Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary.
Jayaprakash Narayan:
- An Indian Independence activist, social reformer, and political leader.
- Born on – 11th October 1902 in Bihar.
- Patron of socialist principles.
- Died on – 8th October 1979.
- Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999.
Contribution:
- Participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement.
- Promoted the idea of Sarvodaya, a Gandhian philosophy promoting progress for all.
- Co-founded the Congress Socialist Party, advocating for a left-wing approach within the Congress Party.
- Promoted the Bhoodan Gramdan Movement (initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave) advocating land redistribution for the landless.
- Proposed a decentralized political structure with a 4-tier system of governance.
- Led the Total Revolution (‘Sampoorna Kranthi’) movement against the National Emergency (1975-1977)
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
With reference to the Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:
1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of the above
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. Though they remained active in the workers and peasant’s movement, they did not advocate the boycott of British goods and the evasion of taxes.
Statement 2 is not correct. They advocated decentralised socialism, but did not wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Statement 3 is not correct. As secularists, they hoped to surpass communal divisions through class solidarity.
