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Q80 (IAS/2018) History & Culture › Modern India (Pre-1857) › Socio-religious reform movements Official Key

Which among the following events happened earliest ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

Neel Darpan was written[1] in 1860, making it the earliest event among the given options. The Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati[2], while Anandamath was published in 1882[3]. Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service in 1863[4].

Therefore, the chronological order of these events is: Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan (1860), followed by Satyendranath Tagore's ICS success (1863), then the establishment of Arya Samaj (1875), and finally the publication of Anandamath (1882). Option B represents the earliest event among all four choices.

Sources
  1. [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 11: Economic Impact of the British Rule > DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN INDUSTRIES > p. 192
  2. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Swami Dayanand and Arya Samaj > p. 219
  3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Creative Literature > p. 10
  4. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Indian Civil Service Act, 1861 > p. 515
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Q. Which among the following events happened earliest ? [A] Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj. [B] Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan. …
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a high-fairness question rewarding standard book reading (Spectrum/NCERT). It tests the 'Intellectual & Cultural History' timeline (1860–1885) rather than just political events. If you skipped the specific publication years in the 'Press & Literature' or 'Social Reform' chapters, you lost easy marks.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In Indian history, in which year did Swami Dayanand Saraswati establish the Arya Samaj?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Swami Dayanand and Arya Samaj > p. 219
Presence: 5/5
“The Arya Samaj undertook the task of reforming Hindu religion in North India. It was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Dayanand (1824 - 1883). Swami Dayanand believed that selfish and ignorant priests had perverted Hindu religion with the aid of the Puranas which he said were full of false teachings. For his own inspiration, Swami Dayanand went to Vedas, the. Which he regarded as infallible. Being the inspired word of God, and as the fount of all knowledge. He rejected all later religious thought if it conflicted with the Vedas. This total dependence on the Vedas and their infallibility gave his teachings an orthodox. colouring, for infallibility meant that human reason was not to be the final deciding factor.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states: 'It was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.'
  • Provides contextual detail about Dayanand (dates) confirming identity of founder.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 220
Presence: 5/5
“The Arya Samaj Movement, revivalist in form though not in content, was the result of a reaction to Western influences. Its founder, Dayananda Saraswati or Mulshankar (1824-1883) was born in the old Morvi state in Gujarat in a brahmin family. He wandered as an ascetic for fifteen years (1845-60) in search of truth. The first Arya Samaj unit was formally set up by him at Bombay in 1875 and later the headquarters of the Samaj were established at Lahore. Dayananda's views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash (The True Exposition). His vision of India”
Why this source?
  • Specifies the first Arya Samaj unit was 'formally set up ... at Bombay in 1875'.
  • Matches and corroborates the founding year given in other snippets.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Arya Samaj (1875) > p. 300
Presence: 5/5
“The founder of the Arya Samaj was Dayananda Saraswati (1824-83). Dayananda, a Gujarati, left home in his youth to become an ascetic. For seventeen years he wandered around India. In 1863 he became a wandering 300 Towards Modernity”
Why this source?
  • Chapter heading/entry labels the movement as 'Arya Samaj (1875)', directly giving the year.
  • Reinforces the chronological attribution across sources.
Statement 2
In Indian history, in which year was the play Neel Darpan (Neeldarpan) by Dinabandhu Mitra written or first published?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 11: Economic Impact of the British Rule > DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN INDUSTRIES > p. 192
Presence: 5/5
“Neel Darpan in 1860. The invention of a synthetic dye gave a big blow to the indigo industry and it gradually declined. The tea industry developed in Assam, Bengal, Southern India, and the hills of Himachal Pradesh after 1850. Being foreign-owned, it was helped by the Government with grants of rent-free land and other facilities. In time use of tea spread all over India: and it also became an important item of export. Coffee plantations developed during this period in South India. The plantation and other foreign-owned industries were hardly of much advantage to the Indian people. Their salary profits went out of the country.”
