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Q6 (IAS/2021) History & Culture › Modern India (Pre-1857) › Colonial education policy Official Key

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The Hindu Female School was established in 1849 by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to promote women's education in India. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a titan of the Bengal Renaissance, served as its first Secretary. His tireless efforts in managing the school’s administration and convincing conservative families to educate their daughters were instrumental in its success. In 1856, the institution was renamed Bethune Female School.

  • Annie Besant: Associated with the Theosophical Society and Central Hindu College, not the founding of Bethune School.
  • Debendranath Tagore: A leader of the Brahmo Samaj; though he supported social reforms, he was not the Secretary of this specific institution.
  • Sarojini Naidu: A prominent leader of the 20th-century freedom struggle, active much later than the school's establishment.

Vidyasagar’s association remains a landmark in the history of female education in India.

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Q. Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School? [A] …
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 0/10
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This is a textbook 'Sitter' directly from Spectrum and Old NCERT Bipin Chandra. It rewards specific attention to the 'official titles' held by reformers, not just their general causes. If you missed this, you are reading the 'Social Reform' chapters too passively.

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
Was Annie Besant associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known as Bethune Female School)?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
Strength: 5/5
“In 1850, Vidyasagar protested against child-marriage. All his life he campaigned against polygamy. He was also deeply interested in the education of women. As a Government Inspector of Schools, he organised thirty-five girls' schools, many of which he ran at his own expense. As Secretary to the Bethune School, he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women. The Bethune School, founded in Calcutta in 1849, was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840's and 1850's. While the education of women was not unknown in India, a great deal of prejudice against it existed.”
Why relevant

States that Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was 'Secretary to the Bethune School', giving a named historical office-holder for that school.

How to extend

A student could use this to check lists of Bethune School secretaries or timelines to see if Besant appears (if she does not, that counts against the claim).

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
Strength: 5/5
“Vidyasagar started a movement in support of widow remarriage which resulted in legalisation of widow remarriage. He was also a crusader against child marriage and polygamy. He did much for the cause of women's education. As government inspector of schools, he helped organise thirtyfive girls' schools many of which he ran at his own expense. As secretary of Bethune School (established in 1849), he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women in India.”
Why relevant

Also identifies Vidyasagar explicitly as 'secretary of Bethune School', reinforcing that Vidyasagar — not Besant — is recorded in that role in standard accounts.

How to extend

Compare Vidyasagar's documented dates in office with Besant's lifetime and activities to assess plausibility of Besant having held the same post.

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
Strength: 4/5
“Education of Women The Christian missionaries were the first to set up the Calcutta Female Juvenile Society in 1819. The Bethune School, founded by J.E.D. Bethune, president of the Council of Education in Calcutta in 1849 was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840s and 1850s. Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was associated with no less than 35 girls' schools in Bengal and is considered one of the pioneers of women's education. Charles Wood's Despatch on Education (1854) laid great stress on the need for female education. In 1914, the Women's Medical Service did a lot of work in training nurses and mid-wives.”
Why relevant

Gives the founding date and early-movement context for the Bethune School (1849), establishing its mid‑19th century origins.

How to extend

Use the 1849 founding date against Besant's arrival in India (see other snippets) to judge whether she could plausibly have been an early secretary.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Developments > p. 566
Strength: 4/5
“In 1857, universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were set up and later, departments of education were set up in all provinces. The Bethune School founded by J.E.D. Bethune at Calcutta (1849) was the first fruit of a powerful movement for education of women which arose in 1840s and 1850s. Bethune was the president of the Council of Education. Mostly due to Bethune's efforts, girls' schools were set up on a sound footing and brought under government's grantsin-aid and inspection system. An Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) and an Engineering Institute at Roorkee were started. The ideals and methods of Wood's Despatch dominated the field for five decades which saw rapid westernisation of education system in India, with educational institutions run by European headmasters and principals.”
Why relevant

Repeatedly notes Bethune School was founded in 1849 and placed on a formal footing by Bethune, indicating the school's key administrative period was mid‑19th century.

