Jayaprakash Narayan

Jayaprakash Narayan (listenⓘ; 11 October 1902 – 8 October 1979), popularly referred to as JP or Lok Nayak (Hindi for "People's leader"), was an Indian independence activist, theorist, socialist and political leader. He is remembered for leading the mid-1970s opposition against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for whose overthrow he had called for a "total revolution". His biography, Jayaprakash, was written by his nationalist friend and the writer of Hindi literature, Rambriksh Benipuri. In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of his social service. Other awards include the Magsaysay award for Public Service in 1965.

"Loknayak" redirects here. For the 2004 Indian film about him, see Loknayak (film).

Jayaprakash Narayan
Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan
Born
Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava

(1902-10-11)11 October 1902
Sitab Diara, Saran district, Bengal Presidency, British India (present–day Saran district, Bihar, India)
Died8 October 1979(1979-10-08) (aged 76)
Patna, Bihar, India
Other namesJP, Jay Prakash Narayan, Lok Nayak
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin (M.A., sociology)
Ohio State University (B. A., behavioral science)
University of Iowa (CHE, discontinued)
U.C. Berkeley (chemistry, discontinued)[1][2]
Occupations
  • Activist
  • theorist
  • politician
Political partyIndian National Congress
Janata Party
MovementQuit India, Sarvodaya, JP Movement
SpousePrabhavati Devi
RelativesBrajkishore Prasad (father-in-law)
Awards

Early life

Jayprakash Narayan Srivastava was born on 11 October 1902[3][4] in the village of Sitabdiara, Saran district, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, India).[5] Sitabdiara is a large village, straddling two states and three districts — Saran and Bhojpur in Bihar and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.[6] His house was near the banks of the flood-prone Ghaghara river. Every time the river swelled, the house would get a little bit damaged, eventually forcing the family to move a few kilometres away to a settlement which is now known as Jay Prakash Nagar and falls in Uttar Pradesh.

He came from a Srivastava Kayastha family.[7][4] He was the fourth child of Harsu Dayal and Phul Rani Devi. His father Harsu Dayal was a junior official in the Canal Department of the State government and was often touring the region. When Narayan was 9 years old, he left his village to enroll in the seventh class of the collegiate school at Patna.[8] This was his first break from village life. JP stayed at a student hostel—Saraswati Bhawan—in which most of the boys were a bit older. Among them were some of Bihar's future leaders including its first chief minister, Krishna Singh, his deputy Anugrah Narayan Sinha and several others who were to widely become known in politics and academic world.[9]

In October 1918, Narayan married Braj Kishore Prasad's elder daughter Prabhavati Devi, a freedom fighter in her own right.[10] After their wedding, since Narayan was working in Patna and it was difficult for his wife to stay with him, on the invitation of Gandhi, Prabhavati became an inmate at Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad).[11] Jayaprakash, along with some friends, went to listen to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad speak about the Non-co-operation movement launched by Gandhi against the passing of the Rowlatt Act of 1919. The Maulana was a brilliant orator and his call to give up English education was "like leaves before a storm: Jayaprakash was swept away and momentarily lifted up to the skies. That brief experience of soaring up with the winds of a great idea left imprints on his inner being". Jayaprakash took the Maulana's words to heart and left Bihar National College with just 20 days remaining for his examinations. Jayaprakash joined the Bihar Vidyapeeth, a college founded by Rajendra Prasad and became among the first students of Gandhian Anugraha Narayan Sinha.

Higher education in the United States

After exhausting the courses at the Vidyapeeth, Jayaprakash decided to continue studies in the United States.[10] At age 20, Jayaprakash sailed aboard the cargo ship Janus while Prabhavati remained at Sabarmati. Jayaprakash reached California on 8 October 1922 and was admitted to Berkeley in January 1923.[12] To pay for his education, Jayaprakash picked grapes, set them out to dry, packed fruits at a canning factory, washed dishes, worked as a mechanic at a garage and at a slaughterhouse, sold lotions and taught. All these jobs gave Jayaprakash an insight into the difficulties of the working class.[1][2]

After a semester studying chemistry[13] at UC Berkeley, Jayaprakash was forced to transfer to The University of Iowa when fees at Berkeley were doubled. He then transferred to many other universities thereafter. He pursued his favourite subject, sociology, and received much help from Professor Edward Ross.

