Commemoration of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jayanti with Antyodaya Diwas Programme at IIAS
Shimla, 25 September 2025. The Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, organized a solemn and intellectually vibrant programme to mark the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, celebrated nationwide as ‘Antyodaya Diwas’. The event, held in the Pool Theatre of the Institute, brought together fellows, scholars, academicians, and members of the local intelligentsia to deliberate on the life and philosophy of Pandit Upadhyaya.
The programme began with an invocation, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and floral tributes to the visionary thinker. In her address as the Guest of Honour, Professor Uma Vaidya, Tagore Fellow at IIAS, underlined the contemporary relevance of Pandit Upadhyaya’s thought. She observed:
“The philosophy propounded by Deenadayal Upadhyaya will help us to create generations of citizens who are academically sound, socially conscious, politically balanced, financially established, spiritually well-trained and morally upright.”
Professor Vaidya also paid homage through a self-composed Sanskrit verse:
“Dyaalauyoḥ iha dinebhyaḥ Upādhyāyaś ca nāmataḥ ।
Sadā hitārthaṁ rāṣṭrasya suthiryatnaparāyaṇaḥ ॥
Mānavasya ca ekātmyaṁ yenoddhoṣitaṁ sadā ।
Namastasmai namastasmai namastasmai namo namaḥ ॥”
Explaining its essence, she remarked that the life and vision of Pandit Upadhyaya were ever dedicated to the welfare of the nation, and his proclamation of Integral Humanism continues to unite humanity in a shared moral and spiritual bond.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Heeraman Tiwari, Chairman, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Director, ICSSR Northern Region Centre, reflected upon the doctrine of Integral Humanism. He emphasized that Pandit Upadhyaya’s ideas were not merely theoretical constructs but a pragmatic framework for inclusive development that sought to empower the most marginalized sections of society.
Presiding over the event, Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIAS, highlighted the intrinsic connection between the principle of Antyodaya and the Institute’s academic and social responsibilities. He underscored the need for institutions such as IIAS to nurture philosophical traditions that guide the nation’s intellectual and moral compass.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Shri Mehr Chand Negi, Secretary of the Institute. Session was moderated by Akhilesh Pathak, PRO, IIAS.
The event concluded with the National Anthem, marking not only a tribute to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya but also reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to fostering dialogue on India’s enduring intellectual heritage.