Why this source?
  • Snippet explicitly states the play with a year: 'Neel Darpan in 1860.'
  • Context in the same snippet links the play to the indigo industry crisis, corroborating its topical relevance to that period.
Statement 3
In Indian history, in which year was the novel Anandamath by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay written or first published?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Creative Literature > p. 10
Presence: 5/5
“The most significant outcome of the Indo-European contact was the literary genre of the novel which emerged in the latter half of the 19th century. The first important writer of that period was the Bengali novelist, Bankim Chandra Chatterji (1838-94). His novels are mostly historical, the best known among them being Anandamath (1882), noted for its powerful lyric 'Vandemataram' and depiction of the Sanyasi Revolt (1760s). His last novel Rajasimha can be called the grand finale to his remarkable career. Icharam Suryaram Desai (1853-1912) was a fine scholar of medieval Gujarati literary history. His first novel Hind ane Britannia was one of the earliest Indian novels with political overtones.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names Anandamath and gives the year: 'Anandamath (1882)'.
  • Attributes the novel to Bankim Chandra Chatterji, linking author and date directly.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > The 'Sannyasi-Fakir rebellion' > p. 106
Presence: 5/5
“traditionally travelled freely for pilgrimage and charity, found their movements restricted by the British East India Company policies, especially by the new land and taxation policies. The precise motivations of the sannyasis and fakirs have been debated, but over the next three decades they attacked British treasuries and tax collectors. The British called them 'bandits', executed some of them and used their superior forces to eventually defeat them. This rebellion later inspired the Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Anandamath (1882); it contained the song 'Vande Mātaram', which would inspire Indians during the struggle for freedom in the early 20th century and, after Independence, became India's national song.”
Why this source?
  • States that the Sannyasi rebellion inspired Bankim Chandra's novel and gives the year: 'Anandamath (1882)'.
  • Connects the novel to the famous song 'Vande Mātaram', reinforcing identification of the work and its date.
Statement 4
In Indian history, in which year did Satyendranath Tagore become the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Service examination?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Indian Civil Service Act, 1861 > p. 515
Presence: 5/5
“maximum permissible age was gradually reduced from 23 (in 1859) to 22 (in 1860) to 21 (in 1866) and to 19 (1878). In 1863, Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service in 1863.
  • Provides a direct year linked to the individual's achievement, matching the question's focus.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Evaluation of Civil Services under British Rule > p. 516
Presence: 4/5
“Just as Indians were systematically excluded from law and policy-making bodies, they were mostly kept out of the institutions responsible for policy implementation. European supremacy was assured in the civil service as in other spheres of governance. This was done in mainly two ways. Firstly, although Indians had begun to enter the coveted ranks of the Indian Civil Services (ICS) ever since 1863, entering the civil services was still extremely difficult for the Indians. The entrance examination for the ICS was held”
Why this source?
  • Corroborates the date by noting that Indians began to enter the ICS 'ever since 1863', supporting 1863 as the relevant year.
  • Places the 1863 entry in broader context of Indian participation in the service.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC breaks chapter boundaries in chronology questions. They mixed a Reform Movement (Arya Samaj), a Play (Neeldarpan), a Novel (Anandmath), and a Bureaucratic Achievement (ICS). Your revision notes must integrate these distinct themes into a single chronological flow.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hits from Spectrum (Chapters on Socio-Religious Reform & Press) and Old NCERT. No obscure sources used.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Pre-Congress Phase' (1858–1885) focusing on the rise of national consciousness through literature, reform, and administrative participation.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize this specific 1860–1885 Intellectual Timeline: Indigo Revolt (1859) → Neeldarpan (1860) → Satyendranath Tagore ICS (1863) → Prarthana Samaj (1867) → Gulamgiri (1873) → Arya Samaj (1875) → Vernacular Press Act (1878) → Anandmath (1882).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not study history in silos (e.g., only Viceroys or only Battles). You must create a 'Master Chronology' that interleaves Books, Organizations, and Administrative Firsts. UPSC loves asking 'Who came first?' by mixing these distinct categories.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Founding year of Arya Samaj (1875)
💡 The insight

