Which of the following statements about Dayananda Saraswati (1824 – 1883) is/are correct ?
- 1. He was from present-day Rajasthan.
- 2. He found many followers from amongst the trading castes.
- 3. He founded the Arya Samaj inspired by the Brahmo Samaj.
- 4. He advocated Sanskrit based education.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
1, 2 and 4 only
1, 3 and 4 only
2 and 4 only
2 only
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2018
– 1. He was from present-day Rajasthan. Incorrect. Dayananda Saraswati (born Mool Shankar Tiwari) was born in Tankara, in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat, in 1824.
– 2. He found many followers from amongst the trading castes. Correct. The Arya Samaj, founded by Dayananda, gained considerable support among certain trading communities (like Khatris and Aroras in Punjab) and the educated middle class, who were receptive to its message of social reform, emphasis on education, and reformed Hinduism.
– 3. He founded the Arya Samaj inspired by the Brahmo Samaj. Incorrect/Questionable. Dayananda Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875. While both Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj were Hindu reform movements critical of idolatry, casteism, and certain practices, their philosophical foundations and approaches differed significantly. Brahmo Samaj was influenced by Upanishadic philosophy and Western rationalism/theism, while Arya Samaj was based on a strict interpretation of the Vedas as infallible texts. Dayananda’s movement developed independently from Brahmo Samaj, focusing on a return to Vedic purity and promoting social reform through that lens. Claiming it was directly “inspired by” Brahmo Samaj is generally not considered accurate; they were more parallel rather than one directly influencing the founding ideology of the other.
– 4. He advocated Sanskrit based education. Correct. Dayananda emphasized the authority of the Vedas and advocated for education rooted in Vedic texts and Sanskrit learning, alongside modern knowledge. The Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) school system, established by his followers, aimed to combine Vedic learning with Western education.
– Based on the evaluation, statements 2 and 4 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect and statement 3 is likely incorrect.
– Option C includes only statements 2 and 4.
– He was a vocal critic of idol worship, polytheism, caste-based discrimination, and child marriage.
– His major work is “Satyarth Prakash” (The Light of Truth), which presents his interpretations of the Vedas and critiques of various religious beliefs.
– The Arya Samaj played a significant role in the social and educational reform movements in India, particularly in Punjab and North India.