Who is Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya?
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916, in Dhankia, Rajasthan. Sri Bhagwati Prasad Upadhyaya, his father's name, and Shrimati Rampyari, his mother's name. At Jalesar, his father worked as an assistant station master. His father, Sri Bhagwati Prasad Upadhyaya passed away when he was just two and a half years old. His family subsequently relocated to the home of his maternal grandfather. His family was struggling to heal from the sadness of his mother's death while suffering from Tuberculosis treatment. After some years, his mother's father also passed away.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Struggles
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's maternal uncle treated him like his own kid. As a elder brother, Deendayal Upadhyaya took care of his younger brother. Despite experiencing many trials and tribulations as a child, Deendayal persevered throughout life. Deendayal Upadhyaya, a born genius, received several gold medals and renowned prizes during his school and college years. 'Sikar' Maharaja presented him with a gold coin and 250 rupees, with which he purchased books. The Maharaja also provided him with a stipend on a monthly basis of Rs 10. With this, he completed his intermediate education in Pilani, Rajasthan, and received his BA degree from Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur. He then passed the civil service examination. But he gave everything up to serve the people. People called him Panditji, as he wore a traditional Dhoti-kurta to the examination.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had a lifetime interest in humanitarian work. During his college days at Kanpur, he became part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). After completing his undergraduate degree in 1942, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS Founder, with whom Deendayal Upadhyaya spoke and strongly dedicated himself to the organization, did not seek employment or marriage but instead joined the RSS in order to instruct Sangam education and thus traveled to Nagpur to participate in a 40-day camp.
Bharatiya Jana Sangam
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee established the Bharatiya Jana Sangam in 1951, and Deendayal Upadhyaya served as first General Secretary. He stayed until December 1967. He remained the general secretary of the Jana Sangh. Impressed by his intellect, intellectual activities, and perfectionism, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee claimed, "If I had two Deendayals, I could change the political face of India." In 1953, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died unexpectedly. When Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died unexpectedly, Deendayal Upadhyaya was left in charge of the whole organization. He served as a Jana Sangha's general secretary for fifteen years. In December 1967, Deenadayal Upadhyaya was was elected President of the Kozhikode Jana Sangh. He was selected during the Bharatiya Janata Sangh's 14th annual conference.
Journalism and Deendayal Upadhyaya
Deendayal Upadhyaya's journalistic career began in 1940, when he worked for Lucknow's monthly magazine, "Rashtra Dharma." During the RSS era, he founded the weekly journal 'Panchjanya' and the daily magazine 'Swadesh'. In Hindi, he wrote the drama 'Chandragupta Maurya' and a biography of Shankaracharya. He translated Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's biography from Marathi to Hindi. 'Samrat Chandragupt,' 'Jagatguru Shankaracharya,' 'Akhand Bharat Kyu Hai,' 'Rashtra Jeevan ki Samasyaye,' 'Rashtra Chintan,' and 'Rashtra Jeevan Ki Disha' are among his other works.
Perceptions of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
According to Deendayal Upadhyaya, the foundation for India's post-independence growth should be its own Indian culture rather than the Western philosophy left behind by the British. Deendayal Upadhyaya felt that even if democracy could be established in India soon after independence, it would be impossible to do so after such a long era of servitude. He believed that democracy was a natural right of Indians and not a gift from the West (the British). He also emphasized that employees and workers should concentrate on resolving government issues. He believed that it was the responsibility of management to respect each individual. According to him, democracy should not be taken too far, and people's opinions should be sought based on their faith and religion.
Concept of 'Integral Humanism’
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh (present-day Bharatiya Janata Party) contributed a political ideology based on the notion of 'Integral Humanism' created by Deendayal Upadhyaya. He defines 'Integral Humanism' as the integrated project of every human being's body, mind, intellect, and soul. He asserted that as a sovereign nation, India cannot bank on Western ideologies such as individualism, democracy, socialism, communism, and capitalism. He argued that Western ideas and ideologies suffocated Indian knowledge, impeding the emergence and spread of distinctive Indian thought.
Death
On December 19, 1967, Deendayal Upadhyaya took office as president of the Bharatiya Janata Sangh, but fate had other plans for him. Deendayal's lifeless corpse was discovered at Mughal Sarai railway station on February 11, 1968. The entire country was overcome with anguish upon hearing this. A large crowd gathered on Rajendra Prasad Marg to pay their respects to the great statesman. Dr. Zakir Hussain, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai paid homage to Deendayal Upadhyaya on February 12, 1968.
Tribute to his contributions
After 2016, various institutions were named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. An important road in Delhi is named after him. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Bridge, or Cable Bridge, in Surat was erected in 2018. On February 16, 2020, a monument for Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was created in Varanasi, and his 63-foot-tall statue was unveiled. The 'Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kaushal Yojana' is a youth employment initiative named after Deendayal Upadhyaya. This program's goal is to make youngsters from rural areas financially independent and globally capable.
Antyodaya Diwas
Antodaya Diwas was observed every year as the birth anniversary of 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya' to remember Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary and to honor his life and legacy.
Read also: C. Rajagopalachari - "The First and Last Indian Governor General of India"
Reference : Rashtrabhasha Pathya Pustak
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