Multiple references explicitly associate the Arya Samaj with the year 1875, directly answering the statement.

High-yield factual date for chronology questions on socio-religious reform movements; helps place Arya Samaj relative to other movements (e.g., Brahmo Samaj 1828, Prarthana Samaj 1867). Useful for timeline-based comparative questions and quick fact recall.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Swami Dayanand and Arya Samaj > p. 219
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 220
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Arya Samaj (1875) > p. 300
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year did Swami Dayanand Saraswati establish the Arya..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Dayananda's Vedic revivalism and reform agenda
💡 The insight

References note Dayanand's reliance on the Vedas and his reform initiatives, explaining the ideological basis for founding Arya Samaj.

Important for analytical questions asking why the movement arose and its ideological distinctives; links to topics on religious reform, social change and critique of traditional authorities. Prepares aspirants for source-based and essay questions comparing reformers' ideas.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Swami Dayanand and Arya Samaj > p. 219
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Arya Samaj (1875) > p. 301
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 222
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year did Swami Dayanand Saraswati establish the Arya..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Organizational spread and institutional legacy
💡 The insight

Evidence mentions the first unit in Bombay, headquarters at Lahore, Gurukul institutions and DAV schools tied to Arya Samaj's work.

Helps answer questions on impact and legacy of reform movements (education, institutions, regional spread). Links to themes in social history and institutional continuity—useful for mains answers and structured comparisons.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 220
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 223
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Arya Samaj (1875) > p. 301
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year did Swami Dayanand Saraswati establish the Arya..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Neel Darpan (1860) as a literary protest
💡 The insight

The reference names Neel Darpan and gives the year 1860, connecting the play to contemporary agrarian/plantation issues.

High-yield for UPSC: helps answer questions on cultural responses to colonial economic policies and situates literary sources as evidence of agrarian distress. Links literature to socio-economic history and enables source-based explanation of protest literature.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 11: Economic Impact of the British Rule > DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN INDUSTRIES > p. 192
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year was the play Neel Darpan (Neeldarpan) by Dinaba..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Print culture and dissemination of colonial critique
💡 The insight

Other references discuss the rise of print (newspapers/journals) in India, showing the medium through which plays and critiques reached public audiences.

Important for UPSC because questions often ask how print media shaped public opinion and nationalist consciousness; mastering this helps link cultural history with political mobilization and source analysis.

📚 Reading List :
  • India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > 6.2 Print Comes to India > p. 120
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Newspapers and Journals > p. 8
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year was the play Neel Darpan (Neeldarpan) by Dinaba..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Impact of synthetic dyes on the indigo industry
💡 The insight

The same reference pairs the 1860 play reference with the decline of indigo after synthetic dyes were invented.

Useful for economic-history questions on colonial-era deindustrialization and agrarian change; connects technological change, colonial commercial policies, and social unrest (which literature like Neel Darpan reflected).

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 11: Economic Impact of the British Rule > DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN INDUSTRIES > p. 192
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year was the play Neel Darpan (Neeldarpan) by Dinaba..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Anandamath (1882) — publication date and identification
💡 The insight

Both references [1] and [8] explicitly identify Anandamath and give 1882 as its year, directly answering the statement's query.

Knowing the publication year of landmark nationalist literature is high-yield for chronology questions; it helps place literary developments within the broader timeline of Indian nationalism and links to related events and movements in exam answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Creative Literature > p. 10
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > The 'Sannyasi-Fakir rebellion' > p. 106
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, in which year was the novel Anandamath by Bankim Chandra Chat..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Jyotiba Phule's 'Gulamgiri' (1873). It sits right in the middle of this timeline (between Neeldarpan and Arya Samaj) and is a high-probability candidate for future chronology questions.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use 'Post-1857 Logic'. The Indigo Revolt (subject of Neeldarpan) was the immediate agrarian aftershock of the 1857 Mutiny, placing it very early (1859-60). Arya Samaj and Anandmath represent a more mature, organized phase of nationalism (Revivalism) which logically appeared later (1870s/80s).

🔗 Mains Connection

Link 'Neeldarpan' to GS-2 (Role of Civil Society/NGOs) and GS-4 (Conscience). It is a prime example of how 'Soft Power' (literature/drama) can force 'Hard State Action' (The Indigo Commission), serving as a case study for intellectual protest.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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With reference to Indian freedom struggle which one among the following events occurred earliest ?

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With reference to the Indian Freedom Struggle, which one of the following events occurred earliest ?

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Consider the following events: 1. Foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission 2. Foundation of the Arya Samaj 3. Foundation of the Brahmo Samaj 4. Foundation of the Paramhan Mandali Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the above?

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Consider the following statements I. Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875. II. The Arya Samaj repudiated the authority of the caste system. III. Dayanand Saraswati was born in the Brahman family. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Consider the following events in the history of India : 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman - I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka - I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time ?