PAPER ID:IJIM/Vol. 10 (IV)/ August/80-88/13

AUTHOR : Dr. Rajinder Singh

TITLE : PANDIT DEENDAYAL UPADHYAY AND THE IDEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP)

ABSTRACT: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (1916–1968), a prominent political thinker and ideologue of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, laid the philosophical foundations of what later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His doctrine of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manav Darshan) provided an indigenous ideological alternative to Western liberalism and Marxist socialism, grounding political thought in India’s civilisational ethos. This research paper explores Upadhyay’s key concepts—Integral Humanism, Antyodaya (upliftment of the last person), Swadeshi (self-reliance), and Cultural Nationalism—and examines how they continue to shape the ideological, organisational, and policy orientations of the BJP. It analyses the transmission of Upadhyay’s philosophy from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to the BJP, highlighting its manifestation in contemporary governance and party rhetoric. The study also engages with critical scholarly perspectives, evaluating the philosophical coherence, practical relevance, and limitations of Upadhyay’s ideas in the context of modern Indian politics. Ultimately, the paper argues that Upadhyay’s vision of a morally grounded, culturally rooted, and socially inclusive polity remains the cornerstone of the BJP’s ideological framework, offering both continuity and adaptability within India’s evolving democratic landscape.

KEYWORDS : Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Integral Humanism, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Bharatiya Janata Party, Antyodaya, Swadeshi, Cultural Nationalism, Ideology, Indian Political Thought, Hindutva, Civilisational Ethos.

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