Decades come and go but what remains are the impression and great acts of the social reformers. India is privileged to have a number of great souls like Dayanand Saraswati and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. They managed to bring revolutions by making radical changes in society. You can read Social Reformers of Maharashtra for MPSC.
Dayanand Saraswati
Dayanand Saraswati, popularly known as Guru Nanak Dev, is one of the greatest religious figures of India and probably the most famous Sikh guru. His death anniversary is celebrated as Guru Nanak Dev’s Day across the globe. He was the founder of Sikhism. Born in 1572, he lived in a small village. He was an intense student. He attended many religious meetings and studied the religious texts on Sikhism. He dedicated his entire life to the spread of religion and led many people towards the path of religious salvation. He was fond of his mother tongue, Punjabi, and used to sing it. The greatest miracle in his life was the conversion of his family. His father gave him the name Daya Nar Singh and he was the youngest son of five children.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj, an organization dedicated to the ideals of equal rights for all. The Brahmo Samaj went on to propagate the ideas of equality and universalism in first modern India. Sarvodaya, a development philosophy, was born from his philosophy. The Maharaja, at the behest of the British, died as an alcoholic in an insane asylum. As a result of the misuse of the legal system of the British government, many Indians got lost. These lost people could only be saved by the introduction of legislation. Singh is most famous for championing the cause of women’s rights. He founded a national congress to propagate the ideas of equality of women and men. He gave scholarships to girls and contributed to women’s education.
What do these men contribute to society?
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1807-1833) – He is known as the founder of Hindustani classical music, and he was also a great philosopher who believed in the supremacy of Hindus. He started his spiritual journey at the age of 17 and composed the holy hymn Ramcharit Manas along with an excellent commentary on it. He was a great proponent of gender equality and had opposed the practice of Sati. Dayananda Saraswati (1904-1976) – He was born in 1905 in a village near Varanasi, which is now known as his ashram. He studied in Birla High School in Varanasi before matriculating. He was also known as Guru Dutt. He believed in the equality of men and women and believed in the dignity of women.
Conclusion
There are so many myths about Indians. One is that we are boring, but one should know that Indians are fascinating. We are leaders in diversity. We have inherited diverse cultures and believe in different values. We have a love for our country and its diversity. We love to travel and know about other cultures, which are a great source of knowledge and skill. We never forget our own culture and roots and not to forget the respect for elders. We live as per our hearts and believe in goodness and righteousness. But let us not forget our brave soldiers and their victory.