Mumbai: On Friday, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, on his 122nd birth anniversary. JP was the architect of the 1975 mass movement against the Indira government’s oppressive imposition of an Emergency in India.
The Prime Minister lauded JP’s services to the country and society, saying his personality and principles would continue to inspire future generations.
In a post on X, he stated in Hindi:
“लोकनायक जयप्रकाश नारायण को उनकी जयंती पर मेरी आदरपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि। उन्होंने देश और समाज में सकारात्मक परिवर्तन के लिए अपना जीवन समर्पित कर दिया। उनका व्यक्तित्व और आदर्श हर पीढ़ी के लिए प्रेरणास्रोत बना रहेगा।”
(“My respectful tribute to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his life to positive change in the country and society. His character and ideals will remain a source of inspiration for every generation.”)
Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava was born on 11 October 1902 in Bihar. A politician, theorist, and independence activist, he is fondly called ‘Lok Nayak’ (People’s Leader).
He is well known for leading the mid-1970s opposition to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and calling for overthrowing her government in a “total revolution.”
Narayan received India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1999 for his social contribution. He had previously received the Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1965.
JP’s opposition to Indira Gandhi
In 1975, the Allahabad High Court convicted Indira Gandhi of breaking electoral regulations. With unwavering courage, Narayan demanded that Mrs Gandhi and the chief ministers quit and that the military and police reject unconstitutional and immoral commands. His fearless stand inspired a nation, showcasing the power of one individual’s courage to ignite change.
JP campaigned for societal transformation, which he called Sampoorna Kranti (complete revolution). This revolution was not just a political change, but a call for a complete overhaul of the social and economic structure of the country. At midnight on June 25, 1975, Mrs Gandhi declared a national emergency, a move that JP and his followers saw as a direct attack on their vision of a just and equal society.
On 25 June 1975, Gandhi addressed a mammoth rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, which has gone down in history as the ‘Mother of all rallies. ‘ Lakhs of people came in hordes to listen to their revolutionary leader. Among the attendees were Manmohan Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chandrashekhar, who later became India’s prime ministers.
Jayaprakash Narayan inspired the masses when he addressed a crowd of 100,000 people at the Ramlila grounds, reciting Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar”s poem Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai. The poem, which translates to ‘Vacate the throne, for the people are coming ‘, was a powerful call to action, urging the public to rise against the oppressive regime.
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Subsequently, Manmohan Desai, other opposition leaders, and dissenting members of the Congress party were all arrested that day.
Following his agitation, Narayan was arrested in Chandigarh. Socialist Leader and Trade Unionist Surur Hoda initiated the ‘Free JP’ campaign in the United Kingdom. Nobel Peace Prize recipient Philip Noel-Baker also led the Movement for Jayaprakash Narayan’s release. This international campaign garnered significant support and brought attention to Narayan’s plight, contributing to the pressure on the Indian government to release him.
Soon after, JP’s health deteriorated quickly; he was diagnosed with kidney failure at Jaslok Hospital in Bombay (now Mumbai) and had to be put on dialysis for the rest of his life.
Turning point in India’s political history
Indira Gandhi lifted the emergency on January 18, 1977, and called for elections. Under JP’s leadership, the Janata Party was created to represent a broad spectrum of Gandhi’s opponents.
On February 7, 1977, JP addressed another rally at the Ramlila grounds before the general elections. He stressed that it was unimportant which party would win and assume power this time. “The question is whether you and your children and the country will be free or slaves,” he said, urging the people to reflect.
Under JP’s leadership, the Janata Party won the election, becoming the first non-Congress party to form a federal administration. In the 1977 Indian presidential election, Janata Party officials suggested Narayan as president, but he declined, and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was elected President. This unity under JP’s guidance showcased the power of collective action in shaping India’s political history.
The mass leader breathed his last on 8 October 1979 after a prolonged illness.
The Janata Party came to power but did not complete the full term. A few months after JP’s demise, internal bickering within the party created factions, leading to the government’s fall. In the 1980 Lok Sabha election, Indira Gandhi won again and returned to power. She stayed in office until her assassination on October 31, 1984.
In service of the nation
JP never ran for office, but he garnered widespread public support, particularly when he led the struggle against the Emergency. His selfless service earned the entire country’s respect and admiration, setting a high standard for public service.
During India’s freedom struggle, he was a founding member of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP). Following independence, he founded the Socialist Party, which later united with J.B. Kripalani’s Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party to become the Praja Socialist Party. While Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, wanted JP to join the Union administration, he tried to avoid electoral politics and instead focused on social concerns. He worked his entire life to strengthen democracy in the country.
In 2001, the government of India issued a commemorative stamp in his name to recognise his service to the country.
In 1999, Narayan was posthumously given the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, for his social contribution.
Young Turks emerged from JP’s Movement
Many young people joined the JP Movement, and their active participation significantly influenced Indian politics. Several of them went on to play important roles in Indian politics and hold key government positions. Prominent names among them were Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister (CM) and Union Railway Minister; Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Union Defence Minister; and Nitish Kumar, current Bihar Chief Minister and former Union Railway Minister.
However, the most popular name that later emerged was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Gujarat Chief Minister. Although he was not as well-known as the others then, he was one of hundreds who participated in the JP Movement, making his journey relatable to many.
Narendra Modi, a young full-time member of the RSS, remained beneath the radar during the Emergency. He used this to collaborate with people and organisations from many political backgrounds, which exposed him to a diverse spectrum of opinions and points of view.
His disguises were so brilliant that even long-time friends couldn’t recognise him. He dressed in saffron-coloured swamiji attire and even wore a turban to imitate a Sikh. Modi’s social media pages recounted how he successfully deceived authorities in a cell into delivering a critical document.
Equal distribution of national wealth
A true Gandhian and a socialist, Jayaprakash Narayan saw socialism as a comprehensive theory of socioeconomic construction. He claimed that society’s inequality stems from disproportionate control over the means of production.
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Image Source: PIB/X
