60 years of Deendayal Upadhyaya's ‘integral humanism': BJP-linked groups line up events

Indian Express

27-05-2025

To commemorate 60 years of 'integral humanism' propounded by Jana Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, a slew of organisations linked to the BJP are set to hold a two-day conclave to discuss its contemporary relevance.
Deendayal Upadhyaya had introduced the concept of integral humanism over a series of four public lectures in the 1960s, which eventually became a part of the Jana Sangh's doctrine.
The conclave, which will be held from May 31 to June 1, will include several sessions that will each cover a current issue through the lens of integral humanism, also referred to as 'ekaatma maanav darshan' in the BJP-RSS circles.
While Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to chair the introductory session of the conclave, Union Health Minister and BJP president J P Nadda and Vivekananda International Foundation chairperson S Gurumurthy will lead the valedictory session.
Among those expected to be present at the event are Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama for the session on the economy, and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for a discussion on sustainable development. Abhinav Prakash, vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), will address a session on youth, and BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash will speak on social justice and 'links' between the thoughts of Upadhyaya and B R Ambedkar.
Mahesh Chandra Sharma, a BJP leader and president of Research and Development Foundation for Integral Humanism that is among the conclave's organisers, described Upadhyaya's integral humanism as 'relevant for today's challenges'.
'Deendayal ji believed that the individual and society cannot be looked upon as fragments. They are integrated. The family is the core that joins them. We need to strengthen the family system. We need to formulate a policy system that integrates the individual and society – be it in the realm of economy or education,' said Sharma, who was the editor of the 15-volume Collected Works of Deendayal Upadhyaya published in 2019.
'Today, the context and key concerns have changed, but we find aspects of his (Deendayal Upadhyaya's) thought, and of his actions as the general secretary and president of the Jana Sangh, as relevant for today's challenges. The aim of the seminar is to take to the people the continuing relevance of Upadhyaya,' said an organiser of the conclave.
The BJP-linked research group Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, publishing house Prabhat Prakashan, Research and Development Foundation for Integral Humanism, and Public Policy Research Centre will jointly organise the seminar.
Among various subjects to be covered during the conclave is 'Securing Bharat: From Sovereignty of Borders to Strength of Civilisation', coming against the backdrop of the current discourse on national security in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
With the Narendra Modi government having recently announced the enumeration of caste in the forthcoming Census, one session will be on 'Legacy of Leadership – Nationalism and Social Justice'. There will also be sessions on women, education and rural development.
The seminar would be part of multiple events around Upadhyaya being planned by the organisers. A 'curated collection of literature on Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya' will be on display, and books on related themes will also be released. The organisers have contacted over 500 universities for students to submit articles on Upadhyaya's thought, and the authors of the best pieces are likely to be in attendance to present their views. A website on integral humanism is also being readied so as to spread Upadhyaya's views to the younger generation.
The outcome of the seminar will also be published, as per a concept note on the event. One organiser said many smaller events on Upadhyaya will be held throughout the year. In late April, some lectures on Upadhyaya were also held in Mumbai.