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Suriname has the highest proportion of Hindus who are Arya Samajis compared to any other country. (see Arya Samaj) In Suriname, the Hindu population had split with roughly 20% following the teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj, and 80% following the Sanatan Dharam.[1] The arrival of Arya Samaj preachers in Suriname, in 1929, caused a rift in the Hindu community, between the followers of Sanatana Dharma and the Arya Samaj. The Arya Samaj preachers led a boycott of the Muslims that put an end to the close social and cultural contacts that had existed within the Indian community.[2]
Arya Samaj was initially established in Suriname in 1911 when Professor Parmanand, a Vedic missionary from India visited the West Indies. The arrival of another preacher from India, Pandit Jaimini, led to the formation of the Arya Dewakar Maha Sabha in 1929. In 1930, the Sabha was registered as a religious body. In 1932 training of Vedic priests was started and in 1933 and orphanage was established. In 1956 a bigger temple was built and in 1967 a second orphanage was built. The Arya Mahila Samaj (Arya Women's Society) was established in 1948, which assisted in the orphanage and Vedic preaching.
The Sabha owns numerous schools where Hindi and Dutch are taught. The teaching of Hindi is promoted by the Sabha and, since 50% of the people of Surinam speak the language, attempts are being made to have Hindi recognised as an official language. Hindi teachers from Surinam have travelled to the Netherlands, where there is a significant ex-Surinam population, to promote the language. A Hindi periodical, Arya Dewakar, is also being published.
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Surinam was established on 13 October 1935 and was recognised by the government as a religious body on 17 April 1945. A Caribbean Vedic Parishad has been established and annual conferences are held with Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Surinam, American Aryan League of Guyana and Trinidad Arya Pratinidhi Sabha taking part. [3]
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