How to extend

A student could combine this with Besant's known activities/arrival date to infer temporal (im)probability of her serving as secretary at that time.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > 3.1 All India Home Rule League > p. 32
Strength: 4/5
“We may recall that many foreigners such as A. O. Hume had played a pivotal role in our freedom movement in the early stages. Dr Annie Besant played a similar role in the early part of the twentieth century. Besant was Irish by birth and had been active in the Irish home rule, Fabian socialist and birth control movements while in Britain. She joined the Theosophical Society, and came to India in 1893. She founded the Central Hindu College in Benaras (later upgraded as Benaras Hindu University by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916). With the death of H. S.”
Why relevant

Records that Annie Besant came to India in 1893 and founded the Central Hindu College (1898), showing her major educational work in India occurred late in the 19th century.

How to extend

Compare Besant's India arrival and institutional involvement dates with the Bethune School's mid‑19th history to evaluate whether she likely held a mid‑19th post such as secretary.

Statement 2
Was Debendranath Tagore associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known as Bethune Female School)?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
Strength: 5/5
“In 1850, Vidyasagar protested against child-marriage. All his life he campaigned against polygamy. He was also deeply interested in the education of women. As a Government Inspector of Schools, he organised thirty-five girls' schools, many of which he ran at his own expense. As Secretary to the Bethune School, he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women. The Bethune School, founded in Calcutta in 1849, was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840's and 1850's. While the education of women was not unknown in India, a great deal of prejudice against it existed.”
Why relevant

Explicit example: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is named as 'Secretary to the Bethune School', showing that leading social reformers served as school secretaries.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern — that prominent reformers often held secretary roles at women's schools — and check contemporary lists of officials to see if Debendranath held such a post.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
Strength: 4/5
“Vidyasagar started a movement in support of widow remarriage which resulted in legalisation of widow remarriage. He was also a crusader against child marriage and polygamy. He did much for the cause of women's education. As government inspector of schools, he helped organise thirtyfive girls' schools many of which he ran at his own expense. As secretary of Bethune School (established in 1849), he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women in India.”
Why relevant

Reiterates Vidyasagar's role as secretary of Bethune School, reinforcing that the office of 'secretary' at Bethune was typically held by reform-minded individuals.

How to extend

Compare names of known reform leaders (like Debendranath) active in Calcutta in that period against records of school officers to assess plausibility.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Developments > p. 566
Strength: 4/5
“In 1857, universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were set up and later, departments of education were set up in all provinces. The Bethune School founded by J.E.D. Bethune at Calcutta (1849) was the first fruit of a powerful movement for education of women which arose in 1840s and 1850s. Bethune was the president of the Council of Education. Mostly due to Bethune's efforts, girls' schools were set up on a sound footing and brought under government's grantsin-aid and inspection system. An Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) and an Engineering Institute at Roorkee were started. The ideals and methods of Wood's Despatch dominated the field for five decades which saw rapid westernisation of education system in India, with educational institutions run by European headmasters and principals.”
Why relevant

States that the Bethune School was founded by J.E.D. Bethune and that Bethune was president of the Council of Education, highlighting that its leadership included named, documented figures.

How to extend

Use the fact that founders/presidents are documented to motivate checking similar documentary sources (minutes, registers) for who served as secretary, to confirm or refute Debendranath's association.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Socio-Cultural Reform Movements and their Leaders > p. 211
Strength: 3/5
“of India in 1866, while Debendranath Tagore's Samaj came to be known as the Adi Brahmo Samaj. In 1878, Keshab's inexplicable act of getting his thirteen-year-old daughter married to the minor Hindu Maharaja of Cooch-Behar with all the orthodox Hindu rituals caused another split in Keshab's Brahmo Samaj of India. Earlier, Keshab had begun to be considered as an incarnation by some of his followers, much to the dislike of his progressive followers. Further, Keshab had begun to be accused of authoritarianism. After 1878, the disgusted followers of Keshab set up a new organisation, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was started by Ananda Mohan Bose, Shibchandra Deb and Umesh Chandra Datta.”
Why relevant

Identifies Debendranath Tagore as leader of the Adi Brahmo Samaj, showing he was an active social-religious reformer in the same milieu where women's education initiatives arose.

How to extend

Given his reformist role and geographic/cultural proximity, a student could plausibly look for crossover involvement (educational institutions) in period records linking Brahmo leaders to school posts.

Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > EXERCISES > p. 132
Strength: 3/5
“• 1. Bring out the contribution of Raja Rammohun Roy to the social and cultural awakening in the 19th century. • 2. In what ways did Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar contribute to the making of modern India? • 3. Write short notes on: \overline{1} (a) Henry Vivian Derozio (b) Young Bengal, (c) Debendranath Tagore; (d) The Bethune School, (e) Religious reform in Western India”
Why relevant

An exercise groups 'Debendranath Tagore' and 'The Bethune School' as related study topics, implying a topical association or contemporaneous relevance between the person and the institution in textbook treatment.

How to extend

A student can take this implied topical link as a cue to search primary sources or authoritative biographies for any administrative ties (e.g., secretary) between Debendranath and the school.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement 3
Was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known as Bethune Female School)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
Presence: 5/5
“In 1850, Vidyasagar protested against child-marriage. All his life he campaigned against polygamy. He was also deeply interested in the education of women. As a Government Inspector of Schools, he organised thirty-five girls' schools, many of which he ran at his own expense. As Secretary to the Bethune School, he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women. The Bethune School, founded in Calcutta in 1849, was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840's and 1850's. While the education of women was not unknown in India, a great deal of prejudice against it existed.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names Vidyasagar as 'Secretary to the Bethune School'.
  • Links his secretaryship to pioneering higher education for women, directly answering the role question.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
Presence: 5/5
“Vidyasagar started a movement in support of widow remarriage which resulted in legalisation of widow remarriage. He was also a crusader against child marriage and polygamy. He did much for the cause of women's education. As government inspector of schools, he helped organise thirtyfive girls' schools many of which he ran at his own expense. As secretary of Bethune School (established in 1849), he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women in India.”
Why this source?
  • Repeats that he served 'as secretary of Bethune School (established in 1849)'.
  • Connects this secretaryship to his broader work for women's education, reinforcing the claim.
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
Presence: 4/5
“Education of Women The Christian missionaries were the first to set up the Calcutta Female Juvenile Society in 1819. The Bethune School, founded by J.E.D. Bethune, president of the Council of Education in Calcutta in 1849 was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840s and 1850s. Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was associated with no less than 35 girls' schools in Bengal and is considered one of the pioneers of women's education. Charles Wood's Despatch on Education (1854) laid great stress on the need for female education. In 1914, the Women's Medical Service did a lot of work in training nurses and mid-wives.”
Why this source?
  • States Vidyasagar was associated with many girls' schools and was a pioneer of women's education, providing corroborating context for his involvement with Bethune School.
  • Identifies Bethune School as central to the women's education movement, supporting the institutional link.
Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement 4
Was Sarojini Naidu associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known as Bethune Female School)?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
Strength: 5/5
“In 1850, Vidyasagar protested against child-marriage. All his life he campaigned against polygamy. He was also deeply interested in the education of women. As a Government Inspector of Schools, he organised thirty-five girls' schools, many of which he ran at his own expense. As Secretary to the Bethune School, he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women. The Bethune School, founded in Calcutta in 1849, was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840's and 1850's. While the education of women was not unknown in India, a great deal of prejudice against it existed.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states that Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar served as Secretary to the Bethune School, showing that the school had identified secretaries recorded in histories.

How to extend

A student could check lists of named secretaries or administrative records (or authoritative biographies) to see if Sarojini Naidu appears among them.

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
Strength: 4/5
“Education of Women The Christian missionaries were the first to set up the Calcutta Female Juvenile Society in 1819. The Bethune School, founded by J.E.D. Bethune, president of the Council of Education in Calcutta in 1849 was the first fruit of the powerful movement for women's education that arose in the 1840s and 1850s. Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was associated with no less than 35 girls' schools in Bengal and is considered one of the pioneers of women's education. Charles Wood's Despatch on Education (1854) laid great stress on the need for female education. In 1914, the Women's Medical Service did a lot of work in training nurses and mid-wives.”
Why relevant

Gives the founding identity of the Bethune School (founded by J.E.D. Bethune) and presents it as a 19th‑century institution with documented leadership.

