The world needs not just enlightened leaders, but enlightened followers

Following the greats Ramesh Seth Indian Express: Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Without capable followers what use are leaders’ legacies?

Leaders appear only at rare moments. They leave their imprint and depart. It is for their followers to carry their legacies forward. Without capable followers, there would be no leaders. Without St Paul, there would have been no Christianity. Without Swami Vivekanand, the Ramakrishna Mission would not have come about. There are numerous other examples. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, was one of the greatest and most learned of men India has ever produced. As a profound Sanskrit scholar, he understood the nuances of old Sanskrit texts in a way that was in consonance with the Indian traditions and sensibilities.

In 1875 Swami Dayanand established the Arya Samaj in Bombay. His message was simple: go back to Vedic simplicity and discard the ritualism, idol worship and other ills. He was fired by his mission to change contemporary Hindu society and take it back to its Vedic greatness. An early votary of the widespread dissemination of education in general, and female education in particular, he called for open, enlightened minds.

However, since he was born in the first half of 19th century, his views on education were not as open. He promoted the ideals of the old gurukul system, in which pride of place was accorded to Sanskrit and the teachings were to be confined to ancient knowledge. He was against Western education and the study of the English language.

After his death his followers decided to perpetuate his memory by setting up new educational institutes. The movement was torn asunder. Some of his more far-seeing followers questioned the need to start new gurukuls, given the modern-day realities. They thought it was necessary to impart an education in English and in the sciences, rather than a Vedic style education. This split the Arya Samaj movement into two camps: the gurukul camp and the school camp.

As early as in 1886, the school camp started the first D.A.V. (Dayanand Anglo Vernacular) School in Lahore. More schools, including those for girls, followed. The Gurukul camp lost the race. Today, while there are only a handful of gurukuls, there are thousands of D.A.V. schools all over the country. Here then is the supreme irony. While Swami Dayanand had wanted the widespread promotion of education and had spoken against Western style education, some of his far-sighted followers reasoned that his real message was the need to educate everyone, including women.

His aims would be best served in the modern era by the spread of a widespread network of D.A.V. schools rather than gurukuls. Because of their constructive and realistic approach, they could bring Swami Dayanand’s message to millions of Indians. The world needs not just enlightened leaders, but enlightened followers. ramesh.seth@expressindia.com