Jayaprakash Naryanan was born on October 11, 1902 at Sitab Diyara in
Bihar.
He studied at Patna Collegiate School from where he passed matriculation
in 1918. He obtained BA under the tutorship of Babu Rajendra Prasad from Bihar Vidyapith
in 1922.
He travelled to USA where he studied BA and MA Sociology at Berkeley,
Iowa and Wisconsin Universities (1922 – 1929).
A staunch nationalist and veteran socialist, He was successively
associated with Indian National Congress (1929 – 1934), Congress Socialist
Party (1934 – 1947), Praja Socialist Party (1948 – 1954), Sarvodaya Movement
(1954 – 1974) , Citizens For Democracy (1974 – 1977) and Janata Party (1977 –
1979).
He died on October 08, 1979 at Patna, Bihar at the age of 76.
Independence Activist
He joined the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi and actively participated in the Independence Movement (1929 – 1947). He
was imprisoned and tortured by the British Raj during the Civil Disobedience
Movement (1932) and Quit India Movement (1942).
Socialist
A veteran Socialist, he was tutored by Edward Ross while in US, and
influenced by Acharya Narendra Dev and Ram Manohar Lohia
He was associated with Acharya Vinobha Bhave and played an active organizational
role in Bhoodan Movement which distributed land for the landless.
He was of President of the All India Railwaymen Federation and Chairman
of Anugrah Narayan Singh Memorial Fund.
He was Co Founder of the Citizens for Democracy (CFD) and Peoples Union
for Civil Liberties (PUCL) to uphold and defend civil rights.
Total Revolution Movement
He organized the Sampoorna Kranti or Total Revolution Movement at Patna
on June 05, 1974 to highlight social issues of raising corruption, inflation,
unemployment, inequality, illiteracy, poverty and scarcity of essential
commodities.
He opposed the Proclamation of National Emergency in 1975 which suspended
civil liberties. He faced imprisonment and despite ill health fought for the
restoration of Democracy. He guided the formation the Janata Party which was
voted as the first Non Congress Union Government in 1977.
Awards
The Ramon Magsaysay Foundation of Philippines conferred on him its Award
for Public Service in 1965.
The Government of India
posthumously conferred on him the Bharat Ratna in 1999. He became the ninth
person to be awarded posthumously.
Titles
He was affectionately
addressed as JP or Lok Nayak , The Peoples Hero by his supporters and
admirers.
Biographies
Jayaprakash Narayan: His Life and
Mission. Ratan, Das (2007).
Jayaprakash Narayan: A Centenary
Volume. Das, Sandip (2005).
Resources
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