How to extend

Use the school's founding date as a temporal anchor and compare with Sarojini Naidu’s active years (from standard biographical sources) to judge plausibility of her serving as its secretary.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Developments > p. 566
Strength: 4/5
“In 1857, universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were set up and later, departments of education were set up in all provinces. The Bethune School founded by J.E.D. Bethune at Calcutta (1849) was the first fruit of a powerful movement for education of women which arose in 1840s and 1850s. Bethune was the president of the Council of Education. Mostly due to Bethune's efforts, girls' schools were set up on a sound footing and brought under government's grantsin-aid and inspection system. An Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) and an Engineering Institute at Roorkee were started. The ideals and methods of Wood's Despatch dominated the field for five decades which saw rapid westernisation of education system in India, with educational institutions run by European headmasters and principals.”
Why relevant

Reinforces the Bethune School’s early origin (1849) and that it was placed under governmental systems, implying formal administrative roles like 'Secretary' would have been notable and recorded.

How to extend

Search institutional records or histories of Bethune School/College for named officeholders across periods to confirm or refute Naidu’s association.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Direction of Social Reform > p. 198
Strength: 3/5
“Health facilities began to be provided to women with the opening of Dufferin Hospitals in the 1880s. Participation in the swadeshi and anti-partition and the Home Rule movements during the opening decades of the twentieth century was a major liberating experience for the otherwise home-centred Indian women. After 1918, they faced lathis and bullets and were jailed during political processions, picketing, etc. They actively participated in trade union and kisan movements, or revolutionary movements. They voted in, stood for and got elected to various legislatures and local bodies. Sarojini Naidu went on to become the president of the Indian National Congress (1925) and later the governor of the United Provinces (1947-49).”
Why relevant

Notes Sarojini Naidu’s prominent public roles (president of the INC and later governor), indicating she was an active public figure involved in organizational leadership.

How to extend

Combine this with external biographical timelines to assess whether and when she might plausibly have held a school secretary post, then consult specific school or biographical records.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Direction of Social Reform > p. 199
Strength: 3/5
“Its first conference was held at Ferguson College, Pune. Important founding members included Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad, Rani Sahiba of Sangli, Sarojini Naidu, Kamla Devi Chattopadhyaya and Lady Dorab Tata. Its objectives were to work for a society based on principles of social justice, integrity, equal rights and opportunities; and to secure for every human being, the essentials of life, not determined by accident of birth or sex but by planned social distribution.”
Why relevant

Lists Sarojini Naidu among important founding members of a women's organization, showing her engagement in women's social causes and organizations.

How to extend

Use this pattern of organizational involvement to motivate checking membership/office records of women's educational institutions like the Bethune School for her name.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Designations' and 'Founding Roles' in Modern History. They often swap the 'Founder' with the 'Secretary' or 'President' to trap superficial readers. Chronology is your primary defense against distractors.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Verbatim match in Spectrum (Ch: Socio-Cultural Reform Movements) and Old NCERT (Ch: Social and Cultural Awakening).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: 19th Century Social Reform > Women's Education > Institutional Builders in Bengal.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Bethune School (1849) -> Founder: J.E.D. Bethune (Law Member) -> Secretary: Vidyasagar (1850) -> Land Donor: Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee -> First books written by: Madan Mohan Tarkalankar. Contrast with: Sanskrit College (Vidyasagar was Principal, 1851).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying personalities, create a 'Role/Designation' column. Don't just memorize 'Vidyasagar = Widow Remarriage'. Memorize 'Vidyasagar = Secretary, Bethune School; Principal, Sanskrit College; Inspector of Schools'.
How to study

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Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Bethune School as a foundational girls' school (1849)
💡 The insight

The question names the Bethune/Hindu Female School; understanding its founding and status clarifies which persons could have been its officers.

High-yield for social-reform and education questions: knowing key institutions (founding date, founder, role) helps attribute actions correctly and eliminate incorrect person–institution links. Connects to broader themes of 19th-century social reform and the origins of women's education in Bengal.

📚 Reading List :
  • 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
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Developments > p. 566
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 214
🔗 Anchor: "Was Annie Besant associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's role in women's education
💡 The insight

Vidyasagar is specifically identified with organising girls' schools and as Secretary of the Bethune School, directly relevant to claims about who held that office.

Essential for questions on social reform leadership: mastering Vidyasagar's institutional roles prevents misattribution to later reformers. Links to topics on widow remarriage, anti–child marriage campaigns, and government educational administration.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 214
🔗 Anchor: "Was Annie Besant associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Annie Besant's activities in India (Theosophy, Central Hindu College, Home Rule)
💡 The insight

The claimant names Annie Besant; knowing her documented Indian roles helps assess plausibility of an earlier-school secretaryship claim.

