Jaya Prakash Narayan

Jaya Prakash Narayan, simply known at times as J.P., was an Indian freedom-fighter, socialist politician and social activist.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rising as a young radical in the Congress Party of the 1930s, Narayan conceived the Congress Socialist Party, a bloc of Congressmen adhering to Marxist ideals. Narayan grew close to Jawaharlal Nehru, and often spoke critically of the elder leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. He agitated for complete independence when many others were talking simply of dominion status within the Empire, and was frequently arrested during the civil disobedience movements of the 1920s and 1930s.

Related Topics:
Jawaharlal Nehru - Mahatma Gandhi - Sardar Patel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Narayan backed an all-out civil disobedience movement against the British Empire in 1942, as he opposed Britain's arbitrary decision to involve India in the World War, and refusal to grant constitutional freedom to the country, and was arrested in the Quit India movement. He also opposed the Partition of India in 1947.

Related Topics:
India - Quit India - Partition of India

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Narayan left the Congress Party in 1948 and formed the Praja (Public) Socialist Party, committed to more radical socialist economic and social policies which even Nehru's Congress Party was averse to. The party failed to build a cohesive, popular base, and Narayan "retired" from politics in 1953, committing himself to social causes and the peaceful, concialiatory land-distribution movement, aimed at empowering landless farmers by convincing large landlords to pass ownership by friendly negotiations and conciliation, much different to Mao's and Stalin's class warfare. Narayan also famously obtained surrenders from Mumbai's smuggling syndicate bosses, striking a deal allowing them to return to normal civilian life with respect, if they gave up their illegal businesses and embraced the law. He earned the popular title of "Lok Nayak" (People's "Justice-giver").

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After 1971, Narayan became a fierce critic of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, accusing her of authoritarianism, corruption and abuse of power, and eroding the people's freedom that was achieved in 1947. After Indira Gandhi was convicted by the Allahabad High Court in 1974 of abuse of government machinery for political purposes, Narayan began encouraging protests and strikes across the country. He even publicly called upon the Army to disobey the PM's orders and dislodge her from power. Narayan's protestors surrounded the PM's residence and the Parliament, virtually holding the administration under siege, prompting the Prime Minister to promulgate national emergency. Narayan, already ailing with multiple and serious ailments, including failing kidneys, was arrested.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Indira Gandhi called fresh elections and lifted emergency in 1977, Narayan became the Godfather of the collage of opposition parties, and an iconic figure for the people of the country. The spiritual leader of the Janata Party alliance, Narayan was the adhesive that kept together scores of regional parties, ideological adversaries and machine political groups. When the Janata coalition defeated Indira's Congress Party in a landslide, it was left upto Narayan to pick the new Prime Minister, as no party in the Janata alliance had any distinct advantage over another. Picking Morarji Desai, Narayan receeded to the backseat once more.

Related Topics:
Janata Party - Morarji Desai

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, just as the Janata alliance began to fall apart in 1979, Narayan died, having suffered from serious ailments and failing health for the past 2 years since his retirement from public life. Within months of his death, his old rival Indira Gandhi had led her Congress (I) Party to a landslide victory in national elections, and was Prime Minister again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

J.P. Narayan is remembered as an idealist, a radical, a man of the people. His early retirement from active politics saved him from the disrepute and ignominy earned by so many others in the chaotic, corrupt world of government, and his work for social causes gave him a saint-like image, effective as reminiscence of Mahatma Gandhi to a nation exhausted with incompetent politicians.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~