ISSN NO.: 2321-290X RNI No. : UPBIL/2011/43595 SHRINKHLA : VOL-2 * ISSUE-6*SEPTEMBER-2013 Role of Arya Samaj in Cultural Awareness and Freedom movement of India Abstract The story of freedom struggle of India is very encouraging and pride –giving, which should be read and understood by every Indian as a national duty. In the history of freedom struggle there is a special role of social and religious reform movements. Although these movements were superficially aiming at religious reforms, but their nature was not utterly religious. These reform movements are said to be the symbols of Indian reawakening. Dr.Jakaria in his book has clarified that the reawakening of India was mainly spiritual and before rising to the national movement it propounded many social and religious reform movements. Thus, Indian renaissance was different from that of the Europe of 16th century and after coming in contact with western culture the Indians developed a pride for their culture. At that time Dayanand Saraswati gave the slogan" Back to the Vedas" to Indians. Arya Samaj also had an important impact on national awakening because its basic aim was Indian independence and its actual essence was nationalism. Swami Dayanand was the first great religious leader who used the words Swa, Swaraj, Swabhasha and Swadeshi. He started Arya Samaj movement, which had strong nationalistic feelings. The contribution of Arya Samaj in relation to national and political enlightenment was so great that the British government became irritated and the British rulers started crushing the chief of the Arya Samaj. It is obvious that the religious movement which began in the 19th century was not only related to religion but it also laid stress on individual freedom, social equality justice, democracy and national independence. With the emphasis on the supremacy of the old Indian principles in the field of religion and spiritualism and the British rulers lacking their role in comparison to Indian in this field the feeling of the national respect became stronger. Indian society with the increase of nationalistic feelings and religious reforms was led to think of Indian independence restlessly and finally India became successful in achieving freedom from the chains of the British Empire. The movement, which was started by Dayanand Saraswati gave rise to the feeling of self confidence and self dependence and the feeling that the nation should Anila Purohit be independent and achieve a respectable position in the world became stronger. Department of History, Through these movements cultural and intellectual struggle Govt. Dungar College, started which gave rise to national and cultural enlightenmentl. The fight Bikaner. against the Whites’ supremacy at the outset was expressed as a saviour of the culture and the thoughts relating to culture and religion had a quick and easy impact on the people. Though these movements emphasized social and religious reforms but still they were not totally religious. They did not talk about salvation or lull or heaven. Their more stress was on the present existence and they gave birth to the Indian nationalism, which ultimately resulted in the Indian Independence. Keywords: Freedom, Independence, Arya Samaj and reawakening Introduction The Indian freedom struggle possesses a touching, pride-giving and inspiring story and to read this story is the national duty of every Indian. The social and religious reformative movements had a specific role in the Indian freedom struggle. Although these movements emphasized more on the religious reforms, but their character was not utterly religious. These reforms are called the symbols of Indian awakening. Dr Jakaria manifested in his book “The renaissance India” that the reawakening of India was mainly spiritual and cultural and before rising to a National movement it propounded various social and religious movements. Of course, the Indian reawakening was different from the 16th century European reawakening and after getting familiar with the western culture, 62 ISSN NO.: 2321-290X RNI No. : UPBIL/2011/43595 SHRINKHLA : VOL-2 * ISSUE-6*SEPTEMBER-2013 the Indians felt proud of their own culture. At such an attached to the prevalent Hindu religion and occasion Dayanand Saraswati gave the slogan “O demanded re-establishment of the Ancient Vedic Indians! You have to return to the Vedas”. religion. 