In Wisconsin, Jayaprakash was introduced to Karl Marx's Das Kapital. News of the success of the Bolsheviks in Russian Civil War made Jayaprakash conclude that Marxism was the way to alleviate the suffering of the masses. He delved into books by Indian intellectual and Communist theoretician M. N. Roy. His paper on sociology, Cultural Variation,[14] was declared the best of the year.[15] He obtained M.A., Sociology from University of Wisconsin, and B. A., in Behavioral Science from Ohio State University.[1][2]

Politics
Narayan with Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv, 1958

Narayan returned from the US to India in late 1929 as a Marxist.[16] He joined the Indian National Congress on the invitation of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1929; Mahatma Gandhi became his mentor in the Congress. He shared a house at Kadam Kuan in Patna with his close friend and nationalist Ganga Sharan Singh (Sinha)[17] with whom he shared the most cordial and lasting friendship.[17]

After being jailed in 1930 for civil disobedience against British rule, Narayan was imprisoned in Nasik Jail, where he met Ram Manohar Lohia, Minoo Masani, Achyut Patwardhan, Ashok Mehta, Basawon Singh, Yusuf Desai, C K Narayanaswami and other national leaders. After his release, the Congress Socialist Party, or (CSP), a left-wing group within the Congress, was formed with Acharya Narendra Deva as president and Narayan as General secretary.

When Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942, Yogendra Shukla scaled the wall of Hazaribagh Central Jail along with Jayaprakash Narayan, Suraj Narayan Singh, Gulab Chand Gupta, Pandit Ramnandan Mishra, Shaligram Singh and Shyam Barthwar, with a goal to start an underground movement for freedom.[18] Many young socialist leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Chhotubhai Puranik, Aruna Asaf Ali, etc. took part in underground movement. As Jayaprakash Narayan was ill, Yogendra Shukla walked to Gaya with Jayaprakash Narayan on his shoulders,[18] a distance of about 124 kilometres.[19] He also served as the[20] Chairman of Anugrah Smarak Nidhi (Anugrah Narayan Memorial Fund).

After Independence

Between 1947 and 1953, Jayaprakash Narayan was President of All India Railwaymen's Federation, the largest labour union in the Indian Railways.[21]

Emergency

Indira Gandhi was found guilty of violating electoral laws by the Allahabad High Court. Narayan called for Indira and the CMs to resign and the military and police to disregard unconstitutional and immoral orders. He advocated a program of social transformation which he termed Sampoorna kraanti, "total revolution". Immediately afterwards, Gandhi proclaimed a national Emergency on the midnight of 25 June 1975. Desai, opposition leaders, and dissenting members of her own party were arrested that day.

Jayaprakash Narayan attracted a gathering of 100,000 people at the Ramlila grounds and thunderously recited Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar''s wonderfully evocative poetry: Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai.[22]

Narayan was kept as a detainee at Chandigarh even after he asked for one month parole to mobilise relief in flooded parts of Bihar. His health suddenly deteriorated on 24 October, and he was released on 12 November; diagnosis at Jaslok Hospital, Bombay, revealed kidney failure; he would be on dialysis for the rest of his life.

In the UK, Surur Hoda launched the "Free JP" campaign chaired by Nobel Peace Prize winner Noel-Baker for the release of Jayaprakash Narayan.[23]

Indira Gandhi revoked the emergency on 18 January 1977 and announced elections. The Janata Party, a vehicle for the broad spectrum of the opposition to Indira Gandhi, was formed under JP's guidance. The Janata Party was voted into power and became the first non-Congress party to form a government at the centre.[24] On the call of Narayan, many youngsters joined the JP movement. In 1977 Indian presidential election, he was proposed to president by Janata Party leaders. But, he refused it, so Janata leaders decided to make Neelam Sanjeva Reddy, then Speaker of the Lok Sabha as the president.

