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Book Review
JP's 'total revolution'
TRANSFORMING THE POLITY — Centenary readings from Jayaprakash Narayan: Selected and introduced by Ajit Bhattacharjea; Rupa and Co., 7/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002. Rs. 195.
RESTLESS AND struggling hard with the might of a titan against the dark forces of power politics, massive corruption, demon of communalism, bureaucratic dominance and moral bankruptcy, Jayaprakash Narayan (1902-1979) lived the life of a hero. It was his deep concern for the common man (that earned him the popular prefix "Lok Nayak"), which led him through Marxism and Socialism to Gandhian way.
As the eminent editor, Ajit Bhattacharjea, puts it in his introduction, "The change from his own early Marxist phase is reflected in the contrast between his praise for State power in Why Socialism, written in 1935 and his censure of it in From Socialism to Sarvodaya, more than 20 years later. But, he later went further to find Sarvodaya inadequate in remedying deep-rooted social ills and stressed the need to mobilise mass struggle. He grew increasingly impatient and justified violence if the Government failed to perform, as he announced in New Delhi in 1969."
Born in Bihar, Jayaprakash Narayan studied in the U.S. when he came in contact with radical socialist ideas. Returning to India in 1929 he worked with the Indian National Congress and formed the Congress Socialist Party in 1934 within the Congress organisation.
He took a leading part in the Quit India Movement (1942-43), escaping from the high-security Hazaribagh prison. Soon after Independence, he formed a separate political body, the Socialist Party, which was later merged with Kisan Mazdoor Sabha to become Praja Socialist Party.
Following Gandhiji, JP recognised the prime necessity of change in the individual who takes upon himself/herself the task of changing the society. In this lies the whole philosophy of JP's total revolution.
The gist of this concept is presented in his letter to people of Bihar and an extract from the Notes on Bihar Movement, both written in 1975. Earlier, he had also pleaded for reviving the ancient concept of dharma to suit democracy so as to ensure that the main mould of life remained indigenous. His basic objective is succinctly told in the text reproduced from JP's weekly, Everyman's. By 1957, Jayaprakash Narayan had quit active politics and took great interest in Vinoba Bhave's programmes of Bhoodan-Gramdan and soon became known throughout the world as the Sarvodaya leader. In that capacity, JP espoused many a cause as that of Nagaland, of the surrender of dacoits, of Kashmir and communal harmony.
The main quest, however, remained where and what it was, namely a relentless confrontation against corruption, money power and misuse of political authority which seemed to dominate the national scene even after 30 years of parliamentary democracy.
JP could not sit idle when politics began at last to drift to an authoritarian rule. He was imprisoned on the eve of promulgation of Emergency in June 1975 but was released next year on account of shattered health and an unaccountable kidney trouble. But physically weak JP saw in the encircling gloom a ray of hope.
He inspired political parties other than the ruling one to combine as a single Janata Party against dictatorship and the smothering of all freedoms under Emergency regime.
It was his leadership and guidance, which mainly led to the victory of the Janata Party in the March 1977 elections. All went well for a few months.
But unfortunately forces of selfishness, struggle for power and partisanship reasserted themselves and JP was a disillusioned man at the time of his death in October 1979. His long letter to the then Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, reflects his utter disappointment.
The book under review is the first of several books proposed by the National Committee set up by the Government of India to celebrate the birth centenary of Jayaprakash Narayan (born on 11 October 1902).
Carefully culled short extracts from JP's writings, carrying a crisp introduction, have been arranged under 13 broad topics with prefatory notes.
The selections should give a kaleidoscopic over-view of JP's observation and aspirations most of which are very relevant even today and encourage the readers to go for the full text of his writings.
LA. SU. RENGARAJAN
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