"No matter how good the foreign rule may be, cannot match Swarajya." Whose views are expressed in this statement?

Correct option is D

The statement “No matter how good the foreign rule may be, it cannot match Swarajya” reflects the nationalistic and reformist ideology of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He was the first modern Indian thinker to assert that Swarajya (self-rule) is preferable to even the most benevolent foreign governance. This conviction was part of his vision to revive Vedic values and foster national pride among Indians. In 1876, he gave the powerful slogan “India for Indians,” considered one of the earliest expressions of the call for Swarajya in modern India.
Swami Dayananda believed that even a weak or flawed native government is better than a foreign one, because self-rule nurtures self-respect, responsibility, and national development, which no external ruler can provide. His ideas laid the ideological foundation for later political movements demanding complete independence, and greatly influenced leaders like Lokmanya Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai.
Information Booster:
• Swami Dayananda founded the Arya Samaj in 1875, promoting Vedic values and reforms.
• His slogan “India for Indians” became a base for early nationalist sentiment.
• He opposed Western cultural domination and urged the revival of indigenous institutions.
• Dayananda emphasized education, women’s rights, and the use of Swadeshi goods.
• He believed that political freedom was essential for spiritual and social progress.
Additional Knowledge:
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy: A pioneer of social reform and founder of Brahmo Samaj, Roy worked against practices like sati and child marriage, and promoted women’s rights and modern education. He believed British constitutional governance had certain merits and supported gradual reform through British frameworks.
• Swami Vivekananda: A key figure in India’s spiritual and cultural revival, Vivekananda advocated self-confidence and national unity, stressing that a spiritually awakened nation would naturally demand self-rule.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak: A radical nationalist, Tilak is famously known for the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” He demanded immediate self-rule and initiated mass political mobilization through the Home Rule Movement.