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Arya Samaj movement marks 100 years in Guyana

Jul 18, 2010 News

The Arya Samaj movement in Guyana will mark 100 years of existence this year with a number of celebrations.
According to Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj Mandir, the centenary celebrations in Guyana will take place during July and August of this year. He said that “An elaborate programme is being implemented across the country, to highlight the outstanding achievements of Arya Samaj and the promotion of Vedic Sanatan Dharma.”
Some of the other activities planned are a Pandits’ training seminar which started yesterday and continues today. Another project is the ongoing research to produce a book on the history of Arya Samaj in Guyana.
A brief history is presented in a souvenir magazine that will be released in August. The celebration committee has also planned a number of medical outreaches and blood drives at different locations around the country.
The blood drives will all be attempting to gather some 100 units for donation to the blood bank in commemoration of the centenary of the movement. The organisers also intend to engage in a number of community projects such as the rehabilitation of the Help and Shelter building in Georgetown, distribution of hundreds of hampers to the poor and needy and the establishment of an orphanage at Port Mourant and a shelter for persons with social problems.
The Arya Samaj movement saw its origins in 1875 when it was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswatie who declared that this was not to be a new religion but a return to the teachings of the Vedas – the oldest books known to mankind.
Swami Dayanand Saraswatie was also a proponent of independence as we know it, being one of the first to call for ‘Swaraj’ or self-rule in India.
The movement took root here in Guyana through the efforts of a visiting missionary from India, Bhai Parmanand. The movement advocates self rule and opposes the caste system, instead supporting the view that birth is not a determining factor in one’s ability to become a Pandit but rather proper training and impeccable character.
Gender equality, especially in the sphere of education and rights is another area of concern. The first Hindu female priests were Arya Samajists.
In communities that are home to centres of the movement, the organisation aggressively promotes knowledge-based activities for young people. Among these are the teachings of Hindi along with special emphasis being placed on children, especially girls attending school full time. Child marriages are also denounced. The movement insists that all youths should spend their formative years pursuing the highest forms of education before entering family lives.

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