Back to the Vedas: 150 Years of Arya Samaj's Social, Religious, and Educational Revolution

The Arya Samaj, a powerful social and religious reform movement, is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025. It was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the occasion by addressing the International Arya Mahasammelan in New Delhi, acknowledging the movement’s deep impact on India’s social and educational life.

150 Years of Arya Samaj’s Social, Religious, and Educational Revolution

Origins and Core Philosophy

Foundation: Founded in Bombay in 1875 and formalized in Lahore in 1877.
Core Mission: Swami Dayanand Saraswati aimed to return to the pure, original teachings of the Vedas, rejecting later additions like superstition, idol worship, and blind rituals.
Motto (Key Slogan): “Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam” — meaning “Let us ennoble the world.”
Slogan: “Back to the Vedas.”
Beliefs: It emphasized monotheism (belief in one God), truth, rationalism, and ethical living, based solely on Vedic thought.

Pioneering Social and Religious Reforms

Arya Samaj was a major force against social backwardness:

Category	Reforms
Religious Reforms	Rejected idol worship and the dominance of priests. Advocated for a universal, ethical monotheism and personal understanding of scriptures.
Social Reforms	Strongly opposed untouchability, caste discrimination based on birth, child marriage, and forced widowhood. It promoted widow remarriage, inter-caste marriages, and women’s education.

Impact on Education and Nationalism

Education: Arya Samaj played a crucial role in modernizing education while preserving Indian values. It established:
- DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) Institutions, which combined Vedic knowledge with modern science.
- Gurukul Kangri in Haridwar, focusing on holistic, value-based education.
Nationalism: The movement fueled the national awakening in India:
- It promoted Swadeshi (using local goods) and anti-colonial sentiments.
- Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhagat Singh drew inspiration from its teachings on courage and social justice.

Modern Relevance

The principles of Arya Samaj align with many current Indian initiatives:

Women’s Empowerment: Its historic support for women’s rights is similar to modern schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Educational Vision: Its Gurukul-based model of mixing values and modern knowledge parallels the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Global Ideals: Its motto of “ennobling the world” aligns with global initiatives like Mission LiFE (sustainable living) and International Yoga Day.

Question & Answer

Q1. Arya Samaj was founded by which social reformer?
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
(c) Swami Vivekananda
(d) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Explanation: Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 with the mission to reform Hindu society based on the Vedas.

Q2. In which city was the Arya Samaj initially founded in 1875?
(a) Lahore
(b) Haridwar
(c) Delhi
(d) Bombay
Answer: Bombay

Explanation: The Arya Samaj was first founded in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1875, though it was formalized later in Lahore.

Q3. What is the main slogan adopted by the Arya Samaj movement?
(a) One God, One Nation
(b) “Back to the Vedas”
(c) Service to Humanity
(d) Truth Always Wins
Answer: “Back to the Vedas”

Explanation: The main philosophical slogan of the Arya Samaj, reflecting its goal to return to the original, pure Vedic teachings, is “Back to the Vedas.”

Q4. The educational institutions established by the Arya Samaj that combine Vedic knowledge with modern science are known as:
(a) Gurukul Shanti Niketan
(b) Vivekananda Vidyalayas
(c) Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) Schools
(d) Chinmaya Vidyalayas
Answer: Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) Schools

Explanation: The DAV institutions were established by the Arya Samaj to integrate traditional Vedic learning with modern education and scientific temper.

Q5. Which social evil was strongly opposed by the Arya Samaj, advocating for social equality?
(a) Excessive taxation
(b) Caste by birth and untouchability
(c) Foreign trade
(d) Industrialization
Answer: Caste by birth and untouchability

Explanation: Arya Samaj was a pioneer in social reform, actively opposing caste-based discrimination, child marriage, and forced widowhood.

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