• Among the major socio-religions movements of India, the Arya Samaj played a pivotal role in spreading the socio-political renaissance in Nizam’s dominion, It took a political colour in Hyderabad State.
• The foundation of Arya Samaj can be considered as the first step of Vedic reformist movement. According to the definition given by Arya Samaj, the word Hindu is wrong. There are no Hindus. All of them are Aryans. Arya Samajists claim that the meaning of Hindu is slave and the word Hindu was propagated widely by the foreigners to present them as the slaves or servants. Aray Samaj was founded to defend Vedic religion from the attack of Islam in North India.

Swami Dayananda Saraswathi

• Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswathi in 1885 at Bombay. He explained the significance of Vedas with the slogan Go back to Vedas. His aim was to re-establish the supremacy of Vedas, the earliest Hindu scriptures, as revealed truth. The Book written by him was Satyartha Prakashika in Hindi.
• It is the holy text of Arya Samaj. He propagated the principles of Arya Samaj through a journal named Vedic Adarsha (1934). It was banned by the Nizam’s government in 1935. He criticized Christian, Islam and Sikh religions in Satyarth Prakashika.
• Satyartha Prakashika was translated into Telugu by Adịpadi SomanathaSwami Dayananda Saraswati Rao. Swami Dayananda criticized all religions and emphasized that Vedic religion is the paramount among al. He asks all Arya Samajis to perform Sandhya Vandan.

Principles of Arya Samaj

• The Shodasa Samskaras (16 rites) of Manu dharma must be accepted and practiced. No one is born with a certain caste. People become Brahaman, Kshatriya, Vyshya or Shudra (4 Varnas) based on their profession. Vedas are eternal and supreme. Idol worship, religious rites and priesthood are condemned. Polytheism, unnecessary sacrifices and rituals, untouchability are prohibited. Aryyśamaj- Hyderabad Branch (1892)
• In 1890, the first branch of Tharoor Arya Samaj was founded in Hyderabad state. The Hyderabad branch ofArya Samaj was founded by Swami Nityananda and Girijananda Saraswathí in 1892. President – Kamla Pershad, Secretary- Lakshman Deshji. Renowned personalities of Hyderabad like Kesavarao Koratkar, Vaman Nayak, Damodar Palekar and Aghoranath Chattopadhyaya joined the members of Arya Samaj and promoted its activities by explaining the importance of Vedas to the common public.
• Kesavarao Koratkar (Former Chief justice of Hyderabad) served as the President of Arya Samaj until 1932. He translated Satyarth Prakasika by Dayananda Saraswati into Telugu. He along with Vamanrao Nayak and Ganapatirao Hardhikar founded Viveka Vardhini School in 1907.
• Note: It is the earliest Telugu school founded in Hyderabad.
• Some businessmen annoyed by the pressure of Muslims extended their support to Arya Samaj. MIM and Anjuman Tabliq Islam with the support of Nizam’s government started the Tabligh movement to convert Hindus Dalits) into Islam. Bahadur Yar ung the President of MIM sent a secret circular ordering to convert Dalits to Islam.
• It was informed to Arya Samaj by a postal employee named Venkata Swamy.The Arya Samaj initiated the Shuddhi movement against Tabligh and to reconvert to Hinduism.

Shuddhi movement

• The Arya Samaj leader who was killed by a Muslim leader Khaza Hasan Nizam for was organized by organizing Shuddhi movement- Shraddhananda.
• The Arya Samaj leaders who were expelled by the Nizam government in 1894 for organizing Shuddhi movement- Balakrishna Sharma, Nityananda.
• The Nizam government imposed many restrictions on the activities ofArya Samaj.
• The leaders of Ama Samaj who were detained by the Nizam government- Viswananda Saraswathi, Vidyananda Brahmachari. In 1929, a Muslim named Siddique Deendar insulted Hindu deities by claiming himself as Channa Basaveshwara. The members of Arya Samaj held many meetings to counter his propaganda.
• The Arya Samaj organized many programmes such as preaching the Satyartha Prakash and performing Havanakunda (holy fires) in 1930 to attack the allegations against Hindu society. TheNizam prohibited the Haves and the activities of Arya Samaj without prior approval of the government in 1934. The government magazine ofArya Samaj Vaidik Adarsh was banned in Nizam State in 1934.
• In December 1938, Shyamlal, an Arya Samaj leader was poisoned to death at Bidar.

