Question
Give a description of the movement which wanted to promote widow remarriage.
Answer
The movement to promote widow remarriage emerged in 19th century Bengal as a response to the societal taboo against widow remarriage. The movement was led by social reformers such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Pandit Iswar Chandra Gupta, and Keshub Chandra Sen. These reformers sought to abolish the stigmatization of widows and to encourage them to remarry. They argued that this would improve the status of women in society and reduce the number of widows who were forced to live in poverty and social exclusion. The movement also sought to challenge the traditional Hindu practices that prohibited widow remarriage. It was a controversial movement that faced opposition from conservative sections of society. Despite the challenges, the movement achieved some success in changing social attitudes towards widow remarriage and improving the status of widows in Bengal. The Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 was a significant milestone in this movement, as it legalized widow remarriage in British India.
