In the galaxy of the great men who rescued India from the clutches of
degeneration and despondency in the 19th century, Dayanand Saraswati
occupies a very important place. Possessed of a sharp intellect and a
vision far ahead of his times, he ceaselessly worked to bring a new life
to his countrymen through an astounding programme of religious reformation,
cultural regeneration and political emancipation.
Mahtama Hansraj, born on 19th April 1864, was a mahatma (a great soul),
indeed. The two great mahatmas, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) and Mahatma
Hansraj (1864-1938) traced identical paths, one in the political field and
the other in the socio-cultural, almost contemporaneously. Frail of body
but possessing heroic spirit, both of them voluntarily opted for a life
of self denial and renunciation. Mahatma Hansraj is acknowledged as
the founding father of the DAV movement..
Mahatma Anand Swami, earlier named as Khushal Chand born on
October 9, 1883 at Jalalpur Jattan, Pakistan, left for his heavenly
abode on October 24, 1977, needs no introduction as he raised himself
to international fame because of his unparalleled contribution to the
welfare of the society. He was a strong pillar of Arya Samaj and DAV
movement in the country. He adopted Khursand as his poetic (pen) name,
he later changed it to Anand and after the demise of Mahatma Hansraj,
Arya Samajists forced him to change his first name from “Mahashay” to
“Mahatma” and after adopting Sanyas he was well known as Mahatma Anand
Swami Saraswati . He was an Arya Samaji face of DAV throughout the
country. He was the leader, facilitator, editor and architect of DAV
movement. He served the community on behalf of DAV and Arya Samaj at
the time of Moplah riots(1921) and Kohat riots(1921). He organized
relief camps at Quetta and Bihar (1934-35). He was the third dictator
of Hyderabad Satyagrah (1937). He worked as President APP Sabha for
more than 25 years and as secretary for more than 20 years.He
collected lakhs of rupees for Arya Samaj and DAV institutions.
He founded Daily Milap in 1923 and Hindi Milap in 1928 and authored
than 30 books on different aspects of religion and life. He was
among the chosen few in the world who took the Sanyas Ashram when he
was at the zenith of prosperity. He devoted his whole life to
“Ved Prachar” Arya Yuva Samaj decided to commemorate his birth
anniversary at large scale every year in 2003 and it is commemorated
till date by carrying out welfare works.