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Revision as of 11:03, 14 November 2008 by Ekabhishek (talk | contribs) (→Further reading)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Swami Shraddhanand was an Indian educationist and a Arya Samaj missionary who propagated the teachings of Swami Dayanand which included the establishment of educational institutions, like the Gurukul Kangri University and re-conversion of former Hindus. His death at the hands of a Muslim fanatic caused religious strife in India.
Biography
He was born on 22 February 1856 in the village of Talwan in the Jalandhar District of the Punjab Province of India. He name of Brihaspati, but later he was called Munshi Ram by his father, a name that stayed with him till he took Sanyas later in life. He was the youngest in the family. His school education began at Varanasi and ended at Lahore. His father, Lala Nanak Chand, was a policeman in the East India Company administered United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). His early education was interrupted because of his father being transferred to different locations. Despite this handicap he became a successful lawyer, and his interest grew in the Arya Samaj.
He married Shiwa Devi but when he was only 35 years old she died and he was left with two sons and two daughters. In 1917 he became a Sanyasi and took the name of Swami Shraddhanand. He established a Gurukul in Kangri near Haridwar which is now a recognised University known as Gurukul Kangri University in 1902. After his return from South Africa, Gandhi stayed at this place and met Shraddhanand, and it was during his 1915 visit to the University that he gave the MK Gandhi the title of Mahatma, something he was called by for the rest of his life .
Swami Shraddhanand wrote on religious issues in both Hindi and Urdu. He published newspapers in the two languages as well. He promoted Hindi in the Devanagri script according to Swami Dayanand's wishes. He promoted the shuddhi movement (re-conversion to Hinduism), and turned into an important force in Hinduism He also took part in the independence movement. He helped the poor and promoted the education of women.
On 23 December 1926 he was assassinated by a Muslim fanatic named Abdul Rashid at his Naya Bazar residence in Delhi
Today, the 'Swami Shraddhanand Kaksha' at the Archeological Museum, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar houses a photographic journey of his life
Bibliography
- Hindu Sangathan: Saviour of the Dying Race, by Swami Shraddhanand. Published by s.n., 1924.
Further reading
- Swami Shraddhanand, by K.N. Kapur. Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Jallandhar, 1978.
- Swami Shraddhanand: His Life and Causes, by J. T. F. Jordens. Published by Oxford University Press, 1981.
- Section Two:Swami Shraddhanand . Modern Indian Political Thought, by Vishwanath Prasad Varma. Published by Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, 1961. Page 447.
- Chapt XI: Swami Shraddhanand. Advanced Study in the History of Modern India : 1920-1947. by G. S. Chhabra. Published by Sterling Publishers, 1971. Page 211
- Swami Shraddhanand - Indian freedom fighters: struggle for independence. Anmol Publishers, 1996. ISBN 8174882685.
- Telegram to Swami Shraddhanand, (October 2, 1919) - Collected Works, by Gandhi. Published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, 1958. v.16. 'Page 203.
References
- 'Lage raho' maker in the eye of a storm Times of India, Nov 10, 2006.
- Shuddhi Movement in India: A Study of Its Socio-political Dimensions, by R. K. Ghai. Published by Commonwealth Publishers, 1990. Page 43.
- December 23rd is the Shardanand Balidhan Divas Arya Samaj.
- Archaeological Museum Gurukul Kangri University
- "SWAMI SHRADDHANAND : A MARTYR MAHATMA". Retrieved 2007-10-08.