Important for modern India/personality questions: distinguishing Besant's actual contributions (Theosophical leadership, Central Hindu College, Home Rule League) from unrelated institutional offices avoids factual errors. Links to the study of political mobilisation and socio-cultural influence of foreign-born activists.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement > 3.1 All India Home Rule League > p. 32
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > The Theosophical Movement > p. 234
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 14: First World War and Nationalist Response > Besant's League > p. 297
🔗 Anchor: "Was Annie Besant associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later known..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and women's education
💡 The insight

Vidyasagar organised and ran dozens of girls' schools and served as secretary of the Bethune School.

High-yield: Vidyasagar is a central figure in 19th-century social reform questions on women's education and social legislation (widow remarriage, child marriage). Mastering his role helps answer questions on reformist leadership, institutional development, and links between education and social change.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
🔗 Anchor: "Was Debendranath Tagore associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (late..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Bethune School as a pioneering institution for women's education
💡 The insight

The Bethune School (founded 1849) is repeatedly described as the first significant outcome of the women's education movement in Calcutta.

High-yield: Knowing the founding, significance, and timeline of Bethune School helps tackle questions on educational reforms, role of councils and individuals (e.g., J.E.D. Bethune), and connections to Wood's Despatch and grant-in-aid policies.

📚 Reading List :
  • 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
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Developments > p. 566
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
🔗 Anchor: "Was Debendranath Tagore associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (late..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Debendranath Tagore and the Adi Brahmo Samaj
💡 The insight

Debendranath Tagore led the Adi Brahmo Samaj, placing him among key socio-religious reformers of the period.

High-yield: Understanding Debendranath's leadership of the Adi Brahmo Samaj is important for questions on religious reform movements, internal splits in Brahmoism, and the relationships between reformist societies and social change.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Socio-Cultural Reform Movements and their Leaders > p. 211
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > EXERCISES > p. 132
🔗 Anchor: "Was Debendranath Tagore associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (late..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Vidyasagar's leadership in women's education
💡 The insight

Vidyasagar served as secretary of the Bethune School and organised many girls' schools, demonstrating direct leadership in women's education.

High-yield for modern India social reform questions: explains an individual's institutional role and links social reform to educational initiatives; useful for mains answers on agents of change and for source-based questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 7: Social and Cultural Awakening in the First Half of the 19th Century > MODERN INDIA > p. 131
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar > p. 213
  • 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
🔗 Anchor: "Was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar associated as Secretary of the Hindu Female School..."
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🌑 The Hidden Trap

While Vidyasagar was the Secretary, the land for the Hindu Female School was donated by Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee. Also, verify if the question asks about the 'Widow Remarriage Association' (founded by Vishnu Shastri Pandit, 1850s) vs Vidyasagar's individual efforts.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply 'Timeline Triage'. The Bethune School was founded in 1849. Annie Besant arrived in India in 1893. Sarojini Naidu was born in 1879. Both A and D are chronologically impossible for a mid-19th century founding role. This leaves only Tagore (Religious Reformer) vs Vidyasagar (Education Reformer).

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS1 (Society/History): This marks the 'Reform from Above' phase (Men advocating for Women, e.g., Vidyasagar/Bethune). Contrast this with the later 'Reform from Within' phase (Women leading movements, e.g., Pandita Ramabai, Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2006 · Q70 Relevance score: 0.37

During the period of the Indian freedom struggle, who among the following started the Central Hindu School ?

IAS · 2005 · Q24 Relevance score: 0.04

Consider the following statements : 1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Bethune School at Calcutta with the main aim of encouraging education for women. 2. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first graduate of the Calcutta University. 3. Keshav Chandra Sen’s campaign against Sati led to the enactment of a law to ban Sati by the then Governor General. Which of the statements is/are correct?

NDA-II · 2025 · Q80 Relevance score: -0.28

Which one of the following statements about Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is NOT correct ?

NDA-I · 2014 · Q51 Relevance score: -1.12

Who among the following was associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association?

CDS-II · 2014 · Q86 Relevance score: -1.47

Statement I : The Bethune School, founded in Calcutta in 1849 was the first fruit of the powerful move- ment for women’s education that arose in the 1840s and 1850s. Statement I : The first step in giving modem education to girls was undertaken by Vidyasagar in 1800.