Arya, Samaj, a radical and progressive movement with a call back to the Vedas was founded in the last quarter of the 19th century by Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati. The Maharishi, the great path maker of modern India. Spearheaded the Indian Renaissance. He stands out with unique distinctiveness, in the realms of intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual regeneration of the Indian Society.

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati believed that salvation of India lay in following the teachings and the path laid down by our great Rishis in our sacred Vedas. In an effort to reach the common man with the basic teachings of our sacred heritage, the great Rishi enunciated ten principles to serve as guidelines. Amongst the ten principles laid down by the Maharishi for the guidance of humanity, he laid specific emphasis on dispelling the darkness of ignorance through the spread of education and all round awareness. It was, according to him and rightly so, the pivotal necessity. He dedicated himself to bring about an all-round awakening among the people of this country and this could be achieved according to him only by spreading education throughout the length and breadth and in every nook and corner of this country.

Soon after the departure of the great Rishi, a group of his enlightened and socially oriented followers, decided to set up in his memory temples of learning, schools and colleges with the objective which was most dear to him. In order to realize the dream of the Maharishi with this noble purpose in view, they laid the foundation of the Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) College Trust and Management Society which registered in 1886, under the societies Registration Act, 1860. Thus heralded the dawn of the DAV Movement which continues to pursue relentlessly its mission to bring about National Resurrection and awakening ever since 1886, through the medium of sound and progressive value based educational system.

The society established its first institution, a DAV High School at Lahore in 1886, with Lala Hans Raj (Later known as Mahatma Hans Raj), as its honorary Headmaster. He undertook to serve the society in various capacities honorarily throughout his life without accepting any remuneration or compensation of any description and kept his word and stuck to life-long service till his last breath absolutely free. He was an embodiment of dedication, devotion and self abnegation. He was a great visionary in the true sense of the word.

Right from its inception the DAV Movement was nursed and nurtured by dedicated eminent public spirited men and great patriots of those times. Like Pt. Gurudatt Vidyarthi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Lal Chand, Bhai Permanand, Lala Dwarka Dass, Lala Durga Dass, Principal Sain Dass, Bakshi Ram Rattan, Dr. Dukand Lal Puri, Bakshi Tek Chand and Shri Mehar Chand. The seed planted in 1886 has blossomed over the years into a huge tree and chain of DAV institutions has come up all over India, to meet the ever growing need and demand for progressive education with emphasis on Indian thought, culture, tradition and heritage.

The Movement suffered a temporary set back due to the partition of the country. However, the vigorous concerted efforts and indomitable spirits of persons like Principal Mehr Chand Mahajan put life back into it and rehabilitated the organization. It has continued to surge ahead under such dynamic and inspiring personalities as Dr. G.L. Datta, Lala Suraj Bhan, Prof. Vyasa, Shri Darbari Lal. Shri T.R. Tuli & Padamshri G.P. Chopra.

Today, the movement, is led by DAV veterans like Padamshri G.P. Chopra and his associates, who are pulsated with verve and vigour. With the changed scenario, the leadership has focused its attention on consolidation of the existing institutions aiming at quality education with unlimited expansion in the fields hitherto uncovered.

The DAV College Managing Committee is the Executive Body of the DAV College Trust and Management Society which, subject to the over all control of the society, conducts the day to day affairs of the society and controls the administration and finances of its institutions all over the country. It being the nerve centre, formulates policies, plans and procedures to shape the destiny of the DAV network.

The Managing Committee is constituted in accordance with the provisions of Regulations 6 to 17 of the Regulations of the Society Act.

Complete details of the Governing Body of the College:

Other institutions run by the Management:

The DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi is one of the biggest non-government educational organization running 665 educational institutions including schools. There are 50 academic colleges and 15 professional and technical colleges. Details of the DAV institutions in the country is given below: