SSC
The Women's Indian Association (WIA), which worked for women's suffrage and rights, was founded in Madras (Adyar) by Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins and others in:
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Answer: Option C — 1917
Detailed Solution
The Women's Indian Association (WIA) was founded in May 1917 at Adyar, Madras, by Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dorothy Jinarajadasa and other women.
About the WIA:
- It was one of the earliest all-India women's organisations.
- Its aims included the promotion of women's education, the abolition of child marriage and other social evils, and political rights for women, especially the right to vote.
- It published a journal, "Stri Dharma".
- It set up branches in many parts of India.
Women's suffrage:
- In December 1917, a delegation of women, organised by the WIA and led by Sarojini Naidu, met the Secretary of State, Edwin Montagu, and the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, to demand the right to vote for women.
- The Government of India Act of 1919 left the question of women's suffrage to the provincial legislatures.
- Madras became the first province to give women the right to vote (1921), on the same terms as men.
- Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, a member of the WIA, became the first woman member of a legislative council in India (Madras, 1927).
About Margaret Cousins:
- She was an Irish suffragist and Theosophist, who came to India in 1915.
- She played a key role in founding the WIA and the All India Women's Conference.
- She composed the music for the English translation of "Jana Gana Mana" ("The Morning Song of India").
Other women's organisations:
- The Bharat Stree Mahamandal (1910), founded by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani.
- The National Council of Women in India (1925).
- The All India Women's Conference (AIWC), founded in 1927, which became the most important women's organisation.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1905, 1927 and 1932 were the years of other events.
Quick tip
Remember: Women's Indian Association (Adyar, Madras, 1917) = Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dorothy Jinarajadasa ("Stri Dharma"); AIWC (1927).
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Socio-Religious Reform Movements — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Socio-Religious Reform Movements, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
In the 19th century, reformers worked to remove social evils and revive Indian society. This topic covers organisations such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical Society, Satyashodhak Samaj and the Aligarh Movement, along with their founders and the social reforms they achieved. Questions usually ask who founded an organisation and when, or which reformer is linked to a reform. For example, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj and campaigned against sati, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar championed widow remarriage, and Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj. A table of organisation, founder, year and place covers most questions. Practise the socio-religious reform movements questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.