Arun Kumar Gupta
Change is an inevitable rule of society. Changes have been taking place in the society since the beginning. Indian society has also not remained untouched by this rule of change. But due to the political dependence and interference, some insensitivity came towards these changes. As a result, Indians suffered weakness, poverty, inferiority complex and other disorders. Political, economic and religious oppression and lack of self-realization gave rise to many such frustrations in the Indian society, which were not easily eradicated.
Whether it was Muslim or British, the sense of defeat generated by foreign influence has caused irreparable damage to the religious, spiritual and moral values of the vast Hindu society of India.
This situation was used inappropriately by some influential people of the society and to fulfill their selfish interests, they propagated rituals in the name of religion, false superstitions in the name of morality, division of labour and special classes in the name of work. As a result, narrow-mindedness, permissiveness and rigidity started spreading everywhere in the society, which led to child-marriage, kidnapping of women-independence, feeling of inferiority, division into untouchables, practice of polygamy, atrocities on Dalits and lower classes. Association of non-vegetarian, alcholism and experimentation with religion and culture etc. gave birth to social evils.
These social evils or misdemeanors started affecting the Indian society like a mite and made the once strong, healthy and progressive Indian society so dilapidated and hollow that it became unable to face foreign threats and foreign atrocities.
Using Scientific techniques and methodology, Swami Dayanand tried to read and improve this state of Indian society as a religious speaker and lecturer as well as a sociologist. Social reform is a major agency of social change, through which the ignorance of a society can be eradicated in order to end the evil practices prevalent in the society for which Maharishi Dayanand Saraswatiji did a yeoman job for the upliftment of society.
The negative changes taking place in the Indian society deeply influenced MaharshiDayanand. Along with the religious perspective of the Indian society, he made a scientific investigation of its social conditions and the pains and problems of a common man. That’s why the social reforms done by Swami ji, whether it is about women’s upliftment or denial of evils and bad practices prevalent in Hindu society were scientifically studied.
One of the important things in Swami ji’s social reform was that he used to ask people to use their intelligence, discretion and thinking system to bring change in the society and also tried to give them a proper environment for that. This is proof of his progressive thoughts and scientific outlook.
Here I would like to quote an article published in Biradare Hind in July 1877 about Swamiji, in which his liberal, cultured and progressive thoughts have been presented – his views are often liberal and most of the views are of the scholarly thoughts are still relevant in today’s time. His brain seems to be very progressive, national sympathy and great enthusiasm for societal reform are clearly visible. He was not only desirous of religious reform, but also keeps in view the reformation of all caste evils, such as those spreading in the country.
To remove ignorance and partiality, to propagate knowledge and to create fearless unity and try to make it a model by bringing it in the form of a simple civilization.
Basis of Swami ji’s social-reform work was regarding his deep study of the society. This study was based on the real conditions of the society i.e. truth and his thoughts about truth were very clear. While writing his Amar Granth known as, “Satyarth Prakash”, Swami ji has given details that the purpose of his book is to render what is true as truth and what is false as false, which is the actual meaning of SatyekeArthonka Prakash. He has also said that it is not called truth which publishes falsehood in place of truth and truth in place of falsehood, but saying, writing and believing the substance as it is ; is called truth. He opposed the evil practice like child marriage while accepting the reality of the social conditions of that time.
He knew from street to street that a large section of the society would not consider opposing this practice appropriate, but he could not accept any kind of practice in the development of man, because it was an obstacle in the path of truth. Swami Dayanand had learned on scientific basis from Ayurveda’s Charak etc. that at what age maturity comes in men and women. That’s why he strongly believed that bad practices like child marriage are hindrances for a healthy man and a healthy society. There is a scientific reason behind opposing child-marriage, the reproductive capacity and process of a girl is on the border between 12 years to 19 years and at this stage man is not fully developed mentally and physically, so he raised the age of marriage of man and woman, as was determined that it should be performed when they are fully developed and matured mentally and physically. He proclaimed at that time that the minimum age of marriage for the girl should be 18 years and that of the boy should be 25 years, way before the actual implementation of this law in the Indian society.
Continuous dynamism and progressive ideology is clearly visible in Swami Dayanand’s thinking and actions. Along with the religious and social field, he also gave more progressive ideas in the political and administrative fields as compared to his contemporary social reformers. Not only was his aim to bring changes in the religious field, he was also fully aware of the inferior condition of the country. His belief was formed on the basis that the judicial system prevailing in the English language is defective. He strongly believed that the Panchayat system prevalent in ancient times, in which the disputes between the residents were settled by sitting together, considering the village as a unit, gram panchayat system in India which is still prevalent in the rural parts of the country showcases the farsightedness of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswatiji.
Thus, if anyone wants to enlighten himself about the Indian society’s potential, they should refer to the Satyarth Prakash written by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswatiji. We all must try our level best to keep on going on the path which was clearly laid down for us by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswatiji.
(The author is President of Arya Samaj Dayanand Marg, City Chowk, Jammu)
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