Question map
Who among the following founded the Rajahmundri Social Reform Association in 1878 in support of widow remarriage?
Explanation
Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, often referred to as the 'Raja Rammohan Roy of Andhra', founded the Rajahmundry Social Reform Association in 1878 [3]. While the association initially focused on the anti-nautch movement to discourage the hiring of nautch girls, it soon shifted its primary focus toward the cause of widow remarriage [3]. Under the auspices of this association, Veeresalingam organized the first widow remarriage in the region on December 11, 1881 [3]. His efforts were part of a broader movement for women's upliftment in South India, paralleling the work of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Bengal and Vishnu Shastri Pandit in Western India [2]. Veeresalingam's dedication to social reform, including his fight against child marriage and his establishment of schools for girls, earned him the title 'Rao Bahadur' in 1893.
Sources
- [3] https://rmc.ap.gov.in/about/prominent_people_in_rajahmundry
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Direction of Social Reform > p. 197
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Steps taken to Ameliorate Women's Position > p. 196