Machine summary:
From one point of view, it was a defence movement against the Arya Samaj, which championed the cause of socially depressed classes among the Hindus and prevented them from joining other religious denomi• nations, and from another, it was a reaction to the proselytising activities of Christian missionaries in the Central Panjab.
The founder of the movement, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, after whom it came to be called Ahmadiya , was born at Qadian in 1835.
7 According to the last wi11 of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the management of the affairs of the Ahrnadiya community was entrusted to a committee called Sadr Anjuman-i-Ahmadiya, which was to be, though not clearly indicated in the will, under the direction of the elected head of the movement known as Khalifat-ul-Messiah, Hakim Nur-ud-din , a favourite disciple of the founder became the first Khalifa (successor).
One group, sympathising with the general feelings of the Muslims, denounced this act of the Government, while the other, acting on the injunction of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad that "his followers should avoid all political controversies and concentrate their energies on distinctly religious efforts,"8 was opposed to taking part in such an agitation.
14 "Iri short, he (Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) ) openly advocated those teachings of Islam about which the people could not raise their voice because they were afraid of opposing the current of modern thought with respect to these matters.