10th September 2021
JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN WAS lionized for a brand of politics that was free of compromises. A hero to hundreds of young Indians, he was mobbed by adoring crowds whenever he went to mobilize public opinion against Britain’s war strategy. He worked for the development of peasant and labour mass movements, taking pride in the successful strikes led by the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in Bihar. The official British response to the disruption of its war efforts and strikes in industrial centres was to arrest leaders. Labour leaders like SA Dange, BT Ranadive, S Mirajkar, ASK Iyengar and SP Parulekar were arrested in Bombay. The arrests spread to other parts of the country to include prominent leaders like Sajjad Zaheer, SV Ghate, NG Ranga, Rahul Sankrityayana and Sahajanand Saraswati. Jayaprakash was arrested from the Jamshedpur residence of one of his friends on March 7th 1940, incriminated by his rigid stance on the issue of war and a public appeal to Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) workers to strike. Pleading guilty to the charges levelled against him by the government prosecutor, Jayaprakash passionately proclaimed, “I have been charged with trying to impede the production of munitions and other supplies essential to the efficient prosecution of the war, and with trying to influence the conduct and attitude of the public in a manner prejudicial to the defence of British India and the efficient prosecution of the war. I plead guilty to these charges… As far as the charge of endangering the defence of British India, I think the irony of it cannot be lost upon us. A slave has no obligation to defend his slavery. His only obligation is to destroy his bondage. I hope we shall know how to defend ourselves when we have achieved our freedom.” The news of Jayaprakash’s arrest and his defiance during his trial turned him into a symbol of resistance. He was regarded as a man who always put his beliefs before political expediency. Despite their ideological differences, Gandhi spoke in support of Jayaprakash. “He is no ordinary worker. He is an authority on Socialism. It may be said that what he does not know of Western socialism, nobody else in India does. He is a fine fighter. He has forsaken all for the sake of the deliverance of his country… His industry is tireless. His capacity for suffering is not to be excelled. Is this arrest a prearranged plan, or is it a blunder committed by an overzealous officer? If it is the latter, it should be set right.” Nehru also emphasized the significance of Jayaprakash’s arrest, stating that the latter was a dear and valued comrade and that this action against him indicated the determination of the government to declare war on the Congress.