In the latter half of the 19th century, India lay in a socio-political ferment. This led Maharishi Dayanand, one of the greatest thinkers of the time, to form the Arya Samaj for the intellectual, emotional and spiritual revival of the Indian Society. With a call, "back to the Vedas", he propounded the guiding principles of the Arya Samaj, in which the foremost was the spread of education. He believed, and rightly so, that this would lead to an awakening throughout the length and breadth of the country.

The Samaj aimed at purging Hinduism of its defunct and regressive practices that impeded the minds of its followers. Animal sacrifice and denouncement of Idol-worship were the major outcomes of this movement. The ideals of the movement, with its rational appeal, soon had entire country following it.

After his demise a group of enlightened, dedicated and devoted followers, committed to the task of nation-building couldn't think of a better way to immortalize the great reformer than realizing his dream of building an erudite nation on Vedic foundation. They translated his dream into a reality with the founding of Dayanand Anglo Vedic (D.A.V.) College Trust and Management Society. The D.A.V. Society, launched with missionary zeal to reclaim the lost brilliance and glory of Vedic values, founded its first institution at Lahore in 1886 with Mahatma Hansraj as its founding principal. This was the beginning of a nationalist movement which blossomed into a unique institution with a countrywide presence emphasizing the harmonious confluence of Indian values, culture and modern technology. Today there are more than 780 D.A.V. schools spread across the country.