Why in the News?

A mainstream political party is celebrating 60 years of Integral Humanism (Ekatm Manav-vad), a political philosophy introduced by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

About Deendayal Upadhyaya and His Contributions:

• Birth and Legacy: Born on September 25, 1916, in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh; his birth anniversary is marked as Antyodaya Diwas since 2014.
• RSS and BJS Roles: He was a pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and co-founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS).
• Leadership: Served as President of BJS, laying its ideological foundation.
• Antyodaya Concept: Coined “Antyodaya”, meaning upliftment of the last person, central to several welfare schemes.
• Advocated Ideas: Promoted Swadeshi (self-reliance) and decentralization of power for inclusive development.
• Inspired Schemes:
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana
  • Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM
• Mysterious Death: Found dead on February 11, 1968, near Mughalsarai railway station, now renamed Deendayal Nagar. The case remains unresolved.

His Philosophy of Integral Humanism:

• Introduction: Proposed in 1965 through four lectures in Mumbai, promoting Indian values over foreign ideologies.
• Core Idea: Aims for holistic development — body, mind, intellect, and soul — grounded in cultural and spiritual ethics.
• Chiti and Dharma: Defined ‘Chiti’ as the soul of the nation and ‘Dharma’ as the ethical base of national integrity.
• Six Economic Objectives:

1. 1. Minimum living standard for all citizens.
   2. Global welfare through Indian values.
   3. Employment for all able-bodied individuals.
   4. No wastage of natural resources.
   5. Promotion of indigenous technology.
   6. Flexible industrial ownership based on practicality.

• Further Influence: Expanded by Dattopant Thengdi, founder of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
• Intellectual Roots: Drew inspiration from Daishik Shastra (1923), a text respected by Gandhi and Tilak; studied during a visit to Almora in 1958–59.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now