Approach: Since this is the basic question, a fair knowledge of NCERTs and other standard books will help in developing content and framing answer. Though some hints are as follow:

Main idea of the question: The movements which are being organised by the group for bringing social change and age old practices. However, in retaliation the counter movement do arise but the duo recognition is being given to more utilitarian one.
Key concept related to the answer: various social movements and their counter movement for maintaining the status quo.

Model Answer:

Introduction:

• Social movementsare purposeful, organized groups striving to work toward a common goal. These groups might be attempting to create change (Occupy Wall Street, Arab Spring), to resist change (anti-globalization movement), or to provide a political voice to those otherwise disenfranchised (civil rights movements, Anna Hazare on Lokpal). The purpose of such movements is to bring social change.

Main Body:

• Social movements often arise with the aim of bringing about changes on apublic issue, such as ensuring the right of the tribal population to use the forests or the right of displaced people to settlement and compensation.
• While social movements seek to bring in social change, counter movements sometimes arise in defence of status quo. There are many instances of such counter movements.
• When Raja Rammohun Roy campaigned against sati and formed the Brahmo Samaj, defenders of sati formed Dharma Sabha and petitioned the British not to legislate against sati.
• When reformers demanded education for girls, many protested that this would be disastrous for society. When reformers campaigned for widow remarriage, they were socially
• When the so called ‘lower caste’ children enrolled in schools, someso called ‘upper caste’ children were withdrawn from the schools by their
• Peasant movements have often been brutally suppressed. Morerecently the social movements of erstwhile excluded groups like the Dalitshave often invoked retaliatory action. Likewise proposals for extendingreservation in educational institutions have led to counter movements opposing
• Social movements alone cannot change society easily. Since it goes againstboth entrenched interests and values, there is bound to be opposition and But over a period changes do take place.

Conclusion:

• Social movements are reforming machinery of the society. These movements seek co-operation from the members of the society or a group of society and help them form a bond of unity among them. Such unity provides platform and help the members of the society to raise their grievances and seek redressal.
• Social movements and counter movements are like mirror of society. They reflect the status and image of society such that when large masses protest meaning they want some unlike changes. However, the entire masses may not support the move and hence they can raise their counter movement(s).