Jaipur, Sep 25 (PTI) RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday said Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Integral Humanism was meant to be a guiding model not just for India but for all of humanity.
Addressing a programme at Dhankya near Jaipur on Upadhyaya’s 110th birth anniversary, Hosabale said the philosophy drew upon Indian culture and its approach towards life, and presented it in a form relevant to the modern age.
“Deendayal Upadhyaya gave a vision to create a true India and presented it not only for the country but as a guiding model for the world,” he said.
Hosabale said the world could not be viewed merely through the two alternatives of capitalism and communism. While an excessive emphasis on individual freedom could lead to inequality and exploitation, an excessive focus on equality could curtail freedom, he said.
The Indian thought, he said, looks at the relationship between the individual, society, nature and the divine while considering the organisation of social life.
Hosabale said Upadhyaya believed India should not seek to become like the US, England or Japan but develop based on its own culture, values and identity.
He said Integral Humanism should not remain confined to books and research but should be put into practice in social life.
Referring to rural development, Hosabale said if education, livelihood and healthcare were available in villages, migration to cities could be reduced.
He called for strengthening rural economies, agriculture, cottage industries, handicrafts and local employment and said government policies alone could not achieve this without people’s participation.
Speaking of technology, Hosabale said Upadhyaya was not opposed to it but believed it should improve people’s lives without harming the environment, weakening livelihoods or eroding social values.
“Technology should not enslave humans. It should work for human well-being,” he said, adding that this approach was also relevant to current discussions around artificial intelligence.
Hosabale said Upadhyaya’s ideas should not be remembered only on his birth anniversary but studied and applied in everyday life.
The programme was organised by the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Samaroh Samiti. Researchers and scholars working on Upadhyaya’s ideas were felicitated on the occasion. PTI SDA RUK
RUK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.