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Childhood Brilliant Student Days Courageous, Service-Oriented and Honest Literally a Nomad RSS Contacts during Student Days As a Journalist Pioneer of Democracy His Literary Jansangh President End of an Era

Industrialists:

While selecting candidates, a major consideration is their financial standing and the ability to spend on elections. A large number of contestants are selected for their financial clout...In reality, such people come to political party not to garner tickets or votes but to buy them... Membership of Parliament is another means of enriching themselves and extending their business. Many political parties, including the Congress, are worried about lack of finances so that they are keen to seek the cooperation of this class.

Good Voter:

Upadhyaya felt that the remedy to such ills was the judiciousness and discretion exercised by the voter. "These are realities that are taking the country in a wrong direction...Political parties, which wish to make a mark in the body politic, must keep away from these dangers and safeguard their own ideals and objectives. Similarly, it is the duty of the electorate to be aware of these dangers and give expression to its discretion so that the wrong perspective adopted by the country's parties is set right." For this, Upadhyaya urged the voters to keep in mind the following:

1. "….Use your right of franchise not for the party but for ideals, not for an individual but the party, not for money power but for the individual"

2. "....Do not be misled by the hype associated with a candidate because he is certain to win. Whatever the outcome of the election, it will be your own defeat.

3. "…The right to vote is a test of your thinking and morality. Pay heed to this; do not sell your right to vote; neither should you allow to be misused or destroyed"

4. "The right to vote is symbolic of each citizen's freedom and you should exercise it not at the behest of someone but at your own discretion after judicious thinking."

5. "...The people should keep this constantly in mind that they are the real builders and supporters of political parties.''

Deendayal Upadhyaya was the General Secretary of a political party, but he expressed his views impartially; he rose above party politics and spoke like a true democrat. India's unity in diversity and national integration can be maintained only in a democracy. His nationalism had transformed him into a true democrat.

(C) Democracy is Essential for national Unity

He believed that in the prevalent scenario in India, democracy and national unity were inextricably connected. "If democracy comes to an end here, it will spell the doom of national unity...Even secessionist and separatist forces will gradually move towards national unity in a democracy. When they win the elections on the basis of casteism and regionalism, they would realise that they can sit alone in the legislatures. That is why there is a gradual change in the attitude of Dravid Munnetra Kadgham. In the face of democracy, the presence of a particular regional party in a state cannot keep in aloof from the national mainstream. But if democracy is no more, national unity will also disappear...Democracy is essential for India's unity."

(D) Opportunistic Politics of United Fronts

Opportunistic use of democracy for getting power is a big challenge to democracy. Deendayal warns the country of this danger thus: "United fronts have been formed in our country. The aim of such combines is that different political parties cannot defeat the party in power on their individual strength. So they should put up a combined candidate against the Congress… These united fronts which come together to share power also compromise on their ideals and objectives. which encourages opportunistic elements in the country"

Deendayal Upadhyaya's thoughts on democracy begin with the Indianisation of this form of government, go on to honouring public opinion at all levels and are complete at his assessment of the working of Indian democracy. His thinking is idealistic. He is impressed by sociological and psychological elements in his thinking. It is the good fortune of a political party to have such a moralist and ethical person as its leader. One who follows ethical values in the face of adverse circumstance, emerges to be the real leader in politics. People who compromise at every step for immediate and short-term gains are opportunists. The opportunism that Upadhyaya warned us against, started in his times and it culminated in his assassination. This was a big loss to Indian democracy.

Here it must be mentioned that Deendayal Upadhyaya's guide, Guruji Golwalkar believed that democracy was the least evil of running a government as conceived by man. He believed that the right approach to governance has still to be researched and arrived at. He also wanted Indianism of democracy and said that western democracy was based on the self- congratulatory thought of "self-praise and criticism of others", whereas the Indian thought had taught us to look at our own shortcomings and laud the achievements of others. For the last more than fifty years, the western attitude of "self-praise and criticism of others" has adversely affected our thinking. Deendayal thought it to be a challenge facing political workers in the country.