Arvinder Singh's book offers a nuanced look at Jayaprakash Narayan

This slim book (208 pages) was recently launched in New Delhi by a distinguished panel of academician Prof Apporvanand, senior journalists Vinod Sharma and Qurban Ali and lawyer Sanjay Hegde. Barring author Arvindar Singh, none of the panellists had any love lost for Jayaprakash Narayan or JP, as he was, and is still, called. They also had all almost similar reasons for doing so, the primary being JP taking the help of RSS for his movement in 1974-75.

However, Arvindar Singh who had a few years ago written one of the few, and best known, biographies of the first non-Congress Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, has dealt with his subject judiciously trying to be as balanced as possible, but cannot help being a bit generous towards the person he adores though not as much as Desai.

In the beginning itself, the author quotes eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala: “Not since the time of Gandhiji has moral force... truimphed so spectacularly over the forces of evil...” These words may have rung a bell in 1977 and a few years later, soon after the victory of Janata party, but were to lose their relevance when the so called “forces of evil” sent the Janata party into the dustbin of history.

Though JP differed with Jawaharlal Nehru on various issues, his staunch socialist views and personal integrity kept him in the good books of the Prime Minister for a very long time, in fact almost till the latter's death in 1964. Nehru was reportedly keen that JP should succeed him as Prime Minister. Arvindar writes: “Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jayaprakash Narayan continued to be talked about as possible successor to Nehru. As early as 1948, Nehru had publicly described him as the future Prime Minister of India.” In his famous book, After Nehru Who?, American journalist Welles Hangen described JP as one among the top potential candidates to succeed Nehru: “Today Narayan falls midway between Nehru and Gandhi. Like Nehru, he is still a romantic socialist and rational humanist. But unlike Nehru, he lacks political acumen.”

No wonder JP voiced his opposition when the Indian Army overran the Portugese colony of Goa. Though the whole nation supported Nehru for the long overdue liberation, JP, a Gandhian to the core, called it an immoral act even though his socialist colleagues like Ram Manohar Lohia and Madhu Limaye were in the forefront of agitation for Goa's liberation.

JP played a significant role on issues like Nagaland insurgency, crisis in Kashmir and improving India-Pak relations in 1965, he kept scrupulously away from party politics and devoted his energies to constructive work and Bhoodan movement. One of his notable achievements in the early 1970s was enabling the surrender of over 400 dacoits in the Chambal valley, efforts for which were earlier made by Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

Jayaprakash Narayan, however, will be most remembered for the role he played in leading an agitation against the Indira Gandhi government which led to the Emergency and the creation of an alternative to the Indian National Congress which had ruled the country uninterrupted since independence. The circumstances which led to the Emergency and rise and fall of Janata Party are too well known and need not be recounted. However, it is worth recalling what is never recalled: PM Indira Gandhi's broadcast to the nation on June 26, 1975: “In the name of democracy, it has been sought to negate the very functioning of democracy, duly elected governments have not been allowed to function... agitations have surcharged the atmosphere, leading to violent incidents, certain persons have gone to the length of inciting our armed forces to mutiny and our police to rebel.”

Though debatable, Indira Gandhi was partially justified in declaring the Emergency. Joe Elder, a British sociologist wrote in his report after visiting India within a month of declaration of Emergency: “JP erred in launching a mass movement without a cadre of disciplined, non-violent volunteers... his movement's credibility was weakened by the presence of within it of extremists of the Left and Right.”

The author quotes a former BBC journalist, Qurban Ali, who was one of the few persons associated with the JP Movement: “JP was never clear about his ideological moorings. In the 1950s and 1960s, JP was a staunch critic of the Jan Sangh and RSS, but in 1975 he changed his stand and stated publicly: "If the Jan Sangh is fascist, then too I am a fascist."

This was undoubtedly the biggest blunder JP had made in his life, much bigger than his earlier decision not to join Nehru's cabinet. So how will history judge him? Harshly perhaps. So it has already. But Arvindar's book may help in a little kinder judgement. For as the author says: “Jayaprakash Narayan's life was one of conviction, truth and simplicity - values that remain rare in Indian politics.” This book must be read by the younger generations to understand the India of Gandhian values that influenced the generations of both pre- and post-independent India.

The author, an ex Army officer, is a columnist and author of 'Freedom Struggle and Beyond' and 'He Almost Prevented Partition - The Life and Times of Dr MC Davar'

Title: Jayaprakash Narayan: The People's Leader

Author: Arvindar Singh

Publisher: Niyogi Books

Pages: 208

Price: ₹239