PM Modi pays tribute to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, recalls vision of Antyodaya

New Delhi, Sep 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary, recalling his contribution to Indian political thought and his advocacy of Integral Humanism and Antyodaya.

In a post on social media platform X, Modi described Upadhyaya as a visionary thinker, patriot and champion of Integral Humanism and Antyodaya.

"I pay my respectful homage to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Birth Anniversary," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said Upadhyaya's emphasis on placing people at the centre of development and uplifting the "last person in the queue" continued to remain relevant to India's development journey.

"These ideals continue to inspire our collective journey towards inclusive progress, social justice and nation-building," he said.

Born on September 25, 1916, Upadhyaya was one of the principal ideological figures of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He served as president of the Jana Sangh and played a significant role in shaping its ideological framework.

His philosophy of Integral Humanism sought to view the individual and society within a broader framework of social, economic and cultural development. The concept of Antyodaya, generally referring to the uplift of the poorest and most marginalised sections of society, later became a recurring theme in the BJP's political and policy discourse.

Modi's tribute highlighted the continued relevance of Upadhyaya's ideas, particularly his emphasis on the welfare of the most disadvantaged and their connection with broader themes of social justice and development.