Jayaprakash Narayan: Selected Works: 1946-1948 (Vol. IV)

In stock

Free & Quick Delivery Worldwide

Jayaprakash Narayan (1902-79) was one of the most prominent leaders and thinkers that India has produced in modern times. Although he never sought power for himself, he played a major role not only in the struggle for independence, but also in the Socialist and Sarvodaya movements and finally in the movement against authoritarianism (1974-7). This series of volumes has been planned with a view to presenting as comprehensive a picture as possible of the evolution of J.P.’s political life and thought through his writings, speeches and letters. As he was in many ways a mirror of his times, it is hoped that the series will also provide an idea of the main currents of ideas and movements during the times in which he lived and worked. The itmes included in this volume throw light on J.P.’s role in Indian politics and the evolution of his political thought between the Agra Central Prison, to March 1948m when the Socialist Party, under his guidance, decided to leave the Congress and function as a completely independent party. In particular, they show his consistent opposition to the path of negotiations with the British being pursued in 1946-7 by the Congress High Command, his ardent advocacy in favour of a different path – the path of struggle – for achieving independence and his strong denunciation of the forces, both among Hindus and Muslims, then engaged in fostering communal hatred among the two communities. They further show J.P.’s simultaneous preoccupation with the problems of the workers, particularly those employed by the government, his efforts to build up the Socialist Party and create a consensus among its members regarding its ideological orientation in the changed situation in India after the achievement of Independence, his emphasis in that connection on democratic and Gandhian principles, and finally the reasons which led him, after considerable hesitation, to advise the socialists to leave the Congress and function as an independent political party.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bimal Prasad

Professor Bimal Prasad, formerly Professor of South Asian Studies and Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and India’s Ambassador to Nepal, is at present Honorary Director, Rajendra Prasad Academy and Honorary Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (both in New Delhi). Before joining the School of International Studies, Professor Prasad was Research Fellow at the Columbia University (New York) and Professor of History, Patna University. In later years he was Senior Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds. Professor Prasad has authored and edited several books relating to Modern Indian History and Foreign Policy. His latest work, Pathway to India’s Partition, is a trilogy of which two volumes have already been published: The Foundations of Muslim Nationalism (New Delhi, 1999) and A Nation within a Nation (New Delhi, 2000). A close associate of J.P., Professor Prasad has earlier edited three single-volume selections of his writings: Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy (Bombay, 1964), A Revolutionary’s Quest (New Delhi, 1980) and Jayaprakash Narayan: Essential Writings, 1929-79 (New Delhi, 2002). Besides, he has authored Gandhi, Nehru and J.P. : Studies in Leadership (New Delhi, 1985) and Jayaprakash Narayan: Quest and Legacy (New Delhi, 1992).

reviews

0 in total

There are no reviews yet.

Bibliographic information

Title
Jayaprakash Narayan: Selected Works: 1946-1948 (Vol. IV)
Author
Edition
1st ed.
Publisher
ISBN
8173045186
Length
xxiv+461p., Appendices; Index; 26cm.
Subjects