Reclaiming the Soul: Deconstructing Dehumanization in the Digital Era through Vajpayee’s verse


The Criterion

The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Volume 17, Issue 2 · April 2026 · ISSN 0976-8165

Open Access
CC BY 4.0
Crossref DOI


Reclaiming the Soul: Deconstructing Dehumanization in the Digital Era through Vajpayee’s verse


Dr. Surajit Sen

Digital Humanities
Pages 115–127
Article #08
2026V17N2020

DOI

Digital Object Identifier

10.66376/criterion.v17.n2.8

Registered with Crossref · Open Access · CC BY 4.0

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence technologies, they have exhibited capabilities that surpass human abilities across multiple domains. However, this progression is not merely technical in nature. AI poses significant challenges to humanism, a philosophy emphasizing individual experiences, freedom and intrinsic human values. As we combat the challenges, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poetry moist with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s concept of ‘Integral Humanism’ comes across as a possible roadmap. His poetry is often described as a reflection of his deep humanism which blended his political life with his sensitive and compassionate nature. His verses transcend mere political rhetoric, foreground universal values, social responsibility and the human condition. As he utters – ‘Never accord me that height/ That I cannot embrace strangers’, we are strongly reminded of the need to prioritise human beings despite our outstanding achievements. This paper endeavours to bring out Vajpayee’s inclusive humanism embedded in his poetical output where we find the potential antidote to the multiple concerns related to humanity belonging to this digital era.

Keywords
Artificial intelligencechallengeshumanismAtal Bihari Vajpayee’s poetrypotential antidote

Cite This Article — MLA 9th Edition

Dr. Surajit Sen. “Reclaiming the Soul: Deconstructing Dehumanization in the Digital Era through Vajpayee’s verse.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 115–127. DOI, https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n2.8.

Article History
Received
2/24/2026/2026
Accepted
24 Apr 2026
Published Online
30 Apr 2026

Journal
The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Volume / Issue
Vol. 17, No. 2 (April 2026)
Pages
115–127
Article ID
2026V17N2020
ISSN
0976-8165

Open Access
CC BY 4.0
Crossref DOI

Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · Crossref DOI ·
the-criterion.com

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