Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, September 25, paid tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary, highlighting the concept of Antyodaya — prioritising those at the margins of society — as an important principle for public welfare and governance.
In a social media message, Sarma invoked the idea of moving from “Antyodaya to Rashtroudaya”, or from the upliftment of the most disadvantaged towards broader national progress. He said development should reach the last person in society and linked that principle to strengthening the country.
What Himanta Biswa Sarma Said About Antyodaya
Sarma used Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary to underline the political thinker’s emphasis on ensuring that development reaches people at the lowest end of the economic and social spectrum.
According to the Assam Chief Minister’s tribute, the philosophy remains relevant to the way governments approach welfare delivery and efforts to reach beneficiaries who may otherwise remain outside development programmes.
The statement reflects a recurring theme in the BJP’s description of its welfare policies: ensuring government schemes reach intended beneficiaries at the grassroots.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Upadhyaya on September 25, 2026. The Prime Minister’s Office said Modi highlighted Antyodaya and the upliftment of marginalised people as a foundation for nation-building.
What Does Antyodaya Mean?
Antyodaya is commonly understood as the upliftment or rise of the person at the last rung of society.
The concept is closely associated with Deendayal Upadhyaya’s political thought and argues that development should be assessed not only through overall economic progress but also by whether its benefits reach disadvantaged and marginalised sections.
Official government communications have repeatedly described Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya vision as being centred on the welfare of the person standing at the end of the social and economic queue.
The term later became associated with several government welfare initiatives. It is also part of the language used by BJP governments when discussing last-mile delivery and targeted welfare programmes.
Who Was Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya?
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916, and became a prominent political organiser and thinker associated with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
He served for years as general secretary of the Jana Sangh and was elected its president in December 1967. The Jana Sangh was a political predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Upadhyaya was also associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and is closely identified with the philosophy known as Integral Humanism, or Ekatma Manav Darshan.
His political thought sought to frame economic and social development through what he considered an Indian philosophical framework rather than adopting either capitalism or communism without modification.
He died in February 1968.
Antyodaya and Assam’s Welfare Programmes
Sarma’s reference to Antyodaya comes as the Assam government continues to expand a number of targeted welfare programmes.
Among them is Orunodoi 3.0, an expanded version of Assam’s direct-benefit programme focused particularly on women from eligible households.
The latest phase was formally launched in August 2026, with programmes held at more than 3,500 locations across Assam. State government information said the scheme was aimed at providing financial support and strengthening the economic security of eligible women.
While Sarma’s September 25 tribute did not establish a new programme, his reference to Antyodaya places existing welfare initiatives within the broader political philosophy he said continues to inform governance.
Why Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Birth Anniversary Is Politically Significant
September 25 is marked annually by BJP leaders and governments as an occasion to remember Upadhyaya and discuss his ideas on welfare, national development and Integral Humanism.
In his own tribute this year, Prime Minister Modi said Upadhyaya regarded the upliftment of those in the last row of society as central to nation-building. Modi called for his ideas and principles to be reflected in social and national responsibilities.
Similar tributes were issued by several BJP leaders across states on Friday.
These statements represent the BJP and its leaders’ interpretation of Upadhyaya’s political legacy and its relevance to their governance approach.
Key Facts
Who paid tribute?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
When?
September 25, 2026, on Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary.
What principle did Sarma highlight?
He highlighted Antyodaya, the idea of prioritising the upliftment of the most disadvantaged sections of society.
When was Deendayal Upadhyaya born?
He was born on September 25, 1916.
What political organisation did he lead?
Upadhyaya was a senior leader and later president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political predecessor of the BJP.
Why the Statement Matters
Sarma’s message is significant primarily as a statement of the Assam government leadership’s stated governing philosophy.
By connecting Antyodaya with present-day welfare delivery, the Chief Minister is framing policies aimed at lower-income and vulnerable households within an ideological concept that has long been part of the BJP’s political vocabulary.
Whether individual government programmes achieve those stated objectives is a separate question that depends on their design, coverage, implementation and measurable outcomes.
The September 25 tribute therefore serves both as a remembrance of Deendayal Upadhyaya and as a restatement of the principles the Assam Chief Minister says should guide public policy.
FAQs
What did Himanta Biswa Sarma say about Deendayal Upadhyaya?
The Assam Chief Minister paid tribute to Upadhyaya on his September 25 birth anniversary and highlighted Antyodaya, saying development should reach the last person in society.
What is Antyodaya?
Antyodaya broadly refers to the upliftment of society’s most disadvantaged or last person. It is closely associated with Deendayal Upadhyaya’s political philosophy.
When was Deendayal Upadhyaya born?
Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916.
What is Integral Humanism?
Integral Humanism is a political and social philosophy associated with Deendayal Upadhyaya that sought to formulate a development model grounded in Indian social and cultural thought.
How is Antyodaya connected with governance?
BJP leaders, including Sarma and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, use the term to describe an approach in which welfare and development programmes aim to reach marginalised and economically disadvantaged citizens.