Swami Dayanand as a Social Reformer and a Sculptor of Humanity : A Study with Special Reference to Arya Samaj and Its Principles

Abstract

When educated youth of India were imitating the shallow facets of European civilization and were agitating to plant the growing seeds of England in Indian soil, irrespective of the talent and culture of the Indian people, Swami Dayanand, the biggest apostles of Indo-Aryan civilization remained as a legendary figure of the most advanced ideas in socio-political spheres in India. His incarnation on the earth remained fruitful because he eradicated many evil rituals, rites, practices and traditions which were prevalent in India at that time. Swami Dayanand raised his voice against idol worshipping, fatalism, caste system, ritualism, intoxication, sati tradition, child marriage and many more. Keeping in view the domination of the Vedas and the Hindus, he raised his voice against the degraded practices of Islam and Christianity also and further took the side of the Sandhi Movement to reorganize other sects of the Hindu sect. Swami Dayanand expressed political views about the principles of the state, the form of the governments, functions, rules of law, etc. The special emphasis of this paper is to evaluate and to do justice with his ideology. Further, it seeks to peep into Swami Dayanand’s personal life and know him closely as a man of Sacred Vedic Dharma. He brought radical changes in the society but he had to sacrifice his life for it.