Which personality was responsible for the opening of first Indian Woman University at Bombay in 1916?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
D. K. Karve (Dhondo Keshav Karve, 1858–1962) was a towering figure in the social reform movement in India, particularly known for his tireless dedication to women's education and widow remarriage. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the first university dedicated exclusively to women in India, the Indian Women’s University in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1916. Karve was deeply inspired by the Japan Women’s University in Tokyo. Starting with just five students, this university was founded using his personal savings and was based on the principles of social relevance and accessible education. The institution later evolved into the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women's University, becoming a landmark in higher education for women in India and cementing Karve's legacy as a pioneer.

The incorrect option is 1:
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917), known as the "Grand Old Man of India," was a prominent liberal leader, economist, and politician. While he championed social reform and education generally, his primary focus was on political and economic nationalism, particularly highlighting the 'Drain of Wealth' theory. He was not directly involved in the founding of the specific women's university in 1916.

The incorrect option is 3:
G. K. Gokhale (Gopal Krishna Gokhale, 1866–1915) was a leading moderate politician and social reformer, and a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi. Gokhale advocated extensively for universal education and social equality, but he passed away in 1915, a year before the university was founded in 1916. Therefore, he could not have been responsible for its opening.

The incorrect option is 4:
B. M. Malabari (Behramji Malabari, 1853–1912) was an influential journalist and social reformer, best known for his campaigns against child marriage and enforced widowhood. His most notable legislative success was securing the Age of Consent Act in 1891, but he died in 1912 and was primarily focused on legislative and journalistic reform, not university establishment.