Dayanand Saraswati founds the Arya Samaj

A reform movement that called Hindus back to the Vedas.

Key points for UPSC

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Bombay on 10 April 1875.
• His book Satyarth Prakash gave the slogan 'Back to the Vedas' and opposed idol worship and caste by birth.
• His followers opened the first Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) school at Lahore in 1886.

Who was involved

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati · founding the Arya Samaj

Test yourself

1. 1. Which book did Dayanand Saraswati write?

   • (a) Satyarth Prakash
   • (b) Gita Rahasya
   • (c) Hind Swaraj
   • (d) Gulamgiri
   Show answer

   (a) Satyarth Prakash. Satyarth Prakash set out his teachings.

2. 2. The Arya Samaj's best-known slogan was:

   • (a) Back to the Vedas
   • (b) Do or Die
   • (c) Swaraj is my birthright
   • (d) Inquilab Zindabad
   Show answer

   (a) Back to the Vedas. Dayanand urged a return to the Vedas.

3. 3. The first DAV school was opened in:

   • (a) Lahore
   • (b) Bombay
   • (c) Poona
   • (d) Calcutta
   Show answer

   (a) Lahore. It opened in Lahore in 1886.