In the history of modern Indian social and religious reform movements, who gave the famous motto "Go Back to the Vedas" to encourage a return to the original Vedic teachings?

Introduction / Context:
Modern Indian history includes many social and religious reform movements that tried to address social evils and reinterpret religious traditions. One important movement was the Arya Samaj, founded in the nineteenth century. Its founder coined the slogan "Go Back to the Vedas" to stress that many later practices were corruptions and that society should return to what he considered the pure teachings of the Vedas. This slogan and its author often appear in competitive exam questions on social reform in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The motto in the question is exactly "Go Back to the Vedas".
• The options include Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and None of the above.
• The context is Indian religious and social reform movements.
• We assume the question refers to well established textbook associations between reformers and their slogans.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to match the correct reformer with the slogan. Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 and strongly argued that many later customs and rituals were distortions of original Vedic religion. He therefore urged Hindus to return to the foundational scriptures, summarising this idea in the phrase "Go Back to the Vedas". Ramakrishna and Vivekananda were also major spiritual figures, but they used different emphases and slogans, so we need to distinguish between these personalities clearly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Swami Dayananda Saraswati was a nineteenth century reformer who founded the Arya Samaj. 2. Remember that his movement promoted the authority of the Vedas and rejected idol worship, caste based discrimination and many social evils. 3. The motto "Go Back to the Vedas" captures his idea that Hindus should return to the original scriptures for guidance rather than later customs. 4. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a mystic whose teachings focused on spiritual experience and harmony of religions, but he did not promote this specific motto. 5. Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of Ramakrishna and became famous for speeches on universal religion and nationalism, again with different messages and slogans. 6. Therefore, the correct match for the motto "Go Back to the Vedas" is Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard Indian history textbooks and exam guides consistently link the motto "Go Back to the Vedas" with Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Descriptions of the Arya Samaj emphasise his campaign to cleanse Hindu society of superstitions by returning to the original Vedic teachings. References to Ramakrishna and Vivekananda focus on different ideas such as practical Vedanta, service to humanity and the unity of religions. This consistent association across multiple sources confirms that Swami Dayananda Saraswati is the author of the motto.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Ramakrishna Paramahamsa inspired many disciples through his personal spiritual experiences but is not recorded as having used the slogan "Go Back to the Vedas" in reform campaigns.
• Swami Vivekananda emphasised service to man as service to God and spoke about awakening India, but he did not coin this particular motto about returning to the Vedas.
• None of the above is incorrect because there is a well known and specific match between the slogan and Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all three named figures are associated with Hindu reform and revival, students sometimes confuse which slogan belongs to whom. Some may wrongly attribute the motto to Vivekananda because he frequently quoted the Upanishads and spoke of Vedanta. Others may guess that a mystic like Ramakrishna introduced the phrase because it mentions the Vedas. The best way to avoid this confusion is to memorise key one line associations: Arya Samaj and "Go Back to the Vedas" belong to Swami Dayananda Saraswati, while Vivekananda is linked with speeches such as his Chicago address and slogans about practical Vedanta and service.

Final Answer:
The famous motto "Go Back to the Vedas" was given by the Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayananda Saraswati.