During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?(2012)
a) Different social reform groups or organizations 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.
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
c) Behramji Malabari and MG Ranade decided to bring together all the social reform groups of the country under one organization
d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
ANswer: B
- The National Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao.
- It was virtually the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress. Its first session was held in Madras in December 1887.
- The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of the Indian National Congress, at the same venue, and focused attention on social reform.
- The Conference advocated intercaste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy.
- It launched the famous “Pledge Movement” to inspire people to take an oath to prohibit child marriage.
