FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2024
History: Gender Studies
Section-A
(Answer any twenty questions. Each question carries 1 mark.)
1. State one importance of gender studies.
Gender studies is important because it provides a critical framework to understand how social and cultural norms define what it means to be male or female, helping to challenge inequalities
.
2. Mention one objective of gender studies.
An objective of gender studies is to analyze the power relations between genders and advocate for gender justice and equality
.
3. Name one discipline related to gender studies.
Sociology (or History/Psychology)
.
4. Who wrote the book, The Social Construction of Gender?
Judith Lorber
.
5. State one agent of social construction of gender.
Family (or Education/Media)
.
6. Name one highly educated woman of ancient India.
Gargi (or Maitreyi)
.
7. Name one woman who played a key role in the epic, the Mahabharata.
Draupadi (or Kunti)
.
8. Who was Prabhavatigupta?
Prabhavatigupta was the daughter of Chandragupta II and served as a powerful regent for the Vakataka kingdom
.
9. Name the only female ruler of the Sultanate.
Razia Sultan
.
10. Name a female mathematician of the Mughal age.
Bibi Raji (Note: While few are explicitly named in standard textbooks, some historical records mention women engaged in scholarly pursuits like Gulbadan Begum)
.
11. In which year was the practice of 'Sati' banned?
1829
.
12. When was the Age of Consent Bill passed?
1891
.
13. Name the social reformer who played the key role behind the passing of the Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act of 1856.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
.
14. Name the first woman who courted arrest during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Basanti Devi
.
15. Name the famous female nationalist leader who participated in the Dandi March.
Sarojini Naidu
.
16. Mention the name of one female martyr of Assam in the Quit India Movement.
Kanaklata Barua
.
17. Name one woman revolutionary activist of colonial Bengal.
Pritilata Waddedar (or Bina Das)
.
18. Name the women's regiment of the Indian National Army.
Rani of Jhansi Regiment
.
19. When was the Women's Indian Association formed?
1917
.
20. By whom was the National Council of Women founded?
Mehribai Tata
.
21. Who presided over the first session of All India Women's Conference?
Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad
.
22. When was the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act passed?
2005
.
23. Who was the first President of All India Women's Conference?
Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad
.
24. Name two female Bhakti saints.
- Mirabai
.
- Andal (or Akka Mahadevi)
.
25. What was the other name of the Child Marriage Restraint Act? When was it passed?
It was known as the Sarda Act, passed in 1929
.
Section-B
(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 2 marks.)
26. What is gender studies?
Gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to analyzing gender identity and gendered representation
.
It explores how sex and gender intersect with other social categories like race and class.
27. Who was Rani Durgavati?
Rani Durgavati was the ruling Queen of Gondwana from 1550 until 1564
.
She is celebrated for her fierce defense against the Mughal Empire.
28. Who was Rani Gaidinliu?
Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against British colonial rule in India
.
She was imprisoned for years and became a symbol of Naga resistance.
29. Who was Lakshmi Sahgal?
Lakshmi Sahgal was a revolutionary of the Indian independence movement and a captain in the Indian National Army (INA)
.
She led the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
30. Mention two aims of the Women's Indian Association.
- To secure voting rights for women in India
.
- To promote women's education and social welfare
.
Section-C
(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 8 marks.)
31. Evaluate the position of women in ancient India. [8 Marks]
The position of women in ancient India was complex and varied across different periods
.
- Vedic Period: In the early Vedic age, women like Gargi and Maitreyi enjoyed high status, participated in philosophical debates, and had access to education
.
- Deterioration: In the later Vedic and subsequent periods, women's social standing began to decline with restricted access to property and the restriction of Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) for girls
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- Legal Status: Texts like the Manusmriti emphasized the subordination of women to male kin, though concepts like Stridhana (women's property) existed
.
32. Review the role of women in the Bhakti Movement. [8 Marks]
The Bhakti Movement provided a unique space for women to challenge patriarchal constraints through spiritual devotion
.
- Defiance of Norms: Women saints like Mirabai and Akka Mahadevi broke traditional household roles to pursue an individual relationship with the divine
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- Spiritual Equality: The movement emphasized that devotion was accessible to all, regardless of gender or caste
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- Literary Contribution: These women composed devotional poetry (bhajans/vachanas) that remains a significant part of Indian cultural heritage
.
33. Narrate in brief the debate around Sati. [8 Marks]
The debate around 'Sati' (widow burning) was a central point of 19th-century social reform
.
- Reformist View: Leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy argued that Sati had no scriptural sanction in the original Hindu texts and was a cruel, inhuman practice
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- Orthodox View: Traditionalists (Dharma Sabha) argued that the practice was an essential part of religious tradition and that the British should not interfere in local customs
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- Legal Outcome: The debate led to the Sati Abolition Act of 1829, passed by Lord William Bentinck
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34. Examine the contributions of women in the Non-Cooperation Movement. [8 Marks]
Women's participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) marked their large-scale entry into the public political sphere
.
- Picketing: Women organized the picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops across India
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- Leadership: Prominent women like Basanti Devi and Sarojini Naidu addressed public meetings and led processions
.
- Charkha and Khadi: They played a vital role in popularizing the use of the spinning wheel and hand-spun cloth as symbols of self-reliance
.
35. Review the role of women in the Civil Disobedience Movement. [8 Marks]
The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) saw even more vigorous female participation, often described as a "awakening"
.
- Salt Satyagraha: While initially kept away from the Dandi March, women like Sarojini Naidu led the raid on the Dharasana Salt Works
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- Mass Arrests: Thousands of women were arrested for breaking salt laws and protesting against British authorities
.
- Desh Sevikas: Many women joined organizations like the 'Desh Sevikas' to provide auxiliary support to the national movement
.