KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018
General Knowledge
Medium

"Awake, remember the Lord Almighty, Get up at once and fight injustice". Which social reform organization of 20th century Kerala put forth the above slogan?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

  • The slogan's combination of a divine call to action ("remember the Lord Almighty") and a demand to fight social oppression ("fight injustice") is the defining characteristic of the Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha (PRDS).
  • PRDS was founded in 1909 by the charismatic leader and social reformer Poykayil Yohannan, also known as Poykayil Appachan or Kumara Gurudevan.
  • The movement's primary goal was the liberation and socio-spiritual upliftment of the Dalit communities in Kerala, who faced severe discrimination and were denied basic human rights.
  • The slogan served as a powerful tool to awaken and mobilize the oppressed masses, using a religious framework to inspire a fight for social justice and self-respect.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Yogakshema Sabha was a reform movement exclusively for the Namboodiri Brahmin community. Its focus was on internal social changes like promoting modern education and widow remarriage, not a mass movement against caste injustice with a militant, theistic call.
  • Option B: Atmavidya Sangham, founded by Vagbhatananda, was based on rationalist and Advaitic (non-dualistic) principles. It opposed idol worship and caste discrimination. A slogan invoking a personal 'Lord Almighty' directly contradicts its core rationalist philosophy.
  • Option D: Sahodara Prasthanam, led by Sahodaran Ayyappan, was a radical rationalist movement. Its famous slogan was "No Caste, No Religion, No God for Man," which is the complete opposite of the theistic slogan in the question.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Social Reform Movements in Kerala as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • This is a general knowledge question. Understanding the history of social reform is crucial for any citizen, including healthcare professionals, to appreciate the socio-cultural context of the communities they serve.
  • Knowledge of these movements helps in understanding the deep-rooted nature of caste and social hierarchies, which can still influence health-seeking behaviors and social determinants of health in parts of India.
  • What if the question was about a movement promoting inter-dining? In that case, Sahodara Prasthanam, founded by Sahodaran Ayyappan, would be the correct answer, as 'misrabhojanam' (inter-dining) was its most significant program.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, carefully analyze the given slogan: "Awake, remember the Lord Almighty, Get up at once and fight injustice."
  • Identify the key ideological components of the slogan. Note the strong religious element ('Lord Almighty') combined with a call for social action ('fight injustice').
  • Next, review the options provided and recall the core philosophy of each social reform organization.
  • Compare the slogan's ideology with each organization's principles. Does it align with the Namboodiri-centric reforms of Yogakshema Sabha? No.
  • Does it fit the rationalist/Advaitic ideals of Atmavidya Sangham? No, the call to a personal 'Lord Almighty' is a mismatch.
  • Does it match the atheistic stance of Sahodara Prasthanam? No, it's the exact opposite.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Social Reform Movements in Kerala
  • Stem keywords: Awake, remember the Lord Almighty, fight injustice, social reform organization, 20th century Kerala
  • Lead-in keywords: Which

Question ID

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