3 Arya Samaj exerted significant influence on What Ideals of pure Arya faith were used by the national awakening and its essence was Dayanand Saraswati in religion, faith, society and Nationalism. Swami Dayanand was the first who used National movement, proved highly contributory in the the word “swa”, swa-rajya, swa-bhasa and swa-desh Indian freedom movement? were the words embedded in his heart. As a social reformer Dayanand Saraswati He directed the “Arya Samaj Andolan” very was deadly against idol worship, ritual orthodoxy and tactfully. It became so much relevant to the National tantra-mantra and proved the Vedic Dharma as the and cultural awareness that the British rulers started oldest, supreme and ultimately perfect. All religions crushing the chief of the Arya Samaj. have essence of the Vedic precepts. It is no Obviously in the 19th century India, the rising exaggeration that what social reform he favoured religious movements could not remain limited up to were basically national and Swadeshi. religion only. They also emphasized on individual Although Arya Samaj was founded in freedom, culture, social equality, justice democracy Bombay, it developed in Madras and Bengal and and the National freedom struggle areas particularly proved a success in U.P., Hyderabad and specially in leaning towards the ancient Indian ideals and ancient Punjab giving rise to the National Leaders like culture and realizing the British of their own existence Hansraj, Lala Lajpat Rai, Ajit Singh etc. 4 and awakening among the Indians the National Arya Samaj liberated the Hindus from consciousness. The idea of the Indian Independence inferiority complex and raised exemplary self- became distinct along with growing religious fervour, confidence in them. Then they succeeded in revolting cultural awareness and the nationalistic feelings. against the mental slavery of the west. Influenced by Ultimately it succeeded in achieving freedom from the these thoughts of Swamiji, Colonel Alcot and Madam British shackles. Blawatski of the Theosophical Society in America From the early history of India we can see accepted him as a learned personality in his field. The that before the Europeans waves of invaders who feeling of self-reliance got created among the Indians. ever came to India got settled here. In 17th century, This event raised the National pride very high. 5 the Europeans started taking much interest in India. Dayanand’s national thoughts and works The Portugese, the Dutch and the French came here were very remarkable in shaping the Modern India. but they were not to settle here, while the British came He emphasized on such thoughts, which raised self- here for trade but became the rulers after the war of respect and self-confidence in the Indians and “Plassey” in 17571. advised that they should work themselves to boost-up This laid down the foundation of British their own progress. He criticized the Brahma Samaj Empire in India from 1757 to 1947. Their policy of because it accepted the sense of inferiority among the exploitation resulted in the freedom struggle. These Hindus.6 reform movements symbolise “The Indian Swamiji’s patriotism and fearlessness was Reawakening” for the freedom. Dr. Jakaria proved through his meeting with the English manifested in his book “The Renaissance India” that Governor General Lord North brook in January 1873 the reawakening of India was mainly intellectual and when he asked Swamiji whether God would be cultural before becoming a National movement which prayed for the integral English administration in this took shape after several social and religious country before delivering his lecture. But Swamiji movements.” 2 immediately rejected this condition. Lord North brook In the 19th century what came as an mentioned this event in one of the weekly reports sent immense wave of reawakening was the result of to the Indian office, London and asked the Indian communication and interaction with western culture. Secretary to keep a watch on him. 7 Then it spread in all the fields of religion, culture and Arya Samaj did not oppose the British rule society. Ultimately it poised the base of the Indian directly but Dayanand’s national attitude led towards freedom movement. the Indian freedom movement. J.R. Macnold had As a reaction of western influence several written that Arya Samaj was a political institution that religious and social movements occurred in India. was having mysterious ideology and secretly working Their basic characteristics were intellectual rather against the British Rule. Arya Samaj was considered than materialism. All the religious leaders like against the British rule and its members were Dayanand Saraswati, Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Ranade, considered guilty as they were working for it. Specially Anne Beasant, Vivekanand, Devendra Nath Thakur, in Punjab,by the efforts of Arya Samaj , buried Keshav Chandra Sen etc. demanded reforms in the awareness of the Nation developed and led to the traditional religions and accepted supermacy of God. freedom movement. 8 They encouraged the Indians towards established In the modern era Dayanand was the first ideals. Its result was political renaissance of India, Prophet of offensive Hinduism. As a living spirit of which led towards the Indian freedom struggle. cultural Nationalism Arya Samaj put solid foundation Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj on of the National Movement. Dayanand’s thoughts 10th April 1875 in Bombay which proved a religious about India reflect his fathomless love for the movement with poignancy towards action alien motherland. He attacked the economic exploitation of religion. Swamiji considered that the ultimate truth India in the implied manner. He started saying that was revealed in the Vedas.