Consider the following statements related to Dayanand's idea of social

Consider the following statements related to Dayanand’s idea of social reform:

Dayanand’s reform envisaged a social order, where different castes performed functions suitable to their status determined by merit.
Dayanand’s ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ challenged the masculine West that had enslaved the Aryavarta.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, advocated for social reform based on his interpretation of the Vedas. Statement 1 is correct: he strongly criticized the caste system based on birth and proposed a social order where varna (class) was determined by merit and actions (karma), not lineage. Statement 2 is also correct in spirit: Dayanand’s movement was a significant response to colonial critiques of Indian society and religion. By advocating a return to the ‘pure’ Vedas and promoting the superiority of Vedic civilization, he sought to create a strong, indigenous identity and intellectual framework that could counter Western cultural and intellectual dominance, which can be interpreted as providing a ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ against the perceived ‘masculine West’ that had significant influence over India (‘Aryavarta’). His assertive reformism aimed to strengthen Hindu society against external challenges.

Dayanand Saraswati wrote ‘Satyarth Prakash’ and gave the call ‘Back to the Vedas’. He advocated for monotheism, condemned idolatry, child marriage, and untouchability, and promoted women’s education. Arya Samaj played a crucial role in social and educational reform movements in North India.

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