Where has Arya Samaj failed?

My vision of the Arya Samaj in the 21st century

Late Shri. Mohinder Bhalla

(Priest Arya Samaj Markham)

Arya Samaj is a sleeping giant and, it has been in a state of slumber for a long time. It is time it woke up in order to play its proper role on the world stage in the 21st century. This is the age of electronic communication and this technology is developing rapidly. This is the age when spirituality is going to take centre stage. A few weeks ago the International Monetary Fund - I M F invited scholars from all religious denominations to study the life style of people in almost all countries of the world in relation to spirituality. A Hindu is also a member of this study group. You are right in thinking that he is not from Arya Samaj and, how could he be? Arya Samaj is not on the world map. Buddhists, Hare Krishna, Vedanta and even Osho have made places for themselves.

Where has Arya Samaj failed? I would say, in two major areas. One, Public Relations and secondly by sticking to the past glories. Yes, our past has been superlatively glorious but that was the ancient past - almost pre-historic. Our very survival in the 21st century will be at stake if we do not come out of this cocoon. We will have to face changes without compromising our principles. We will have to sharpen our image and, we will have to engage in aggressive Public Relations’ exercise in order to showcase our profile. The best arena for all this is

‘MAHARISHI VYAS BHOOMI”- North America. American soil, it appears, is the most fertile land for the propagation of eastern philosophy

Sarvadeshak Pratinidhi Sabhas of India, though a resourceful body doesn’t have the will to exercise its role and give direction to the movement. Moreover, they are not alive to the needs of Arya Samajes in foreign countries perhaps for want of a vision.

I am of the firm opinion that Arya Pratinidhi Sabha North America should take it upon itself to project itself as a guiding stars for ‘Paar Deshiyee’ Arya samajes. We will have to have a unified front in order to forge ahead. We will have to pool our resources in order to translate Rishi’s mission into action. Fortunately, we have managed to acquire a number of properties, which I think, should induce responsibility in the society. Now that we have our fixed abode, we need to utilize the facilities to the best of our needs. The foremost demand of the 21st century is that Arya Samaj becomes a high - tech society. The other day my attention was drawn to an article published in a local weekly, criticizing Arya Samaj and Mahrishi Daya Nanda and his works, especially Satyarath Prakash. The article was written by Osho - Bhagwan Rajnish, and was circulated in the cyber space (that is what the editor of the weekly said that he had picked it from). A latest addition to the Saturday TV religious programmes in Toronto, Canada is ‘Christ in Vedas’. Since the knowledge of Vedas is being widely acknowledged as true knowledge, various denominations are trying to hijack this true source of knowledge. No doubt, Internet is a powerful medium of propaganda and is now readily available through cable at our television sets at home. Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America deserves a pat on his back by providing an Internet page for Arya Samaj, but it requires more aggressive approach and more meaningful material relevant to the new – “look Arya Samaj”. Arya Samaj of the 21st century. Print media and television should be extensively used to propagate the message of the Rishi. Based on my broadcasting experience I can firmly state that television programmes, if produced professionally, can easily fetch sponsors.

My vision of the Arya Samaj in the 21st century is of a high tech Arya Samaj with no boundaries.

The ten principles of Arya Samaj are as good today as they were in yester years, and they are going to remain good for the 21st century, also. These principles when conjoined, pose a statement that this movement is a socio-politico-econo-spiritual organization and, it should project itself as such. It has a vast jurisdiction and should embrace any field which concerns the welfare of humanity. It should operate in a high profile by young technocrats. We must refuse to accept stereotypes and we must use this opportunity to stimulate urgent thought about long term awareness patterns. We need to find some way of giving voice to the youth - our children. We must create a responsible organization, not failing in its vocation to serve the whole people. We need leaders in our society who will unite and not divide the Pariwar. We must bequeath a fragrant legacy to our children that they feel proud of.

My vision of the Arya Samaj in the 21st century is that it is run by people who are noble to the letter and who live the ten principles of the Arya Samaj and that it is an accessible society which inculcates good faith, tolerance and respect for opinions which we do not share. My Arya Samaj in the 21st century is a society which believes that it is an ethical way where we have to treat other people as friends or potential friends. My vision of Arya Samaj is that it gains a position of intellectual might in that it takes over the true representation of Vedic Religion in the 21st century.

(Article Courtesy Kewal Ahluwalia)