JP to People of Bihar

 

 

Jayaprakash Narayan was born on October 11, 1902, in Sitabdiara village of Bihar. An ardent Ghandhian, JP worked closely with Gandhi Ji during the Freedom struggle but refrained from active politics once India got independence. He was jailed when he started his ‘Total Revolution’ against Indira Gandhi’s totalitarian regime. He and several other opposition leaders were put to jails following the proclamation of emergency. On his return to Patna in 1975, after release from detention due to acute illness, JP wrote a long letter to his followers explaining the circumstances of the Bihar movement and committing the remaining years of his life to total revolution.

2nd October, 1975

My Dear People of Bihar

From the very beginning I have been saying in the course of my speeches that the objective of our movement is total revolution. In other words this movement aims at bringing about a revolutionary change in all aspects of the life of both society and individual. The objective of this movement is not merely to change the Government, but also to change the society and the individual. That is why I have called it total revolution. You can also call it a comprehensive revolution. There is some difference in the meaning of the terms ‘total’ and ‘comprehensive’, but both are almost the same to me. This is not something that can be achieved in a day or in a year or two. In order to achieve this we shall have to carry on a struggle for a long time, and at that same time carry on constructive and creative activities.

The situation at present is that the people are afraid and thousands of leaders and workers are in prison. Hence it is possible that, in their absence, the revolution may not continue in the form in which it was proceeding last year. However, since we have to bring about a revolution in every sphere, my appeal to all of you who think of the country and the society is that you all should play a part in it. For instance, take the field of education. It is generally felt by all, including eminent educationists and members of the Kothari Commission, that there should be a radical change in the field of education from the primary to the secondary stage. But very little has been achieved in this direction. There is deep discontent among the students on this point, as the education they are receiving is full of defects and the future before them is dark. There are other similar problems, particularly the economic and social problems of Harijans and the tribal people. From the economic point of view they are poor and backward. From the social point of view their condition is even worse. Even today Harijans are treated badly and kept separate as untouchables by the people belonging to the so-called upper castes. Not only this. The anger of the people of these castes towards them sometimes assumes a dangerous character. Now the question arises, what to do for total revolution? There are four aspects of the work for total revolution: struggle, construction, propaganda, and organization. In the present situation we should concentrate on the constructive aspect. Other aspects can be dealt later.

Jayprakash