History of Arya Samaj Movement in Mauritius
Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj, never visited any foreign country. As such, he did not come to Mauritius to launch the Arya Samaj movement. Instead, it was his magnum opus, the Satyartha Prakasha (The Light of Truth) that did so. This masterpiece of Swamiji reached our shores way back in 1898 and stimulated a handful of progressive people to set up a branch of the Arya Samaj on our soil.
How the Satyartha Prakasha reached Mauritius makes very interesting reading indeed. The story goes to the effect that in 1898 a troop from Bengal came to Mauritius. Among the Bengali soldiers was one Shri Bholanath Tiwari who had two books in his possession – the ‘Satyartha Prakasha’ and the ‘Sanskara Vidhi’. While he was planning to leave Mauritius in 1901, he handed the two books to Mr Bhikharisingh , a resident of Vacoas. The latter was not able to understand the language of these books. He passed them on to Pandit Meghvarna. From him the books reached Messrs Khemlal Lallah and Ramsurrun Moti respectively. Both went through their contents and were deeply impressed. They showed the Satyartha Prakasha to their friend , Mr Guruprasad Daljeetlal. The latter read it with keen interest and, in turn, showed it to Mr Jagmohan Gopal who was equally overwhelmed. Consequently, they started regular ‘Satsangs’ on the Satyartha Prakasha which eventually led to the establishment of the first Arya Samaj Movement in Mauritius.
The founder of the first Arya Samaj
Khemlal Lallah, also known as Tota Lallah, has the merit of being the founder of the first Arya Samaj in Mauritius. His father Gorachand Lallah was an orthodox Hindu. When he passed away, there was a ‘shraddha’ – worship for the departed soul on the bank of a river in Curepipe.
The officiating priest, Pandit Rambahal, who was very popular in those times, told Khemal Lallah to shave his head and moustache so that he could participate in the religious rites.
Khemlal Lallah was rebuked by his near and dear. However, as he had already read in the Satyartha Prakash that nothing should be done for the departed soul after the corpse has been cremated, he was firm in his decision and adhered to what he had read.
Those were the days when illiteracy, ignorance, superstitions, blind beliefs and religious malpractices were rife in Mauritius. As a brave and fearless missionary, Khemlal Lallah stood against many social and religious ills. In the words of Pandit Atmaram Vishwanath, he was the Abhimanyu of the Mahabharata (a hero of the epic Mahabharata).
It is thanks to his tireless efforts that the Arya Samaj was first established in Mauritius. Khemlal Lallah was an indefatigable missionary who, inspired by the teachings of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, set himself the task of propagating Vedic Dharma in Mauritius.
His followers and he were not satisfied with many aspects of the practices prevalent in Hindu Society. As they were fearlessly uttering criticisms against blind orthodoxy and, in the process condemning religious malpractices, the first Arya Samaj unfortunately had to discontinue its activities in the face of mounting opposition.
Orthodox Hindus were not too eager to see a reformist movement like the Arya Samaj flourish. It meant a challenge to their privileges. Khemlal Lallah, however, was made of a different mettle. He did not lose heart and did his best to assemble some people who were interested in the cause of the Arya Samaj so as to reactivate the dormant society.
The Second Arya Samaj
In 1907, the Arya Samaj rose from its ashes to start functioning once more in Curepipe. Some people were motivated to attend the weekly ‘Satsangs’ (religious gatherings). Gradually, the number of participants increased. But, as the leaders were involved in condemning some blind beliefs and raising their voices against animal sacrifice, worship of gods and goddesses as well as worship of departed souls – ‘Shraddha’, the orthodox Hindus did not appreciate any reform in their way of thinking. Hence, the second Samaj too, had to put an end to its activities within a short while.
The Third Arya Samaj
Messrs. Khemlal, Daljeetlal and Jagmohan Gopal met regularly at ‘Satsangs’ where they read the ‘Satyartha Prakasha’ and discussed its contents. They firmly believed that if its teachings, were properly disseminated and followed, many evil practices would be eliminated. Therefore, the Arya Samaj was again established on April 1st 1910 in an empty house of Mr Jankee, at Abbe Laval Street, Curepipe Road with the help of a dynamic group of forty seven members.
Messrs. Khemlal Lallah, Guruprasad Daljeetlal, Harnamsingh, Damodar Ramdin, Tapsi, Jagmohan Gopal, Ramkhelawon Boodhun were among its active members. Shri Khemlal Lallah became its President while Shri Guruprasad Daljeetlal and Shri Jagmohan Gopal, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
The third Arya Samaj had a life – span of seven months.Its early death is explained mainly by the absence of most of its members at the weekly ‘Satsangs’. The other reason is that there was no one to lead it as the two founder members, Shri Khemlal Lallah and Shri Guruprasad Daljeetlal, had moved from Curepipe to Richelieu and Port Louis respectively. There was no one at the helm of the Arya Samaj to steer it smoothly. Due to the absence of a proper pilot this Arya samaj, too, had to put an early end to its activities.
The Port Louis Arya Samaj
According to Mr Ramdhun Poorun and Shri Mohunlall Mohith ‘The Port Louis Arya Samaj’ was founded on 8th May 1911, in the Hindu Hotel , at Prince Regent Street in the presence of 17 people , including Manilal doctor. The office-bearers were: Khemlal Lallah , President ; Guruprasad Duljeetlal , Secretary ; Khersingh , Treasure and Pandit Gayasingh , book keeper. The members were Pandit Jugannath , Pandit Rammanohar. Jagmohan Gopal , Hurnam Singh , Ramjilal , Govind Gopal , Juglal Luggeram , Saddiram , Mahavir and Madholal’.
The Port Louis Arya Samaj had no locale of its own. A room was hired in the house of Barrister Manilal Doctor for ten rupees monthly at no. 8 , Champ des Mars Road. There , weekly ‘Satsangs’ were held on Sundays. After a few months , Mr Ramjilal graciously opened the doors of his house for the activities of the Samaj. Henceforth , all activities were carried out there as long as the ‘Dayananda Dharmashala’ was not built.
It is thanks to the dedication of its founding fathers that the Arya Samaj could come in possession of a plt of land at 16 , Frere Felix de Valois Street , Port Louis. On the same plot of land today, is situated the Arya Bhawan. At the outset it was referred to as ‘Dayananda Dharmashala’.
The land was bought on September 17th , 1912 for the sum of Rs 6 , 000 (six thousand rupees. The Arya Samaj Mauritius was then known as the ‘Arya Paropkarini Sabha’.
The Registration of the Arya Paropkarini Sabha
Though the Arya Samaj was established in 1911 in Port Louis , it was registered on 5th December , 1913 under the appelation ‘Arya Paropkarini Sabha’. In so far as its registration is concerned , an extract from the Register of Transcriptions made at the Mortgage Office in the island of Mauritius – Volume 303 No. 337 E. 7. S. 3. No. 3 at the date of the fifth day of December one thousand nine hundred and thirteen states the following :-
Before Mr Dieudonne Louis Vincent Vele , a Notary Public , in and for the island of Mauritius , residing at Port Louis, undersigned personally appeared
