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Jayaprakash Narayan (October 11, 1902 - October 8, 1979), widely known as JP, was an Indian freedom fighter and political leader.
He was born in Bihar, and completed his higher studies in the United States. After returning to India, he joined the Indian National Congress in 1929 with blessings from M.K. Gandhi. During the Indian independence movement, he was arrested and jailed several times by the British. He won particular fame during the Quit India movement.
After being jailed in 1932 for civil disobedience against British rule, he was imprisoned in Nasik Jail, where he met Ram Manohar Lohia, Minoo Masani, Achyut Patwardhan, Ashok Meta, Yusuf Desai and other national leaders. After his release he formed the Congress Socialist Party, a left-wing group within the Congress.
After Mahatma Gandhi's death in 1948, JP joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan campaign, which promoted distributing land to Harijans (untouchables). Initially a defender of physical force, JP was won over to Gandhi's position on nonviolence and advocated the use of satyagrahas in the Bihar peasants' struggle.
When Indira Gandhi was found guilty of violating electoral laws by the Allahabad High Court, JP called for Gandhi to resign. Instead she proclaimed a national Emergency in 1975 and arrested JP, opposition leaders, and members of her own party.
He was a great believer in Marxist and socialist parties, and it was under his guidance that the Janata Party was formed. Janata Party was voted into power in 1977, and was the first non-Congress party to form a government at the Centre.
He also wrote several books, particularly promoting Hindu revivalism. He died in October 1979. In 1998, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna award in recognition of his social work.
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