Book title

Oxford Bibliographies in Hinduism

Arya Samaj

Authors

• Vanya Vaidehi Bhargav, National Law School of India University, BengaluruFollow

Abstract

Founded in 1875 by Dayanand Saraswati (b. 1824–d. 1883), the Arya Samaj (the Society of Nobles), became one of the most influential Hindu socio-religious reform movements in north India in the twentieth century, gaining widespread popularity in Punjab and the United Provinces. The Samaj’s relationship to Hindu nationalism is the subject of scholarly debate, with many arguing that it laid ground for the later Hindu nationalism represented by the Hindu Mahasabha, V.D. Savarkar, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Recommended Citation

Bhargav, Vanya Vaidehi, "Arya Samaj" (2026). Book Chapters. 43.
https://repository.nls.ac.in/book_chapters/43

Publisher

Oxford Academic

Year

2025