question_answer

Explain any two contributions each of 'Scholars Revolt 1868' and 'Hoa Hao Movement 1939' against religious and social evils respectively.                                                                                     [Foreign 2008]

Answer:

Scholars Revolt: An early movement against the spread of Christianity and French control was the Scholars Revolt in 1868. It was led by the officials of the imperial court who were angered by the spread of Catholicism and French power. Thus they led a general uprising in Ngu An and Ha Tien provinces where over a thousand Catholics were killed. Vietnamese organisers of this movement were angry because from 17th to18th century, nearly 3,00,000 Vietnamese were converted to Christianity by the French. Though the French crushed the movement it had a great impact on the Vietnamese.

Hoa Hao Movement: Another movement named Hoa Hao movement began in 1939 in the fertlile Mekong delta area and gained a lot of popularity. This movement used popular religious ideas in anti-French uprisings of the 19th century.

Hoa Hao movement was started by Huynh Phu So. He performed miracles and helped the poors. His teachings had a wide appeal. He was opposed to the sale of child brides, gambling and the use of alcohol and opium.

The French tried to suppress the movement of Huynh Phu So. When failed, they declared Phu So mad and exiled him to Laos.