Question

Who was the founder of the Arya Samaj?
(A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(B) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
(C) Mahadev Gobind Ranade
(D) Jyotibha Phule

Answer 1

Hint: In today’s world talking about superstitions and evil practices are like talking illogically. But in the 19th century, society was filled with many superstitious beliefs. Many social changes took place in society as Raja Ram Mohan Roy started the newspaper, Jyotibha Phule started a school for girls in Pune and Mahadev Gobind Ranade was a member of the Indian National Congress. All these reformers bestow somehow in making our country India a better place to live in.

Complete answer:
Arya Samaj is also known as the “Society of Nobles”. Arya Samaj was established in the year1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. The main motto of establishing Arya Samaj was to bring back the Vedas religion. The members or the believers of Arya Samaj believed in worshipping and praising one God. They also said No to worship the idols of God for according to them God is the inner peace.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born in a Brahmin family in the village of Tankara near Morbi in Saurashtra. In his early childhood, he realized that worshipping the idols of God and religious rituals were worthless. He was so desperate to search for the truth that he left his family only for finding the truth. He studied yoga and became ascetic and studied the philosophy of Hinduism from Swami Virajanand Dandeesha in Mathura.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati always focused on accomplishing a society that is free from any differentiation and classification. He acquired a deep insight into the Indian-culture and religion through Vedas. He preached to the people to “Go Back to the Vedas.” He made people aware that in the Vedas there is no mention of the evils customs such as idol worship, rituals, child marriage, Sati Pratha, untouchability, etc. He believed that “There is only one single God to which everyone should believe.” He communicated his speech mostly in the Hindi language so that his thoughts can be accomplished by the maximum number of people. Therefore, Dayanand Saraswati established “Arya Samaj” and later on branches of which were established in Lahore, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Consequently, social changes occurred rapidly.
So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: Dayanand Saraswati was titled with the name ‘Makers of Modern India' by S. Radhakrishnan. He wrote a book with the title “Satyarth Prakash” which depicts the beauty of truth. He also launched the Shuddhi Movement in which he focused on bringing back those peoples who got converted to another religion.