Arya Samaj and the Freedom Movement – Volume 1: 1875–1918

It traces how religious reform in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century India sparked political awakening.

Arya Samaj and the Freedom Movement, Volume One: 1875-1918 examines the complex relationship between religious reform and political awakening in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century India. Focusing on the formative decades of the Arya Samaj following its establishment in 1875, the volume explores how the movement's emphasis on social reform, education, and a return to Vedic ideals contributed to the shaping of modern political consciousness.

The book traces the role played by Arya Samaj leaders, institutions, and networks in mobilising public opinion, promoting nationalist thought, and fostering a spirit of self-reliance and social transformation. It situates these developments within the broader currents of India's emerging freedom struggle, highlighting the intersections between religious reform, social activism, and anti-colonial politics.

Covering the period up to the end of the First World War, this volume offers an important perspective on how the Arya Samaj helped shape the intellectual and organisational foundations of the Indian national movement during its formative phase.

Table of Contents

• Preface ix
• PART I
• 1. Swami Dayananda: His Political Message and Impact 3
• 2. Arya Samajs Contributions to Political Awakening and National Consciousness 18
• 3. Arya Samaj and the Swadeshi Movement 36
• 4. British Governments Hostility Towards Arya Samaj and Punjab Disturbances 73
• 5. Persecution of Arya Samaj, 1875-1918 125
• 6. Arya Samajists and Unrest in the Army 156
• 7. Arya Samaj and the Congress Movement 172
• 8. Arya Samaj and the Revolutionary Movement 190
• PART II
• 9. Eminent Arya Freedom Fighters, 1875-1918
• PART III
• Appendices 309
• Bibliography 367
• Index 381