Death

Narayan died in Patna, Bihar,[25] on 8 October 1979, three days before his 77th birthday, due to effects of diabetes and heart ailments. In March 1979, while he was in hospital, his death had been erroneously announced by the Indian prime minister, Morarji Desai, causing a grief wave of national mourning, including the suspension of parliament and regular radio broadcasting, and the closure of schools and shops. When he was told about the gaffe a few weeks later, he smiled.[26]

Family

At the age of 17, Jayaprakash was married to Prabhavati Devi, daughter of lawyer and nationalist Brij Kishore Prasad in October 1919. Prabhavati was very independent and on Gandhi's invitation, went to stay at his ashram while Jayaprakash continued his studies.[27] Prabhavati Devi died on 15 April 1973 after a long battle with cancer.

Awards
Narayan on a 2001 stamp of India

Sites named after Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan's statue near Mirza Ghalib College in Gaya, Bihar, India

Artistic depictions of JP

See also

References
  1. "The Idea of 'Total Revolution'". Bangalore Mirror. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  2. Khushwant Singh (30 March 1975). "A new wave from the old India". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  3. Ratan, Das (2007). Jayaprakash Narayan: His Life and Mission. Sarup & Sons. p. 7. ISBN 978-81-7625-734-3.
  4. Devasahayam, M. G. (2004). India's Second Freedom: An Untold Saga. Siddharth Publications. p. 95. ISBN 978-81-7220-157-9. Retrieved 5 June 2023. asked him whether Narayan was his surname. He said no and said that he was in fact Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava. Jayaprakash Narayan is his name and Srivastava is his surname. Conversations centered on the community of Kayasthas
  5. Prasad, Bimal (1980). A Revolutionary's Quest: Selected Writings of Jayaprakash Narayan. Oxford University Press. p. IX. ISBN 978-0-19-561204-2.
  6. "A forgotten hero's forgotten legacy". Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
  7. Das, Sandip (2005). Jayaprakash Narayan: A Centenary Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 109. ISBN 978-81-8324-001-7.
  8. Scarfe, Allan; Scarfe, Wendy (1998). J. P., His Biography. Orient Blackswan. p. 30. ISBN 978-81-250-1021-0.
  9. Bhattacharjea, Ajit (1978). Jayaprakash Narayan: A Political Biography. Vikas Publishing House. p. 33. ISBN 9780836401158.
  10. Das, Sandip (2007). Jayaprakash Narayan: A Centenary Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 239. ISBN 978-81-8324-001-7.
  11. Ratan, Das (2007). Jayaprakash Narayan: His Life and Mission. Sarup & Sons. p. 7. ISBN 978-81-7625-734-3.
  12. Chishti, Seema (11 October 2017). "Jayaprakash Narayan: Reluctant messiah of a turbulent time". The India Express. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. "Register – University of California: 1922/1923". Register. Berkeley, California: University of California Press: 227. 1923. hdl:2027/coo.31924064686276.
  14. Narayan, JP. Cultural variation. Diss. The Ohio State University, 1929.
  15. "Writings of Jayprakash Narayan". www.mkgandhi.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  16. Das, Sandip (2005). Jayaprakash Narayan: A Centenary Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 230. ISBN 978-81-8324-001-7.
  17. Ralhan, O.P. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 17998 (at pages 73–74). ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
  18. Srivastava, N.M.P. (1988). Struggle for Freedom: Some Great Indian Revolutionaries. K.P.Jayaswal Research Institute, Government of Bihar, Patna.
  19. Distance between Hazaribagh Central Jail and Gaya. Maps.google.co.in. Retrieved on 20 November 2018.
  20. "Bihar Vibhuti's Legacy Drifting into Oblivion?". Patna Daily. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  21. Bear, Laura (2007). Lines of the Nation: Indian Railway Workers, Bureaucracy, and the Intimate Historical Self. Columbia University Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780231140027.
  22. Harish Khare (16 May 2001). "Obligations of a lameduck". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. McRobie, George (30 June 2003). "Surur Hoda: Trade unionist who spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  24. "How non-BJP, non-Congress governments in India have fared in the past". thenewsminute.com. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  25. Datta-Ray, Sunanda K. "Inconvenient Prophet". India Today. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  26. "Jayaprakash Narayan's death announced mistakenly". www.indianexpress.com. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  27. Vaidya, Prem. "Jayaprakash Narayan – Keeper of India's Conscience". LiberalsIndia.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  28. Correspondent, NDTV (24 January 2011). "List of all Bharat Ratna award winners". ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  29. "Blog Entry# 1555434". India Rail. 1 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  30. "Uncensored 'Loknayak' to be screened soon". The Times of India. 19 October 2004. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  31. "Loknayak". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  32. ""I am fully indebted to theatre"". The Hindu. 31 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2021.

