Consider the following statements about the condition of widows in the 18th century India :
1. Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber promoted widow remarriage.
2. Maratha General Parshuram Bhau promoted widow remarriage.
3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed Sati.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) 1, 2, and 3.
Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber promoted widow remarriage: This is correct. Raja Sawai Jai Singh II was a progressive ruler who made attempts to improve the social conditions of women, including promoting widow remarriage in the 18th century. His efforts, though met with resistance, indicate his forward-thinking approach to societal reforms.
Maratha General Parshuram Bhau promoted widow remarriage: This is also correct. Although his primary fame comes from his military contributions, there is historical evidence that Maratha leaders, including Parshuram Bhau, supported reforms that included advocating for widow remarriage, aligning with the broader progressive Maratha policies during that period.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed Sati: This is correct. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is widely known for his active campaign against the practice of Sati. His efforts were instrumental in the abolition of Sati through the Sati Regulation Act of 1829, a landmark social reform.
Thus, all the statements are accurate, and the correct answer is (d) 1, 2, and 3.
Information Booster:
● Raja Sawai Jai Singh:
He founded the city of Jaipur and built several astronomical observatories, known as Jantar Mantars, in cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.
Jai Singh was a scholar and astronomer who translated works of Ptolemy and other astronomical texts into Sanskrit.
He reformed the calendar system and worked on improving astronomical measurements and tools for more accurate calculations.
Parshuram Bhau:
A key figure in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), Parshuram Bhau was instrumental in the Maratha military campaigns.
His support for widow remarriage highlights the progressive mindset within certain factions of the Maratha leadership, indicating a push for social reforms.
The Maratha Empire, under leaders like him, showed an openness to adapting and challenging societal norms, which was not common across all regions in India at that time.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
Often called the "Father of Modern India," he founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828, a movement aimed at reforming Hindu society by rejecting idolatry and promoting monotheism.
Apart from fighting against Sati, he also advocated for education reform, promoting the learning of English and Western sciences, which he believed were essential for India’s progress.
He opposed the caste system, superstitions, and other regressive practices, and campaigned for women's inheritance rights and equal treatment.
The Sati Practice:
Despite Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s efforts, the abolition of Sati faced opposition from traditionalist factions who saw it as a religious duty.
The Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, enforced by Lord William Bentinck, was a turning point influenced by the activism of Roy.
The abolition of Sati paved the way for other social reforms in India, highlighting the impact of combining grassroots activism with legislative action.
Widow Remarriage and Social Reform:
The Widow Remarriage Act of 1856, later introduced by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, built upon earlier efforts to address the plight of widows in India.
Reformers like Vidyasagar were inspired by the pioneering work of earlier activists like Raja Ram Mohan Roy in challenging oppressive practices against women.
Despite legislative support, widow remarriage remained a controversial and slow-moving practice due to the deeply ingrained social and cultural opposition.