  • It aimed to achieve a society in which oppressed castes have equal human rights, and encouraging backward castes to have self-respect in the context of a caste-based society that considered them to be a lower end of the hierarchy.
• Equal Pay Movement:-
  • It is a social movement that campaigns for equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
  • The movement has a long history, dating back to the early 19th century, but it gained momentum in the mid-20th century with the rise of the women's rights movement.
• Indian independence movement:-
  • It was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India.
  • It lasted from the mid-19th century to 1947, when India gained independence.