Jayaprakash Narayan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jayaprakash Narayan
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born |
Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava
11 October 1902 |
| Died | 8 October 1979 (aged 76) Patna, Bihar, India
|
| Other names | JP, Jay Prakash Narayan, Lok Nayak |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin (M.A., sociology) Ohio State University (B. A., behavioural science) University of Iowa (CHE, discontinued) U.C. Berkeley (chemistry, discontinued) |
| Occupation |
|
| Political party | Indian National Congress Janata Party |
| Movement | Quit India, Sarvodaya, JP Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Prabhavati Devi |
| Relatives | Brajkishore Prasad (father-in-law) |
| Awards |
|
Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava (born 11 October 1902 – died 8 October 1979) was an important Indian independence activist, thinker, and political leader. People often called him JP or Lok Nayak (which means "People's leader" in Hindi). He is best known for leading a big movement in the mid-1970s against the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He asked for a "total revolution" to change the government.
In 1999, after his death, Narayan received the Bharat Ratna. This is India's highest award for civilians, given for his great work in social service. He also won the Magsaysay award in 1965 for his public service.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jayaprakash Narayan was born on 11 October 1902. His birthplace was a village called Sitabdiara. This village was in the Bengal Presidency of British India. Today, it is part of Uttar Pradesh, India. His family's home was close to the Ghaghara river. Because the river often flooded, his family had to move to a new place. This new settlement is now known as Jayaprakash Nagar.
Narayan was the fourth child of Harsu Dayal and Phul Rani Devi. His father worked for the government's canal department. When Narayan was nine, he left his village to study in Patna. This was a big change for him. He lived in a student hostel called Saraswati Bhawan. Many future leaders of Bihar, like Krishna Singh, also lived there.
In 1918, Narayan married Prabhavati Devi. She was the daughter of a nationalist named Braj Kishore Prasad. After their wedding, Prabhavati went to stay at Mahatma Gandhi's ashram. This was because Narayan was studying in Patna.
Inspired by the Freedom Movement
Jayaprakash was deeply inspired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Azad spoke about Gandhi's non-cooperation movement. This movement was against the Rowlatt Act of 1919. Azad's powerful speech made Jayaprakash leave his college. He had only 20 days left until his exams. He then joined the Bihar Vidyapeeth. This college was started by Rajendra Prasad. Jayaprakash became one of its first students.
Higher Education in the United States
After finishing his studies at Bihar Vidyapeeth, Narayan wanted to learn more. He decided to go to the United States. At 20 years old, he sailed on a cargo ship called Janus. His wife, Prabhavati, stayed in India.
Working to Pay for School
Jayaprakash arrived in California in October 1922. He started at the University of California, Berkeley in January 1923. To pay for his studies, he took many different jobs. He picked grapes and packed fruits. He also washed dishes and worked as a mechanic. These jobs showed him how hard life was for working people.
After one semester, his tuition fees doubled. So, Narayan had to move to other universities. He studied his favorite subject, sociology. He got a lot of help from Professor Edward A. Ross.
Discovering New Ideas
In Wisconsin, Narayan read Karl Marx's book Das Kapital. He also heard about the success of the Bolsheviks in Russia. He began to believe that Marxism could help solve the problems of ordinary people. He studied books by the Indian thinker M. N. Roy. Narayan's paper on sociology was even named the best of the year. He earned a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin. He also got a Bachelor's degree from Ohio State University.
Joining Politics in India
Narayan returned to India in late 1929. He had become a Marxist, meaning he believed in ideas about equality and social change. Soon after, Jawaharlal Nehru invited him to join the Indian National Congress. Mahatma Gandhi became his guide within the Congress party.
Fighting for Independence
In 1930, Narayan was put in jail for protesting against British rule. He was held in Nasik Jail. There, he met many other important leaders. These included Rammanohar Lohia and Minoo Masani. After he was released, a new group was formed within the Congress. It was called the Congress Socialist Party (CSP). Acharya Narendra Deva was its president, and Narayan became its general secretary.
When Mahatma Gandhi started the Quit India Movement in August 1942, Narayan played a big role. He and other leaders escaped from Hazaribagh Central Jail. They wanted to start a secret movement for freedom. Even when he was sick, Narayan continued to work for the movement.
After India's Independence
After India became independent in 1947, Jayaprakash Narayan continued his work. From 1947 to 1953, he was the President of the All India Railwaymen's Federation. This was the largest union for railway workers in India.
The Emergency Period
In 1975, a court found Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of breaking election laws. Jayaprakash Narayan then asked Gandhi and other leaders to resign. He also urged the military and police to refuse any orders that were against the law or unfair. He called for a "total revolution" (Sampoorna kraanti) to bring about big social changes.
Soon after, on June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency. Many opposition leaders, including Narayan, were arrested.
Narayan's Health and Release
Jayaprakash Narayan was held in Chandigarh. He asked for a temporary release to help people in flood-hit areas of Bihar. His health got much worse in October 1975. He was released from jail in November of that year. At Jaslok Hospital in Bombay, doctors found that his kidneys were failing. He had to have kidney dialysis for the rest of his life.
In the UK, a campaign called "Free JP" was started to get Jayaprakash Narayan released. It was led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Philip Noel-Baker.
End of Emergency and New Government
On January 18, 1977, Indira Gandhi ended the Emergency and announced new elections. The Janata Party was formed under JP's guidance. This party brought together many different groups who were against Gandhi. The Janata Party won the elections. It became the first non-Congress party to form the central government in India. Narayan was even suggested to become the President of India, but he refused.
Private Life
Jayaprakash Narayan married Prabhavati Devi in October 1919 when he was 17. She was the daughter of a lawyer and nationalist. Prabhavati was a very independent person. At Gandhi's invitation, she lived at his ashram while Jayaprakash continued his studies. Prabhavati Devi passed away on April 15, 1973, after a long illness.
Death
In March 1979, while Jayaprakash Narayan was in the hospital, India's Prime Minister Morarji Desai mistakenly announced his death. This caused a wave of sadness across the country. Parliament was stopped, radio broadcasts were paused, and schools and shops closed. When Narayan was told about the mistake a few weeks later, he simply smiled.
Jayaprakash Narayan died in Patna, Bihar, on October 8, 1979. He passed away three days before his 77th birthday. His death was due to problems from diabetes and heart disease.
Awards and Recognition
- Bharat Ratna (1999, after his death): This is India's highest civilian award, given for public service.
- Rashtrabhushan Award of FIE Foundation, Ichalkaranji
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (1965): Given for public service.
Places Named After Jayaprakash Narayan
- Jay Prakash Narayan Airport in Patna
- The Chhapra-Delhi-Chhapra Weekly Express train was renamed as Loknayak Express in his honor on August 1, 2015.
- JP Setu, also known as the Digha-Sonpur Bridge. This is a rail-road bridge over the Ganga river in Bihar.
- Jayaprakash Nagar (JP Nagar), a residential area in Bangalore.
- Jayaprakash Nagar (JP Nagar), a residential area in Mysore.
- Lok Nayak Hospital, a hospital in New Delhi.
- Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, a college in New Delhi.
Artistic Depictions of JP
- Prakash Jha directed a film called "Loknayak". This 112-minute movie is based on the life of Jaya Prakash Narayan. Chetan Pandit played the role of JP in the film.
- Achyut Potdar played the role of JP in the ABP News show Pradhanmantri (TV Series) and Aaj Tak Aandolan.
See also
- Aklu Ram Mahto
