NB In List | Sangh Parivar's great hero, Deendayal Upadhyaya's thoughts on Dharma

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ji was a man of simple living, high thinking and strong determination. He was a brilliant student, ace organizer, writer, journalist, thinker, philosopher, true nationalist, and a humanist par excellence.

Upadhyay Ji has very-well made us understand what Dharma is. Here are some of his thoughts about Dharma differentiating it from the word "religion".

"The English word Religion is not the correct word for Dharma.”

"The nearest equivalent English term for Dharma can be 'Innate Law', though even that does not express the full meaning of Dharma. Since Dharma is supreme, our Ideal of the State has been 'Dharma Rajya'.

"In Bharat, the Principles of Ethics are termed as Dharma--The Laws of Life."

"The fundamental principles of Dharma are eternal and universal. However, their implementation may differ according to time, place and circumstances."

5."Religion means a creed, or a sect, it does not mean Dharma. Dharma is a very broad concept. It is concerned with all aspects of life. It sustains society. It sustains the whole world. That which sustains is Dharma."

Dharma is not necessarily with the majority or with the people. Dharma is eternal. Therefore, in the definition of democracy, to say that it is a government of the people is not enough ; it has to be for the good of the people. Dharma alone can decide. Therefore, a democratic government "Jana Rajya'', must also be rooted in Dharma i.e. a "Dharma Rajya''. In the definition of 'Democracy' viz. "government of the people, by the people and for the people'', 'of ' stands for independence, 'by' stands for democracy, and 'for' indicates Dharma. Therefore the true democracy is one where there is freedom as well as Dharma.