Bihar: The Resistance
As we stand at the cusp of possibly historic election results, which will see the exit of some major players and the rise of the young blood, let’s take a moment to travel back 46 years to 1974. The year which saw the rise and reemergence of several political leaders who played major roles in the decades to come, set the stage for the darkest phase of Indian history and lead to the emergence of a political movement which riding on the strength of students and workers resulted in the first non-INC Government and etched the future of the nation. Right at the center of this was the heartland state of Bihar.
To truly understand the events that unfolded, we need to shift focus to the coastal state of Gujrat. Amid severe allegations of corruption and skyrocketing prices of daily necessities, widespread protests by students and urban middle class had culminated in the first and only agitation (Navnirman Andolan) in India that resulted in the resignation of an elected government. Loosely lead by several Left Wing and Right Wing organizations, Morarji Desai (first non-INC PM) emerged as a focal point. Ironically, these were the very events that allowed the RSS to strengthen its foundation and led to the rise of Narendra Modi who went on to become the longest serving non-INC PM of India.
The Navnirman Andolan served as an inspiration for the students of Bihar and more importantly inspired socialist, Gandhian leader, Jai Prakash Narayan to reenter politics. JP as he was popularly known had emerged as the ‘Hero of the Quit India Movement’. Seen as the natural successor of Nehru, India’s first PM he instead chose to live a quiet life, continuing M.K Gandhi’s work.
Several student organizations including the All India Students Federation (AISF), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Samajwadi Yuvajan Sabha (SYS) had lent solidarity to the Navnirman Andolan. While smaller movements were going on, the Patna University Students Union organized a convention of major student and youth organizations and leaders of Bihar. With the demands of better education policies and reduction of education, hostel and mess fees various organizations came together under the banner of Bihar Chatra Sangharsh Samiti (BCCS). The president chosen was Lalu Prasad Yadav, who went on to serve as the CM of Bihar and as a Lok Sabha MP and Minister of Railways. After a massive blockade of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and subsequent failure of the government to act on their demands, the protests intensified. The student leaders then approached JP and requested him to lead the agitation. Inspired by the movement in Gujarat, JP agreed.
Following several months of protests, riots, violent crackdown by the government and utter indifference from Indira Gandhi, JP called a historic rally in Patna. Addressing a crowd of thousands he called for a complete overhaul, a social transformation powered by the active involvement of students and youth in the social movement. Staying true to Gandhian Principles he advocated for a powerful social movement to eventually bring about a social as well as political change. He called it ‘Sampoorna Kranti’. Unfortunately his hand was soon forced. Refusing to give in to protestors’ demands as she had in Gujrat and facing a possible eviction following the High Court’s judgement against her in the election irregularities case, Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency on 25th June.
On the same day while addressing a massive rally at the Ram Lila Maidan, he thundered Ramdhari Dinkar’s poem, ‘Singhasan Khali Karo, ki Janta Aati Hai’ a powerful reminder of what Democracy means. Giving the cry of ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ he called for a total revolution against the dictatorial nature of the Emergency and beyond that against various political and social evils. What had started as the Bihar Movement had now became a nationwide agitation for freedom. The Emergency came into force in the form of a severe crackdown on Human Rights, Press Freedom and mass arrests of opposition leaders including JP. The heavy weight of the revolution now rested on the young shoulders of the student leaders.
Leaders such as Sushil Kumar Modi (future minister and deputy CM of Bihar), Ram Vilas Paswan (future Union Minister), Narayan Singh, Md. Shahabuddin etc. along with Lalu Prasad Yadav mounted a renewed agitation in the form of ‘satyagrahas’, peaceful silent rallies, marches etc. Even though several MLAs resigned, the Bihar Government desperately clung to power often resorting to extreme measures against students. Examination, college proceedings were boycotted, factory workers organized strikes after strikes and the administration was pushed into a corner. Amid deteriorating health JP was released and returned to Patna for a rally in November in which he directly appealed to Indira Gandhi for the lifting of Emergency and dissolution of the Bihar Legislature. He also announced his realization that a formal political movement was needed to work from within the system.
Leaving the Bihar Movement in the now seasoned hands of the student leaders, JP roamed India inspiring various movements and consolidating political support for raising a grand opposition against the Indira Gandhi government. Even with steadily deteriorating health and against extenuating circumstances, JP managed to gather all the free opposition leaders under a common umbrella and set the stage for the historic transfer of power in 1977.
Working tirelessly, workers of the hastily formed Janata Party and its allies continued to challenge the Emergency and drove the public sentiment against the Indira Gandhi led INC government. There were several factors at play and eventually in January 1977, the Emergency was lifted, all political prisoners released and fresh elections were announced. The lose alliance of the Janata Party which included almost all of the opposition parties across ideological lines finally brought down the mammoth that was the INC and with Morarji Desai as the PM, the first non-INC government was sworn in, 30 years after Independence.
The Bihar Movement is a constant reminder that no matter how powerful a government is, the might of people is always greater. While the role played by several charismatic leaders such as JP, George Fernandes, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani etc. was undeniable, the fact that this list itself includes leftists, centrists and right wingers was the true strength of the revolution.
