On Monday PM Modi unveiled a 72 feet statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay in New Delhi on the occasion of Antyodaya Diwas. The brass statue was installed in a park named after Upadhyaya, opposite the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in New Delhi, as September 25 is the birthday of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, who formulated the political doctrine of Jan Sangh. The sculpture depicts Upadhyaya in his traditional attire, including a kurta, dhoti and a sleeveless jacket. Artisans worked hard for months to make this statue.

After unveiling the statue PM Modi paid floral tribute to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay and said “The life of Pandit ji inspired all of us, we follow his guidance to help the poor and marginalised.” 

Life of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay

Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay was born in Mathura in 1916, he was not only associated with the RSS but also played a key role as one of the founding members of the Jan Sangh. In 1948, he launched ‘Panchjanya’, which is still the official mouthpiece of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Prime Minister Modi has often endorsed Upadhyaya’s ‘holistic humanism and Antyodaya’ (upliftment of the disadvantaged) as the guiding principles of his government’s social initiatives. At internal party meetings, leaders like Amit Shah and JP Nadda often referred to Upadhyaya’s remarkable journey from foot soldier to party president.

Antyodaya Diwas

Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated every year in India to celebrate the birthday of Indian leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. It is a day of remembrance and celebration of his life and legacy and he was one of the most prominent figures in Indian political history. He was the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) and a thinker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Upadhyaya is also known for his efforts to uplift the poor and less fortunate, thus his birthday is celebrated on Antyodaya, which means “resurrection of the latter.”

In another event organised by the Integral Humanism Research and Development Foundation in Vijayawada, Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan, said, “People who read Upadhyaya, one of the founders. Bharatiya Jana Sangh and proponent of Integral Humanism knows how to live a dignified life.” Tamilisai Soundararajan was the chief guest at a program on Monday to celebrate the 107th birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.