Swami Dayanand the founder of Arya Samay, was not only a great Vedic Scholar and social reformer but also an original polocal thinker He is rightly acclaimed as torchbearer of modern India. He showed the way of progress in all walks of life religious, social and political Ile was the first to give the ideas of Swarajya (self- government) and Swadeshi (use of goods made in one's own country) to the people of this country. He has influenced many modern political thinkers and leaders of India Dayanand put forth political ideas which were far ahead of his times. India of Swami Dayanand's time (1824-83) was under the British rule. having no self- governing institutions. Democracy was unknown in India. and it was in its preliminary stages even in Europe.