Jai Prakash Narayan was known as the ‘LokNayak’ and one of the greatest men of the 20th century. He was the man who raised his voice against the emergency rule of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and her Government.
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In true sense a patriot, Shri Jaiprakash Narrayan was born on October 11, 1902 in Sitabdiara Village of Balia district in Bihar, he was the son of Shri Harsood a yal and Smt. Phool Rani. He was born on Vijai Dashmi.
He started his education in his village. He passed matriculation examination in 1919. Then he joined a famous college but he had to stop his studies because he joined the freedom struggle. In 1922 he went to San-Francisco where he did his graduation with his own efforts. Thus he was a self-made student. In 1929 he returned to India.
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He made up his mind to live and die for his country. He dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom in 1934. In 1934 he became the Secretary of the Socialist Party. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru offered him the membership of Congress Working Committee in 1946 but he rejected it. In Nehru’s second request, he joined Congress Committee with Ram Manohar Lohia. But both of them left the Congress Working Committee. Shri Jaiprakash Narayan became the General Secretary of the Socialist Party which got itself sepasted from the Congress.
From 1950 to 1974, he remained with Acharaya Vinoba Bhave and took interest an active part in Bhoodan Movement and Sarvodya. He also went to Chambal Valley and persuaded the dacoits to surrender. Later in 1974, he observed that there was corruption from top to bottom among the leaders of the Government. This thing compelled him to jump again into politics. A call for ‘Total Revolution’ reached every nook and corner of the country. M.L.A.’s from Gujrat and Buhar Assemblies resigned their seats.
He took great interest in the political development of the country. He created a great stir in the political field. Indira got alarmed. To put down J.P.’s movement she declared Emergency on June 25, 1975. She put the leaders of the opposition along with J.P. Narayan in the prison. He came out of the jail with his broken health in 1976 to take part in the Elections.
The great leaders of five opposition parties joined hands under the guidance of Shri Jai Prakash Narayan. They made a party calling it Janata Party to contest the election against the Congress Party. Lok Nayak did great work for his party and won the election.
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SHRI Jaiprakash Narayan was a selfless worker. Once Pandit Nehru offered him the post of a minister in the Union Cabinet. He refused it. He was the true follower of Gandhian principles. People called him “king without crown”. He was a symbol of light for ruling Janta Party.