Jayprakash Narayan, a Revolutionary Hero-Par-Excellence

Jayprakash Narayan is one of the rarest of the rare personalities not only of India but of the whole world. He was in line with the tallest men of India- Lord Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave. He followed the great Indian traditions of renunciation in quest of knowledge that would enable him to preach the messages of love, brotherhood, equality and sacrifice. Mahatma Gandhi also renounced the state power for building a self reliant society based on equality, brotherhood and social harmony. Vinobaji, a disciple of Gandhiji never aspired for any post or position. He carried forward the Gandhian programme with added flavour of love and compassion.

Jayprakash also renounced State or Governmental power or post. He followed the foot-prints of all these great men and took forward the basic concept of social, economic and political freedom of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinobaji with greater force, though in a different style. Jayprakash was a born revolutionary. Fervently and impatiently he desired to break the shackles of foreign slavery. While yet a student, he came into contact with the revolutionaries who wanted to throw out the foreign rule even with violence. He was restless to do something. In the meantime, Gandhi, back from Africa, launched the non co-operation movement. For Jayprakash it was a much desired opportunity for doing something for the country. With great zeal and high hopes he jumped into this movement. But he was disappointed when after sometime the movement became cool and slack. He wanted to study science but he did not like to pursue his studies in any college or university aided or managed by the British rulers. So he decided to go to America and study science there by earning and learning method.

In America he came into close contact with the Marxists. He voraciously read the Marxist literature and was highly inspired by its philosophy of class struggle. He sometimes, felt that India could quickly win freedom through Marxist method. But his romance with the Marxism did not last long. When he learnt about the suppression of citizens’ civil rights like the right to freedom of expression in Soviet Russia he became disillusioned and a critic of Communist regime. Back to India, he met Gandhiji and was highly inspired by his ideology. He joined the Congress Party and also worked with Jawahar Lal Nehru for a long time.

Jayprakash threw himself heart and soul in the “Quit India Movement” of 1942. He was arrested and lodged in Hazaribagh Central Jail. He escaped from that jail with some other freedom fighters after scaling over the walls of jail. He organized, inspired and guided the movement keeping himself underground.

Jayprakash was the blazing star of “Quit India Movement” particularly in Bihar. His name kindled the fire of revolution in the heads of the youth. He became the idol and ideal of the people especially of the students’ community. The youth of Bihar were ready to make any sacrifice and do anything at his call. But Jayprakash could not remain underground for a long time. He was arrested by the British Government and was sent to Lahore Jail where he was mercilessly tortured by the Government.

After his release from jail Jayprakash was accorded a warm and enthusiastic welcome befitting a hero. Wherever he went he received a hero’s welcome. He actively participated in all those struggles that were launched against the British Rule till it ended in 1947. After the country became free, Jayprakash was a disillusioned man. He did not like the way the Government functioned. He also did not like the way the political parties and their leaders worked. The high ideals of sacrifice and service to the people were forgotten. Everyone was hankering after loaves and fishes. Nehru once invited him to join the Union Government but he politely refused the offer. He could have become the prime minister of the country after Nehru had he wished so. But that was not his path. He was basically a revolutionary and he wanted change in all walks of life in all the systems of the countries- political, economic and social. His quest for the achieving that ideal brought him to the Bhudan and Sarvoday and finally to “Bihar Movement of 1974”. He was a researcher trying to find out the right path for the welfare of the country.

Jayprakash was the ardent lover of freedom. Freedom was the cherished goal and cardinal faith of his life. He was ready to sacrifice anything, even bread for the sake of freedom. His concept of freedom was very broad and wide-ranging. He wanted freedom not only for his own country but for all the enslaved countries of the world. Freedom for him did not mean only political freedom. It meant economic and social freedom too. It meant freedom from want and hunger, freedom from all sorts of social inequalities and discriminations.

Jayprakash was a brave fighter, a man of heroic personality. All his life he fought against corruption, discrimination, misrule and social evils. Bihar movement or JP movement of 1974 popularly known as the Second Revolution of India was started to fight against corruption and misrule and it succeeded in changing the Government in the State and also at the Centre. It was for the first time after independence that people believed in their might and their capacity.

Like Gandhi and Vinoba, Jayprakash believed in peaceful and non-violent struggle. He also wanted change through peaceful method with love and compassion. Jayprakash possessed a magnificent personality. He had child like innocence and a poetic heart. He was strong like rock and soft like butter. The feeling of compassion was the dominant trait of his personality. But when it was a question of people’s natural right or a question of principle, he roared like a lion. Jayprakash was always trustworthy. The rebels of Chambal valley surrendered their arms at his feat. They did not trust any other political figure. This surrender of Chambal Valley dacoits was a landmark achievement of Jayprakash. It was also a unique event of the world history.

Jayprakash was a true patriot and a visionary statesman. His views on Nagaland, Kashmir, or Tibet or China are still meaningful and relevant. His contributions to the liberations of Bangladesh are highly admired even today. His letter to the first president of Bangladesh speaks of his warm love for the new nation. Jayprakash wished that India should play an effective and impartial role in the international politics. He disliked India playing second fiddle to the World Diplomacy.

During emergency imposed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, Jayprakash was arrested and put behind the bars. He was lodged in Chandigarh hospital. Except physicians no visitors was allowed to meet him. Even on his request, no friend or associate was allowed to stay with him. He remained alone and isolated there till his release. Surprisingly both his kidneys suddenly stopped functioning in the hospital though he had no kidney problem before his arrest. Jayprakash suffered and was tortured at the hands of both the British Government and the Congress Government. Without any lust for power and position he struggled all his life for freedom, for clean governance, for party-less participative democracy, for an egalitarian society and for change in all aspects of life. Like Gandhiji he longed to uplift the poor, downtrodden, the oppressed, the suppressed and the long exploited people of this country by making them conscious of their natural rights and by enabling them to improve their lot by their own initiative and their own efforts. It is really painful that this great son of India is hardly remembered even by those who are the products of JP movement.

Jayprakash also built a second political front as an alternative to the ruling Congress party. Although the front did not last long at that time, it showed the way and is now in a maturing stage. He also created a second line of leadership. Many of his followers are occupying high seats of power. It is historical tragedy that his disciples have forgotten the high ideals of Jayprakash and his concept of total revolution

In the words of Vinobaji, Jayprakash had childlike innocence. He had no ill feeling or grudge against anybody, although, he remained in party, politics for a long time. He regarded Indiraji as his own daughter. He never aspired for any post or position either in the Government or in any other organization. He wished nothing but the betterment of the lives of the people. He was always a man of the people. Till the end of his life he remained as a servant, a friend, a spokesman, a guide and torchbearer of the people. His idea of total revolution would remain as a beacon of hope for the younger generation. The title of “LOKNAYAK” is absolutely befitting.

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Dr. Janak Kishore Lal Das

Former University Professor of English

L.N.M.U. Darbhanga

Kanakpura, Madhubani