Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s Call For Sampoorna Kranti Ignited A Societal Movement: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid heartfelt tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, fondly known as JP, on his birth anniversary. He described JP as one of India’s bravest voices and a relentless advocate of democratic ideals.

Sharing a video message on X, Prime Minister Modi reflected on JP’s enduring spirit and resilience.

“When one sees the life of Jayaprakash Narayan, it comes to mind that even after so many ups and downs, one can still continue to try to move ahead. At that age, he stood up again when he saw the country was facing problems. His life taught us that one should not feel upset about failing a few times,” PM Modi stated.

Paying homage, the Prime Minister underscored JP’s enduring contribution to India’s democratic fabric and his call for societal transformation through Sampoorna Kranti.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Loknayak JP dedicated his life to empowering ordinary citizens and strengthening Constitutional values. His clarion call for Sampoorna Kranti ignited a societal movement, envisioning a nation built on equality, ethics and good governance. He inspired numerous mass movements, notably in Bihar and Gujarat, which led to a socio-political awakening across India.”

“These movements shook the then Congress Government at the Centre, which went on to impose the Emergency and trample over our Constitution,” the post further added.

Recalling JP’s imprisonment during the Emergency, PM Modi highlighted his courage and steadfast belief in democracy.

“During the Emergency, Loknayak JP spent several days in solitary confinement. His Prison Diary captures his anguish and unbroken faith in democracy,” the Prime Minister posted.

Jayaprakash Narayan’s Legacy: Champion of Total Revolution

Born on 11 October 1902 in Sitab Diara village in Bihar’s Chhapra district, Jayaprakash Narayan remains etched in history for leading the Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution) movement in the mid-1970s, a campaign that became a landmark in India’s democratic journey.

In 1975, after the Allahabad High Court found then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice, Jayaprakash Narayan called for her resignation and urged the armed forces and police to reject unconstitutional commands.

Under the banner of Sampoorna Kranti, JP championed a vision of social transformation built on the principles of justice, equality, and morality.

His appeal for nationwide protest eventually led to the declaration of the Emergency on the night of 25 June 1975, resulting in the arrest of opposition leaders and curbs on civil liberties.

In a defining moment of defiance, JP addressed a massive rally of over one lakh people at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, reciting poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s celebrated lines, ‘Singhasan khaali karo ke janata aati hai’, a powerful assertion of people’s sovereignty.

Jayaprakash Narayan was later detained in Chandigarh, where his health declined during incarceration.

Though briefly released on parole to assist in Bihar’s flood relief, his condition worsened, and he was formally freed on 12 November 1975.

He passed away in Patna on 8 October 1979, just three days before his 77th birthday, due to complications arising from diabetes and heart disease.

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