Deen Dayal Upadhyay was an Indian philosopher, politician and social thinker who played an important role in the development of political and ideological thought in India. He was a prominent leader of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Bharatiya Jana Sangh was a right-wing political party which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Birth & Education
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay was born on September 25, 1916 in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- He had a very difficult childhood as he lost both his parents at a very young age.
- He was brought up and educated at his maternal grandfather’s house.
- He did his schooling at various places like Gangapur, Kota, Rajgarh, Sikar and Pilani.
- In his high school in Sikar, Rajasthan, he stood first in the board exams.
- Pandit Deendayal went to Pilani for intermediate studies where he topped the board examination in 1937.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay graduated with a first class BA from Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur in 1939 and joined St. John’s College, Agra to pursue a master’s degree in English Literature, which he did not complete due to personal reasons.
Political Career
Upadhyay entered politics and was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation. He joined RSS in 1937 under the influence of Nana Ji Deshmukh and Bhau Jugade.
After completing his education and training in the RSS education wing, he became a lifelong pracharak of the Sangh.
Became the General Secretary of Bharatiya Jan Sangh from 1951 to 1967 and later became the President of Jan Sangh on 29 December 1967. His tenure was short-lived and after only 43 days he was found dead on a railway track in Mughal Sarai under mysterious circumstances on 11 February 1968 at the age of 52. The death of Pandit Deendayal is still unsolved.
Philosophical and intellectual contributions
Upadhyay was a prolific writer and thinker. He wrote extensively on topics related to politics, economics and social issues, contributing to the intellectual discourse of Indian politics.
Integral Humanism: The most important contribution of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in political thinking was the concept of “Integral Humanism”. He outlined this ideology in a series of articles and speeches. Integral humanism seeks to blend the best aspects of socialism and capitalism, emphasizing the importance of the individual, family, and culture. It calls for decentralized economic and political structures to promote social harmony and economic justice.
End Times and Inheritance
Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s life came to an end when he died under mysterious circumstances at the Mughalsarai Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh on February 11, 1968. The exact cause of his death remains a matter of debate and speculation.
Upadhyaya’s legacy is particularly notable in the ideological development of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His ideas, especially ‘Integral Humanism’, have served as a guiding light in shaping the ideology and policy-making of the BJP.
His philosophy also remains the subject of academic study and discussion. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s thoughts and ideas are influential in the field of Indian politics and have played a significant role in shaping the ideology of the right-wing political movement in the country.
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