State the main concerns of 19th Century’s social reformers.

The main concerns of the 19th Century’s social reformers were as follows:

• Their main concern was to make changes in the social practices that discriminated women and ‘lower’ castes.

• They wanted to make important changes in the four processes namely, Sanskritisation, Modernisation, Secularisation and Westernisation.

NOTE – Sanskritisation - It is a process by which ‘low’ caste or tribe or other group acquire the customs, ritual, beliefs, ideology and style of life of a high. They also called as ‘twice-born (dwija) caste’.

Modernisation – Modernisation refers to the development in technology and production processes. Everyone wants to be modern and wanted to follow positive and desirable values.

Secularisation – It is a process that refuses to get influenced by religion. Levels of involvement with religious organisations, the social and material influence of religious organisations and the extent to which people hold religious beliefs are some of the signs of Secularisation.

Westernisation - It is the changes that happened in Indian society during and due to the rule of British. Their rule in India bought Westernisation in different fields such as in the field of technology, institutions, ideology and the values we follow.