A Total Rehash

Old JP hand Ajit Bhattacharjea has collated a centenary reader of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan8217;s writings for Rupa, while JP figures yet again in Rupa8217;s Chitravali series as 8220;the eternal rebel8221; in an illustrated biographical format by Varghese K. George. Bhattacharjea, in fact, had authored a wonderful biography of JP back in 1975 and the photographs, naturally, are identical in George8217;s book.

But there seems nothing new in the appraisal of JP, because it has all been said before. He began his political life as a freedom fighter, embraced Marxism, changed tracks to Gandhi-ism, gave valuable years of his life to the Bhoodan Movement of Vinoba Bhave, perceived its failure and drew away. He became the moral focus of the Bihar Andolan, opposed Mrs Gandhi8217;s authoritarian moves, inspired a generation of 8220;youth leaders8221; in the 8217;70s 8212; who promptly abandoned their ideals in the fight for power-sharing. He failed to see through the RSS, and died betrayed, broken-hearted, as much from disappointment as from kidney failure.

Though these points are tracked in the new biography, Bhattacharjea8217;s book of 1975 is much better with its lucid writing and wealth of detail that vivifies this tragic life. For tragedy it certainly is, of sacrifices made in vain for an undeserving people, mediocre 8220;intellectuals8221; and a motley crew of corrupt 8220;followers8221;.

JP8217;s own views seem poignantly relevant as enduring appraisals of national malaise. Be it caste, corruption, coalition governments, parliamentary processes, Centre-State relations, J038;K, or community service through Sarvodaya, it is exceedingly blighting to reaffirm that these issues have intensified over the years instead of improving.

But alas, JP8217;s earnest, laboured writing makes tedious reading. He lacks the wit, charm and fluency of Nehru or Rajaji. To a younger, disenchanted generation, JP seems like Cassandra of Greek myth: accurately prophesying doom, but accursed never to be heeded. Who, then, is the target buyer for these books? School libraries, political science and history departments? Private citizens with an interest in modern Indian history, parliamentarians, politicians and journalists? But they would already have better books from the past, like Allen and Wendy Scarfe8217;s biography and JP8217;s publications like Why Socialism? and Towards Total Revolution.

If it8217;s a new generation of readers being wooed, there is definitely a problem in both books. We know already that JP8217;s ideas were a flop and his chelas are mostly all chors. What we want today, which neither book is able to magic up, is the human drama of this national figure who embodies the might-have-been in our tormented history. For when you think about it, what JP suggests most is a soldier of misfortune. He is well-born but poor, a romantic who gets a celibate wife, faces physical hurt with heroic calm, is a buff at picking the wrong friends, wins love and respect from the common folk, but has each one of his ideals betrayed by his lieutenants.

We Indians seem to love our great losers best. Lord Ram, Karna, Prithviraj Chauhan, Rana Pratap, Chand Bibi, Lakshmi Bai, M.K. Gandhi. To get up there with them, what JP needs is a bard with more stories.