Shri Jai Prakash Narayan, the sarvodaya leader of India, is known popularly as Loknayak. He was the social reformer with socialistic zeal. He was the man who raised voice against the emergency rule of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and her government. He was an author too.

Shri Jai prakash Narayan was born on October 11, 1902 in Sitabdiara village of Chhapra district in Bihar. His father was Shri Harsood Lai and mother was Smt. Phool Rani. The auspicious day on which he was born was Vijay Dashmi.

He got his early education in his native village. 1919 he passed Matriculation Examination. After that he joined a college but he could not continue his studies. That was the time when India was under the British Rule and all the true sons of the motherland were engaged in making efforts to free their country. Jai Prakash Narayan was also a great patriot.

He could not tolerate the foreign rule on the breast of his motherland. So, he stopped his further studies and joined freedom struggle with firm determination. However he completed his graduation from San Francisco with his own effort.

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He made up his mind to live and die for his country in 1921. He dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom in 1934. In 1934 he became the Secretary of the Socialist Party. Panditji offered him the membership of the Congress Working Committee in 1946 but he rejected it.

On Nehru’s second request, he joined Congress Committee with Ram Manohar Lohia, but both of them left the Congress Working Committee. Shri Jai Prakash Narayan became the General Secretary of Socialist Party which got itself separated from the Congress.

He took great interest in the political development of the country. He wanted his country to be free from all problems. He created a great stir J.P. Movement in political field. Indira Gandhi got alarmed. To put down J. P.’s movement she declared Emergency on 25th June, 1975.

She put the leaders of opposition along with J.P. Narayan in the person. But it did not supress his zeal. He came out of the jail with his broken health in 1976 to take part in the Elections.

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The great leaders of five opposition parties joined hands under the guidance of Shri J.P. Narayan. They made a party called Janta Party to contest the election against the Congress Party. Lok Nayak did great work for his party and won the election.

Jai Prakash Narayan was a real epitome of a man who led his life without any self. He never wished for any political post. Whenever he got a chance he declined to it. All through his life, he dedicated himself to the service of society. Even in his life towards his last days he rose to lead the Indian mass in a crucial period when India was facing a vacuum after the emergency period during 1975.

Though this taxed his life greatly and finally he died. Even at this time he did not change his attitude to sacrifice for the mass. He changed the history of India. After all Jai Prakash Narayan was a true patriot who did every thing for the welfare of the country.