Satyagraha of Arya Samaj

• Communal riots occurred at Dhoolpet in 1939. The representative of Arya Sabha appealed to the Nizam to enquire into the incident. It was refused by the Nizam. The Police detained only Hindus whenever such incidents happened.
• To protest against the partiality, Sarvadeshik Arya Samaj took up Satyagraha under the leadership of Mahatma Narayan Swami. On 24 October 1938, Hindu Civil Liberty Union started Satyagraha against the Nizam government and to secure civil rights for Hindus. It took full form by February 1939. About 1200 Satyagrahis were detained by July.
• So, the government was forced to climb down. Lala Desh Bandhu Gupta on behalf of Arya Samaj Sabha participated in negotiations with the government and withdrew the Satyagraha on 7 August 1939

• Arya Samaj extensively propagated the Swadeshi movement. The ideology of Swadeshi movement was spread from the residences of famous people. The government expelled many of them from the state. Some leaders left the State and continued their campaign. The government imposed strict restrictions on temples and Bhajan mandals.
• The members of Arya Samaj were untouchables in the view of the government from 1942 to 1948. Their houses, shops and of their friends were often attacked or torched. In March 1942, some Muslims fired on their procession and four Arya Samajists were dead. The Arya Samajists were punished when a similar incident occurred at Nagarkurnool. Riots occurred in Nizamabad during the Dussehra festival. The members of Arya Samaj founded hundreds of schools without the aid of the government.
• On 2 September 1947, the flag was hoisted at Parakala. The police opened fire and 15 people died and more than 250 persons were injured. Arya Samaj tried to protect Hindus before police action by founding shelters at the border areas.
• Pandit Narendarji described that ‘Hyderabad state was a vast prison. The government imprisoned Narendraji under sedition for giving such slogans. The members of Arya Samaj organized Hyderabad Day in 1039. The activities of Arya Samaj at Warangal fort were started in 1942. Bolusugodu Achari, a member of Arva Sabha founded Sadhanagandi, a gym at Warangal.
• A social activist Bathini Mogilaiah developed this gym by showing special attention.He hoisted National Aag on Warangal fort. The Razakars murdered Mogilayya on 11th August 1946 for hoisting the flag.It is the first political murder in Telangana.
• Note: Bhupati Krishnamurthy participated along with him in hoisting the flag. Mogilayya was murdered by Lakhadi Master Pahilwan. Wife of Mogilaiah- Lachchamma.
• Pandit Narendarji was a prominent leader of Arya Sabha in Nizam dominion. He extended the activities ofArya Samaj throughout Nizam state.Onthe invitationof Kaloji, he attended the meeting held at Warangal to intensify the movement against the Nizam. Kaloji Narayana Rao had written a poem Dharyam leni Daddammalaku Dhairyam Cheppaka eenadu on Narendraji.

All India Arya Samaj Conference (December 1938- Sholapur)

• It was presided over by Loknayak Sri Madhava Rao.
• Chief guest -Vír Savarkar
• Savarkar extended his full support to the Hyderabad movement. He warned the Nizam that he had to face an intense movement if he did not agree the demands ofHindus.

