TRIBUTE TO SWAMI SHRADDHANAND
Swami
Shraddhanand.
Feb-2nd 1856 to Dec.23rd
1926.
There had been many shining stars who
worked for the propogation of the philosophy and principles of Arya Samaj that
was founded by the great visionary Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 and Swami Shraddhanand was one
of them.
His achievements in the
realm of spiritualism, social service, Vedic education, national cohesion,
Shuddhi movement, to attain Swaraj and carrying the wisdom of Vedas far and
wide and above all in keeping the flag of OM flying was his mission and for
that he attained martyrdom.
He was rather reluctantly to
join any political party because he thought that it might
interfere in his Spiritual and Educational work and yet he was in the forefront
leading a crowd of protesters in Delhi against the British government.
When British officer of an
armed detachment under his command wanted to disperse the freedom fighters by
using force of bayonets, it was he Shraddhanand Sanyasi who bared his chest and
asked the soldiers to fire at him first before opening fire on the
protesters. Wisdom dawned on the British officers and ordered soldiers to fall
back and an ugly situation was averted. The protesting masses comprising Hindus
and Muslims applauded the Arya Sanyasi.
On 4th April
1919 a large crowd of Muslims assembled in the Jama Masjid, Delhi to mourn the
dead freedom fighters in police firing elsewhere in Delhi The prominent leaders
came to Swami Shraddhanand to invite him to address the mourners in the mosque.
The Arya Sanyasi began his address with a Ved mantra from
Rigved mantra.
AUM
tvam hi nah pita vaso tvam mata shatkrato babhuvith.
Aghate sumnimahe.
AUM SHANTIH SHANTIH.
Swami
Sraddhananda and Arya Samaj Movement spearheaded a successful Shuddhi movement
to bring back converted tens of thousands of Indian Muslims back to Hinduism.
Muslims could not bear it. They turned intolerant.
On 23 December
1926.Swami Shraddhanand who was convalescing after an attack of bronchial
pneumonia. A man of Islamic background under the
pretext to discuss some religious matters with the Swami Ji came and to be
alone asked the attendant to go and get a glass of water and while he was away
took out a revolver and fired two rounds at the swami pointblank. His attendant
who heard the shots came in to his assistant was also shot but he held on to
him until the police arrived.
Swami Shraddhanand lived as a Karmayogi and died doing his karma.
Kewal Ahluwalia.