Modern History Prelims Question

The Arya Samaj, as a whole, opposed conversion of Hindus to Islam and Christianity, and therefore, advocated re-conversion of recent converts to Hinduism. This process was called Shuddhi.
It also advocated greater usage of Hindi in Devanagari script. In the 1890s, the Arya Samaj also raised the issue of cow slaughter and formed gaurakshini sabhas (or the cow protection societies) for protection of cows. The Arya Samaj led a prolonged movement against untouchability and advocated dilution of caste distinctions.
After Dayanand’s death in 1883, the Arya Samaj lay scattered. Most important attempt to unite the Samaj and its activities was the founding of the Dayanand Anglo Vedic Trust and Management Society in Lahore in 1886. In the same year, this society opened a school with Lala Hansraj as its principal.
However, some leaders of the Samaj were opposed to Anglo Vedic education. They were Munshi Ram (Swami Shraddhanand), Gurudatt, Lekh Ram and others. They argued that the Arya Samaj’s educational initiative must focus on Sanskrit, Aryan ideology and Vedic scriptures and should have little space for English learning. This militant wing thought that Dayanand’s words were sacrosanct and his message in Satyarth Prakash could not be questioned. While the moderate wing led by Lala Hansraj and Lajpat Rai, pointed out that Dayanand was a reformer and not a Rishi or Sadhu.

The Arya Samaj, as a whole, opposed conversion of Hindus to Islam and Christianity, and therefore, advocated re-conversion of recent converts to Hinduism. This process was called Shuddhi.
It also advocated greater usage of Hindi in Devanagari script. In the 1890s, the Arya Samaj also raised the issue of cow slaughter and formed gaurakshini sabhas (or the cow protection societies) for protection of cows. The Arya Samaj led a prolonged movement against untouchability and advocated dilution of caste distinctions.
After Dayanand’s death in 1883, the Arya Samaj lay scattered. Most important attempt to unite the Samaj and its activities was the founding of the Dayanand Anglo Vedic Trust and Management Society in Lahore in 1886. In the same year, this society opened a school with Lala Hansraj as its principal.
However, some leaders of the Samaj were opposed to Anglo Vedic education. They were Munshi Ram (Swami Shraddhanand), Gurudatt, Lekh Ram and others. They argued that the Arya Samaj’s educational initiative must focus on Sanskrit, Aryan ideology and Vedic scriptures and should have little space for English learning. This militant wing thought that Dayanand’s words were sacrosanct and his message in Satyarth Prakash could not be questioned. While the moderate wing led by Lala Hansraj and Lajpat Rai, pointed out that Dayanand was a reformer and not a Rishi or Sadhu.

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