Modern Indian Thinkers D. D Upadhyaya Philosophy YouTube Lecture Handouts

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Title: Modern Indian Thinkers D. D Upadhyaya

D. D Upadhyaya: Life, Influence, Publication, Concepts -Modern Indian Thinker Philosophy

Early Life and Education

Deendayal Upadhyaya was an Indian politician and the leader of the Bhartiya Jana Sang (BJS) , the predecessor of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) .

  • BJS was founded by Shyama Prasad Mookherjee.
  • He matriculated from the high school at Pilani Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
  • He then joined the Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur and graduated in Bachelors of Arts in the year 1939.
  • It was during this time period; he came in contact with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) via Baluji Mahashabde.
  • Later, he got enrolled in Masters in English Literature at St. John՚s College, Agra, UP but he never completed his master՚s degree.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Its Influence

During the year 1939, he came in contact with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) via Baluji Mahashabde.

  • He even met the founder of the RSS- K. B Hedgewar and participated in many shakhas,
  • As per the Hindu theological school and Hindu Philosophy, shakhas specialise in teaching Vedic texts.
  • Along with teaching Vedic texts, shakhas also incorporate into teaching the concept of “Conduct of life.”
  • The conduct of life or the behaviour of life, for instance; the ideal, moral way to lead one՚s life. The goal or the objective is to develop a sense of confidence, awareness, intelligence amongst the Swayamsevak՚s.
  • So, by the year 1942, DD Upadhyaya joined the RSS as a full-time worker (or Pracharak) .

His Publication

  • Monthly publication called the “Rashtra Dharma.”
  • Weekly publication called the “Panchjanya.”
  • Daily publication called the “Swadesh.”
    • He wrote a drama on the life of Chandragupta Maurya.
    • He even wrote the biography of Adi Shankaracharya.
    • He translated the Marathi biography of Hedgewar.

His Philosophy

  • He devised the political philosophy called the “Integral Humanism.”
  • Integral humanism advocates the simultaneous and integrated growth of body, mind, intellect and the soul.
  • The path which would lead to integral humanism can be reached via inculcating the following methods;
    • Opposing Capitalist Individualism
    • Opposing Marxist socialism
    • Opposing communism
    • Adopting Sarvodaya
    • Adopting swadeshi outlook
    • Adopting native cultural values
    • Adopting Gram swaraj, etc.
Illustration: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Its Influence
  • Integral humanism is the synthetic of the individual with the collective; it is the synthesis of the material with the spiritual; synthesis of the mind with the body, etc.
  • It is important to note that Upadhyaya was wary of the western concepts such as; democracy, individualism, etc.
  • He was not entirely against the concept of modern science and modern technology.
  • The entire philosophy of Integral Humanism was explained in his lectures delivered at Poona in the year 1965.
  • He adopted the Gandhian principles to foster the importance of the native-cultural values or the cultural national values.
  • He was equally influenced by the concept of “Advaita” or “Non-dualism” advocated by Shankara.

Questions

The philosophy of DD. Upadhyaya is known as

a. Humanism

b. Existentialism

c. Integral Humanism

d. All of these

Answer: C

Integral humanism advocates the simultaneous and integrated growth of body, mind, intellect and the soul.

Manishika