Remembering Deendayal Upadhyay

The city unit of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh will be celebrating the birthday anniversary of Pandit Deenadayal Upadhyay, Bouddhik Varga, Madhu Bhai Kulkarni, Akhil Bharateeya Bouddhik Pramukh will preside over the event on Sep 25, at 7 pm at Shree Shivaratreeshwara Centre, JSS Centre 8th Block, Jayangar.

Sri YK Raghavendra Rao, city RSS chief, recalled that despite a humble beginning and trying circumstances, Deenadayal Upadhyay secured a gold medal in his Masters degree and went on to become RSS Pracharkar. Later he was deputed to Bharatiya Jana Sangh, started by Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. A personification of simple living and high thinking, Upadhyay became known for his vision of 'Integral Humanism' which was the culmination of his nationwide travel and studies.

Born Sep 25, 1916 in a traditional family, he lost his parents during his early childhood, but he continued his studies as a shining student. He obtained gold medals both at the Matriculation Board Exam in 1935 and Intermediate Board Exam in 1937. Later he did his B.A. and B.T. from Kanpur University. He even qualified the Civil Service Exam; but he didn't join civil services as he was fascinated by the idea of joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, under the inspiration of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

Pt. Upadhyaya entered politics in 1951 and was appointed as the All India General Secratery of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Soon he was counted among the national leaders. In 1967, he was elected president of the same party and led the party to number two position at the national level in General Election (1967). But his life was cut short by unknown hands on February 11, 1968 at Mugal Sarai Railway yard where he was found dead.