Context:
60th anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji’s philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism
Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya:
- Indian politician and philosopher
- Born on – 25th September 1916 in Uttar Pradesh
- Observed as Antyodaya Diwas to honor his contributions to the nation.
- Ideologue of the RSS and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) (the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party).
- Emphasised the idea of Antyodaya i.e., uplifting the last person and addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged.
- Contributed the philosophy of “Integral Humanism” that emphasized welfare, social justice, economic equality, and self-reliance.
- Journals – Panchjanya and Swadesh
- Literary Works – Samrat Chandragupt, Jagatguru Shankaracharya, Political Diary, Integral humanism, Ekatmamanav
- In 2015, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM to honor his vision.
- Died in – 1968
Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manavvad):
- A philosophy that emphasizes a balanced, holistic approach to human and societal development.
- Core Principles –
- Primacy of the Whole – Society and the nation must function as a unified entity rather than fragmented interests.
- Supremacy of Dharma – Ethical and moral principles should guide governance, economics, and individual actions.
- Autonomy of Society – A self-sustaining society should flourish without excessive state intervention.
Source: HT
Previous Year Question
He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna, stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh
(b) Bipin Chandra Pal
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Motilal Nehru
Answer: (c)