Further reading and bibliography
  • Braja Kishore Prasad: The Hero of Many Battles by Sachidanand Sinha; National Book Trust, India, New Delhi; 2018; ISBN 978-81-237-8176-1
  • Red Fugitive: Jayaprakash Narayan by H L Singh Dewans Publications Lahore 1946
  • Life and Time of Jayaprakash Narayan by J S Bright Dewans Publications Lahore 1946
  • J.P: His Biography, Allan and Wendy Scarfe, Orient Longmans New Delhi 1975
  • Jayaprakash Narayan - Jankranti Ke Loknayak by Dr. Riteshwar Nath Tiwari, Rajmangal Prakashan, April 2023
  • Jayaprakash: Rebel Extraordinary, by Lakshmi Narayan Lal, Indian Book Company New Delhi 1975
  • Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, by Suresh Ram Macmillan Co. Delhi 1974
  • Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan by Farooq Argali Janata Pocket Books Delhi 1977.
  • Bimal Prasad (editor). 1980. A Revolutionary's Quest: Selected Writings of Jayaprakash Narayan. Oxford University Press, Delhi ISBN 0-19-561204-3
  • Jai Prakash Narain, Jayaprakash Narayan, Essential Writings, 1929–1979: A Centenary Volume, 1902–2002, Konark Publishers (2002) ISBN 81-220-0634-5
  • Dr. Kawaljeet, J.P.'s Total Revolution and Humanism (Patna: Buddhiwadi Foundation, 2002). ISBN 81-86935-02-9
  • Dr. Ramendra (editor), Jayaprakash Vichar Sankalan [Hindi] (Patna: Rajendra Prakashan, 1986).
  • Satyabrata Rai Chowdhuri, Leftism in India: 1917–1947 (London and New Delhi: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008).
  • Radhakanta Barik, Politics of the JP Movement (Radiant Publications, Delhi, 1977)
  • MG Devashayam, JP Movement Emergency and India's Second Freedom (Vitasta Publishing Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2012). ISBN 978-93-80828-61-9
  • Why Socialism, 1936
  • War Circulars, 1–4 CSP, Lucknow
  • Inside Lahore Fort, Sahityalaya Patna 1947
  • Nation Building in India – JP Narayan
  • Three Basic Problems of India. From Socialism to Sarvodaya, Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan, Varansi 1957
  • A Plea for Reconstruction of Indian Polity, Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan, Varansi 1959
  • Swaraj for the People, Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan, Varansi 1961
  • Sarvodaya Answer to Chinese Aggression, Sarvodaya Prachuralaya Tanjore 1963
  • Face to Face, Navchetna Prakashan, Varansi 1970
  • Prison Diary, Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha Calcutta 1976 and Popular Prakashan, Bombay 1977.
  • Towards Struggle, edited by Yusuf Meherally, Padma Publications, Bombay 1946, 47
  • Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy, edited by Bimal Prasad, Asia Publishing House Bombay 1964
  • Communitarian Society and Panchayti Raj, edited by Brahmanand Navchetna Prakashan Varansi 1970
  • Nation-Building in India, edited by Brahmanand Navchetna Prakashan Varansi 1974
  • Towards Revolution, edited by Bhargava and Phadnis, Arnold-Heinemann New Delhi 1975
  • J.P's Jail Life (A Collection of Personal Letters) translated by G S Bhargava, Arnold-Heinemann New Delhi 1977
  • Towards Total Revolution, edited by Brahmanand Popular Prakashan Bombay 1978
  • J P:Profile of a non-conformist, Interviews by Bhola Chatterji, Minerva Associates, Calcutta, 1979
  • To All Fighters of Freedom II, A Revolutionary's Quest-selected writings of Jayprakash Narayan, edited by Bimal Prasad Oxford University Press New Delhi 1980
  • Concept of Total Revolution: An Introductory Essay(JP and social change) by Bimal Prasad
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