Syllabus: GS1/ Art & Culture
In News
- The Prime Minister addressed the International Arya Mahasammelan 2025 in New Delhi, praising Arya Samaj’s 150-year legacy in social reform, education, and Vedic thought.
- PM Modi urged Arya Samaj to support the Gyan Bharatam Mission – digitising ancient manuscripts and engaging youth in preserving India’s knowledge heritage.
About Arya Samaj
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati, inspired by Vedic teachings, established Arya Samaj with ten principles in 1875 in Bombay, which were finalized in Lahore in 1877.
- The movement’s core principles are based on the infallible authority of the Vedas, emphasizing rationality and a return to Vedic values, encapsulated in its slogan “Back to the Vedas” and motto “Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam” (“Let us ennoble the world”).
Major Reforms
- Religious: Rejected idol worship, ritualism, and priestly dominance, promoting a direct, rational understanding of religion centered on one God and truth-seeking.
- Social: Opposed caste by birth, untouchability, child marriage, and forced widowhood. Advocated inter-caste marriage, widow remarriage, women’s education, and social service.
- Educational: Established DAV schools and Gurukul Kangri to blend Vedic knowledge with modern science, fostering social mobility and nationalism.
Role in Indian Nationalism and Social Change
- Arya Samaj members, including Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, and others, contributed significantly to India’s freedom movement, promoting Swadeshi and social awakening.
- Their efforts emphasized modern education, social justice, and national pride, fueling anti-colonial sentiment while working within reformist ideals.
Relevance of Arya Samaj in Contemporary India
- Women Led Progress: Arya Samaj’s early advocacy for women’s empowerment aligns with national initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and “Drone Didis”.
- Preserving Gurukul Tradition & Educational Reform: Arya Samaj revived India’s Gurukul system, blending Vedic learning with modern education. This vision parallels the National Education Policy 2020, which stresses value-based and character-oriented education.
- Vedic Ideals & Global Relevance: The motto “Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam” mirrors India’s development philosophy — national progress for global welfare. Its ideals resonate in initiatives like Mission LiFE, One Sun One World One Grid, and International Yoga Day, spreading sustainable and spiritual living worldwide.
Source: PIB
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