Activities of Arya Samaj in Telangana

• The centre of Arya Samaj came into existence in the city of Hyderabad in the year 1892. Sultan Bazar became active centre of the Arya Samaj.
• By 1938 Arya Samaj had 250 branches in the State, twenty of which were located in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
• The Arya Samaj used to give fitting reply to the Nizam’s operations during 1930’
• Nizam Administration issued Circular No. 53, which forbidden all annual meetings of Arya Samaj in 1937. But the Arya Samajists protested against it by making celebrations without any prior sanction.
• Some local dignitaries of Suryapet decided to buy a building for Arya Samaj to help the activities of Arya Samaj against the tyrannical rule of Nizam. In achieving this task, many renowned persons like Yama Kannayya, Nakirekanti Ramalingam, Uppala Venkanna, Gavva Amrutha Reddy and Kodati Venkateswara Rao extended their support to Bommagani Dharmabhiksham. The building became a center for enthusiastic youth, students, social reformers and freedom fighters. Everyday at 4 am, the members of Arya Samaj uttered the words Jai Bolo so Abhay vai devarki Jai’.
• The tradition of sacrificing animals before their Ghadis by Doras, Deshmukhs and landlords on the occasion of Dussehra was practiced for ages. The members of Arya Samaj wanted to stop that tradition.
• Under the leadership of Bommagani Dharmabhiksham, they gave a representation to Suryapet deshmukh Kunduru Lakshmí Kantha Rao to stop animal sacrifice. Deshmukh tore the paper before them.
• The protestors strongly condemned his action. The Deshmukhs of Sirikonda, Vatti Khammam Pahad and Eapuru accepted their appeal and celebrated the festival by breaking pumpkins. The Yadavas of Durajpally in the vicinity of Suryapet celebrate Lingamanthula Swamy Jathara every two years.
• They sacrifice a sheep at this event. The Arya Samajis wanted to appeal to them to stop animal sacrifice. They at least wanted to propagate the message if stopping was not possible.
• Dharamabhiksham invented the Anti animal sacrifice Bhajana group headed by Lalji Meghji from Hyderabad. The Bhajana group started singing after setting up camps on the hillock. They raised slogans and showed cardboard placards.
• On the second day of the Jathara, a rumor spread that the gamblers cheated the public and attacked Muslims if they appeared. The people pursued Muslims. The Muslims in the town started to the hillock with swords and weapons.
• The Hindus on the other side stood along the road to attack Muslims and a terrible situation was created. So, the police-imposed section 144. The President of Arya Samaj who participated in Anti Nizam protests in 1947- M.R.Shyam Rao.
• Narayana Rao, a member of Krantidal of Arya Samaj made an attempt on the life of Nizam on 4h December 1947. The Nizam escaped unhurt.
• The Arya Samaj took up constructive activities also. After the death of Keshav Rao Koratkar, his son Vinayak rao Vidyalankar became the President of Arya Samaj and Pandit Narendraji became its secretary. In memory of Keshav Rao, they founded Keshav Memorial Educational Institution on 29 July 1940 at Narayanguda in Hyderabad. It started training centers named Upadeshak Vidyalaya at Nalgonda.
• Arya Samaj in its 6 Annual meeting passed a resolution demanding the Hyderabad dominion to join the Union of India and to establish a responsible government. When the Hindus migrated to other places due to the atrocities of Razakars, Arya Samaj established shelters for them. In this manner, the Arya Samaj provided immense services in social, cultural and political sectors of Telangana.
• In order to mobilise public opinion against the despotism of the Nizam government, the Arya Samaj conducted annual meetings inviting people from various parts of Country.
• When Nizam Government did not permit non-Hyderabadis to enter the State, Arya Samajists defied the orders and entered the State to support the movement against Nizam through Sholapur, Vijayawada, Barsi, Ahmadnagar, Manmad, Poona and Chand. They were arrested and imprisoned in various jails of the State and some of them died out of starvation to uphold the cause of patriotism.
• The spirit of martyrdom of Arya Samajists continued to be exhibited in 1942 “Do or Die” movement, “Join Union” movement of 1946-47 and “Border” movement of 1947-48. This saga of sacrifice provoked the sentiments of the people and inspired them to develop the political consciousness.
• About seventy per cent of the nationalists of Hyderabad Karnataka belonged to the Arya Samaj. Arya Samaj served as a training ground for the nationalists of this region.

Analyze the role of Arya Samaj in the socio-religious reforms in Hyderabad during the late 19th and early 20th centuries