Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyaya: Democracy and Role of Political Parties

Democracy is a theory of society and not a theory of governance. A democratic government is the product of democratic society and not vice-versa. We may define democracy as the organization of society for liberty and equality, through the spirit of fellowship or fraternity, as well as the right to participate in political decision making. Participation and control of governance by people is the essence of democracy which is a constantly moving dynamic force and which impels us towards a social organisation in which every individual member shall have equal opportunity to develop holistically. Pt. DeenDayalUpadhaya's views on democracy and the role of political party is relevant in contemporary India as it was in past. He wanted to decolonise Indian political thought which was largely as he said, “A western political picture in the Indian background”. He strongly argued against the left-right division as being detrimental to the growth of the constructive, transformative pro-people democracy which is the part of his “Swayambhu philosophy” which contains the celebrated Integral Humanism. He argued that this left-right categorisation does not give a correct idea of politics in India because many programmes of these political parties defy any classification on this orthodox basis. He wanted to wash out this distinction from political parties which hamper the transformation of India into New India in a more democratic fashion. According to him, politics must be controlled by the masses and not by the wealthy. Neo liberalism has challenged democracies to ensure they do not become beholden to corporate interest. DeenDayal cautioned that “if steps are not taken to mend them, powerful lobbies will emerge in the country's legislature and political decision will hardly be taken in an objective manner”. Taking into consideration the welfare of people and promotion of national interest, this paper will focus on the feasibility of practising the concept of Integral Humanism in a democracy, highlighting the importance of it in contemporary issues of policy making and implementation through a more democratic, accountable and participative manner.