Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati

Context

The Prime Minister inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi. He also released a logo for commemoration.

About Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824-1883):

Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of Hindu reform organisation called ‘Arya Samaj’.
He was born on February 12, 1824 in Gujarat.
His original name was Mool Shankar Tiwari.
He wandered as an ascetic for fifteen years (1845-60) in search of truth.
He was born to Karshanji Lalji Kapadi, and Yashodabai.
He was a social leader, Indian philosopher, and reform movement of the Vedic dharma.
He was the first to give the call for Swaraj “India for Indians” in 1876, which was later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.
He took inspiration from the Vedas and considered them to be ‘India’s Rock of Ages’, the infallible and the true original seed of Hinduism.
He gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”.
Dayananda died after vigorous public criticism of a princely ruler, under circumstances suggesting that he might have been poisoned by one of the maharaja’s supporters, but the accusation was never proved in court.

Arya Samaj:

Arya Samaj is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes practices and values based on the belief in infallible authority of the Vedas.
It was founded by Dayanand Saraswati on April 10, 1875.
It was the first Hindu organisation to introduce proselytization in Hinduism.
It has worked towards the growth of the civil rights movement across India since the 1800s.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav:

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on 12th March 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence and will end post a year on 15th August 2023.
Following are the five themes of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, in which one is’ Freedom Struggle’.