Consider the following statements I. Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875. II. The Arya Samaj repudiated the authority of the caste system. III. Dayanand Saraswati was born in the Brahman family. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Statement I is correct as Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Bombay on April 10, 1875 [c1][c2][t5]. Statement II is correct because the Arya Samaj strongly repudiated the authority of the hereditary caste system, advocating for a social structure based on merit and Vedic principles rather than birth [t2][t4]. It promoted the upliftment of untouchables and equality for all castes [c4][t6]. Statement III is correct as Dayanand Saraswati, originally named Mool Shankar Tiwari, was born into a wealthy Brahmin family in the Morvi state of Gujarat in 1824 [c1][t8]. His reformist vision sought to return to the 'infallible' authority of the Vedas while rejecting later distortions like idol worship and rigid caste hierarchies [c2][t7]. Since all three statements are historically accurate, Option 1 is the correct choice.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 220
2. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Swami Dayanand and Arya Samaj > p. 219
3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj > p. 223