Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay- Man with a vision

Vikram Mittal

Entrepreneur, Political Analyst

Our great nation has produced many remarkable scholars, activists, and thinkers. One such scholar, philosopher, and political activist was Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji, a man of ideas & strong vision. Every year Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated on 25 September to mark his birth anniversary.

Pandit Ji dedicated his entire life to social causes and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He is well known for the philosophy of Integral Humanism or “Ekatma Manav Darshan” which is the official philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The philosophy advocates the holistic development of the mind, body, intellect, and soul, of every individual. He said, "Here in Bharat, we have placed before ourselves the ideal of the fourfold responsibilities of catering to the needs of Body, Mind, Intellect, and Soul with a view to achieve the integrated progress of Man."

The concepts such as Bharatiyata, Dharma, Dharmarajya, and Antyodaya are all inspired by the idea of Integral Humanism. He strongly believed that indigenous problems that plague the nation can be solved through indigenous solutions & ideas and not with the help of Western concepts like individualism, socialism, communism or capitalism. "Western Science and Western Ways of life are two different things. Whereas Western Science is Universal and must be absorbed by us if we wish to go forward, the same is not true about the Western Ways of life and values," said Upadhyaya Ji.

He extensively elaborated on the need to develop an indigenous economic model that puts the human being or individual at center stage. He was a strong believer of decentralized polity and a self-reliant economy with the village being the core basis. Pandit Ji always believed in Swaraj that is self-governance. He wanted India to be Aatmanirbhar. His ideas continue to inspire many. Paying tributes to Pandit Ji, PM Narendra Modi said, "He taught us how Indian philosophy can guide the world even in the modern, social and political perspective. He awakened our intellectual consciousness by freeing us from the inferiority complex that prevailed in the country after independence."

PM Narendra Modi Ji's Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission is Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas and vision in action. PM Modi Ji has made people part of the development process and taking all the Govt welfare schemes to the last mile. Following the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji, PM Modi has been working relentlessly towards the economic & social upliftment of the last man in the queue. Various schemes launched by PM Modi such as StartUp India, StandUp India, Jandhan, Mudra Yojana, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Make in India, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, etc are translating Deendayal’s thinking into a reality. Today India is marching ahead confidently on the principle of “Antyodaya – meaning where no one is left behind”. PM Modi strongly believes, "Development should be all-inclusive, all-pervasive, universal and one that nurtures all.”

Vikram Mittal Entrepreneur, Political Analyst

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's main objective was to build a strong and prosperous Indian nation. He wanted India to be self-reliant, an economic and military super-power, and a culturally vibrant nation that guarantees freedom, equality, and justice to all and ensures maximum good to all. On 11th February 1968, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the then Mughal Sarai railway station. Till date, his death remains a mystery.

His rich legacy is alive and flourishing in India. Several institutions in recognition of his leadership have been named after him. His ideas and works continue to inspire millions of people across India. Every sphere of governance of the incumbent Modi Government is inspired by the ideals of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Ji.