Swami Shraddhanand, known as Mahatma Munshi Ram Vij, was an Arya Samaj sannyasi and an Indian Independence activist who propagated the teachings of Dayananda Saraswati.
19 Facts About Swami Shraddhanand
2.
Swami Shraddhanand was born on 22 February 1856 in the village of Talwan in the Jalandhar District of the Punjab Province of India.
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Swami Shraddhanand was the youngest child in the family of Lala Nanak Chand, who was a Police Inspector in the United Provinces, then administered by the East India Company.
4.
Swami Shraddhanand's given name was Brihaspati Vij, but later he was called Munshi Ram Vij by his father, a name that stayed with him till he took sanyas in 1917, variously as Lala Munshi Ram Vij and Mahatma Munshi Ram.
5.
Swami Shraddhanand adopted atheism after a few incidents, such as when he was prevented from entering the temple while a noble woman was praying.
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Swami Shraddhanand eventually passed mukhtari exams and began studying to become a lawyer.
7.
Swami Shraddhanand first met Dayanand Saraswati when Dayanand visited Bareilly to give lectures.
8.
Swami Shraddhanand's father was handling arrangements and security at the events, due to the attendance of some prominent personalities and British officers.
9.
Swami Shraddhanand originally went with the intent of spoiling the arrangements, then claimed to be strongly influenced by Dayanand's courage, skill, and strong personality.
10.
Swami Shraddhanand left the organization and formed the Punjab Arya Samaj.
11.
In 1917, Swami Shraddhanand left Gurukul to become an active member of the Hindu reform movements and the Indian Independence movement.
12.
Swami Shraddhanand began working with the Congress, which he invited to hold its session at Amritsar in 1919.
13.
Swami Shraddhanand joined the nationwide protest against the Rowlatt Act.
14.
Swami Shraddhanand Shradhanand was the only Hindu Sanyasi who addressed a huge gathering from the minarets of the main Jama Masjid New Delhi, for national solidarity and vedic dharma starting his speech with the recitation of ved mantras.
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Swami Shraddhanand wrote on religious issues in both Hindi and Urdu.
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Swami Shraddhanand published newspapers in the two languages as well.
17.
Swami Shraddhanand promoted Hindi in the Devanagri script, helped the poor and promoted the education of women.
18.
Swami Shraddhanand's wife died when Shraddhanand was only 36 years old.
19.
Swami Shraddhanand's granddaughter Satyavati was a prominent opponent of the British rule in India.