Ahmadiyyat or Qadianism! Islam or Apostasy? — Page 30
Hinduism was not looked upon kindly by the Hindu masses in the sub continent of India. . Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad began to be involved in a controversy with various Hindu cults from as early as 1872 2 when he not only challenged the entire Hindu clergy to debates and discussions but infact refuted their doctrines through their own scriptures with such effectiveness that the Hindu intelligentsia found itself obliged to admit that he had put the authority of their leadership and scriptures in doubt. . In 1878 for instance, his series of articles published in a local Indian newspaper Safer Hind 3 forced the famous Arya leader Swami Dayanand into retreat and prompted Pundit Shiv Narain Agnihotri to declare: 'Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's refutation of Arya doctrine is not only a serious reflection upon Swami Dayanand's position as a leader but also reflects seriously upon the authority of the Vedas. '*. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's successful refutation of the Hindu dogma had a serious impact upon its clergy at large. Pundit Shiv Narain. Agnihotri for instance became so disillusioned with the accepted doctrines of Hinduism that he ceased to be a member of the Brahm. Samaj. His colleague, Pundit Kharak Singh deserted Hinduism altogether and began to condemn the teachings of his former faith. 6. THE MURLIDHAR CONTROVERSY. A leading Arya Samajist of India, Pundit Murlidhar of Hoshiarpur was yet another Hindu leader forced into a hasty retreat by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Having provoked a controversy on the merits of Islam and Hinduism, Murlidhar could not sustain the 2. Dard, A. R: Life of Ahmad: pg 61/91 & 108/124 3. 9th February, 1878/9th March, 1878 5. Khan, M. Z: The Renaissance of Islam; pg 19 4. Brother Hind, Lahore: 10th July, 1878 6. Dard, A. R: Life of Ahmad: pg 67 30