When I ask someone the names of prominent leaders of our nation who have shaped our country, who participated in the freedom struggle and led our country to where it’s today, the most common answer is Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Sometimes I get to hear Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s name too, but it’s not because people know much about him, but because of his 182 meters tall ‘statue’ recently constructed on the bank of river Narmada in Gujarat. It perhaps makes people realize that Sardar Vallabhai Patel must have done something great to have a colossal statue built in his honor. Our knowledge of politicians revolves around the way we are taught about them from the beginning. NCERT textbooks till 10th standard, mainly teach us about Nehru and Gandhi. But is it true that only they were the ones who shaped up the freedom struggle? The answer is No!
In Sitabdiara village of Uttar Pradesh, another prominent leader was born on October 11, 1902, who contributed to the freedom struggle and shaped the future of India. Well, I bet it’s difficult to guess who I am talking about. It has been made difficult by the people who structured our academic syllabus; the leader is Jayaprakash Narayan. Some people might have read about him, because of his involvement in the struggle against Indira Gandhi Government in 1974. But his contribution to the nation is much bigger than what it’s portrayed to be. He was active in politics during the Indian freedom struggle against Britishers. He participated in Non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience movement and Quit India movement. He founded ‘Azad Dasta’ and the socialist bloc of Congress party during the pre-independence period. He was incarcerated several times; he once also executed a successful escape from the prison.
After the second round table conference in 1931, many Congress leaders were imprisoned, and the protest of freedom struggle was left without a leader. It was during this time, that JP stood up to the task and fulfilled the responsibility of a leader. He successfully planned strikes across the country and shook the foundation of the British Government. His humility was a trait, rarely found in politicians these days. It is because of this humble nature that sometimes he was used by many leaders for their own benefits. He was inspired by Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave. Nevertheless, he opposed Gandhi’s views on Socialism and had a conflict of opinions with him on many issues. He actively participated in Bhoodan movement by Vinoba Bhave, and he believed in the idea of village reconstruction. He also believed in ‘Gram Swaraj (village swaraj)’.
You must be wondering by now that why do we need another Jayaprakash Narayan today. JP believed that we need a social change at the grass-root level and that can’t be achieved through political might only. Nehru wanted to include him in his cabinet, but he refused several times. He also declined the position of prime minister, despite him being termed as a successor of Nehru at that time. After the triumph of Janta party in 1977, he was again offered the same, but he refused. Many people call it a weakness of JP, thinking that he was unable to take up the position of a leader and guide the country. But what I believe instead is that this was the beauty of his nature and career as a politician. His ideas were more inclined towards social work and bringing a revolution through social change.
Today, the country needs a new brand of politics and a leader who realizes that social change is the need of the hour and it can’t be brought just by political power. A leader to guide people, to work for the oppressed without the greed of power, a leader who can set aside all personal ambitions and work solely for the welfare of the masses. A leader like ‘Jayaprakash Narayan’ is what we need today.