“It was a movement said to be revivalist in form though not in conten...
Option a is correct
- Option a is correct: Established by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875, the Arya Samaj was revivalist in form and reformist in nature. The organisation was formally set up at Bombay in 1875 and later the headquarter was shifted to Lahore. Its vision of India included a classless and casteless society and an India free from foreign rule. It believed in the supremacy of the Vedas, but also advocated individual interpretation and condemned orthodox elements like idolatry, untouchability, etc. It also promoted women equality and welfare. Swami Dayanand Saraswati published his ideas regarding Arya Samaj’s reform work in the publication called Satyarth Prakash.
- Option b is incorrect: Keshab and his followers founded the Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866. In 1867, Keshab Chandra Sen helped Atmaram Pandurang found the Prarthana Samaj in Bombay. RG Bhandarkar, MG Ranade, and NG Chandavarkar were also associated with it. The emphasis was on monotheism, but on the whole, the samaj was more concerned with social reforms than with religion.
- Option c is incorrect: Radhakant Deb founded Dharma sabha in 1830 at Kolkata. An orthodox society, it stood for the preservation of the status quo in socio-religious matters, opposing even the abolition of sati. However, it favoured the promotion of Western education, even for girls. Brahmo Samaj’s progressive ideas met with strong opposition from the Dharma Sabha.
- Option d is incorrect: Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha in August 1828 at Kolkata; it was later renamed Brahmo Samaj. The long-term agenda of the Brahmo Samaj—to purify Hinduism and to preach monotheism—was based on the twin pillars of reason and the Vedas and Upanishads. It kept its emphasis on human dignity, opposition to idolatry and criticism of social evils such as sati.
- Knowledge Base: Arya Samaj - Along with his emphasis on Vedic authority, he stressed the significance of individual interpretation of the scriptures and said that every person has the right of access to God. He criticised later Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas and the ignorant priests for perverting Hinduism. Dayananda subscribed to the Vedic notion of chaturvarna system in which a person was not born in any caste but was identified as a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra according to the occupation the person followed.
“It was a movement said to be revivalist in form though not in conten...
Arya Samaj
The description provided in the question is closely related to the Arya Samaj, an influential religious and socio-cultural movement in India. Let's break down the key points mentioned in the description and explain how they align with the characteristics of Arya Samaj.
Formation and Headquarters:
- The movement was first established in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1875 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
- Later, the headquarters of Arya Samaj was shifted to Lahore (now in Pakistan).
Revivalist in Form:
- Arya Samaj sought to revive the ancient Vedic traditions and practices of the Hindu religion.
- It emphasized the study and interpretation of the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism.
- The movement aimed to counter the influence of Western education and modern ideas that were perceived to be diluting traditional Hindu values and culture.
Classless and Casteless Society:
- Arya Samaj envisioned a society without any class or caste distinctions.
- It rejected the concept of hereditary caste-based privileges and advocated for social equality and harmony.
- The movement sought to uplift the lower castes and eradicate social inequalities prevalent in the traditional caste system.
India Free from Foreign Rule:
- Arya Samaj was committed to the cause of Indian independence and actively opposed British colonial rule.
- It believed that a free and independent India would be able to uphold the principles of righteousness and promote the well-being of its people.
Social Reforms:
- Arya Samaj promoted various social reforms, including inter-caste marriages, widow remarriages, and equal status for women.
- The movement aimed to challenge societal norms and practices that discriminated against women and perpetuated social inequalities.
In conclusion, based on the given description, it is evident that the Arya Samaj best suits the characteristics mentioned. The movement had a significant impact on Indian society, advocating for social reforms, religious revivalism, and the struggle for independence.