Quoting revolutionary and socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan in the background of the current political developments in the country, social scientist, election analyst and leader of Swaraj Abhiyan organization Yogendra Yadav said that the clouds of despair disperse, and no matter how dark the night is, morning definitely comes.
While discussing Jaiprakash Narayan’s book ‘Meri Jail Diary’ at the International World Book Fair here, Yogendra Yadav said that this book warns us about the dictator who destroys democracy by pretending to be democracy and his warning says a lot about today.
‘My Jail Diary’ was written by Jayaprakash Narayan while he was under house arrest in PGI Hospital, Chandigarh from July 1975 to November 15, 1975. He led the ‘Purna Andolan’ against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, which was the largest movement in independent India till then and which shook the government.
Yogendra Yadav said in the background of the same movement of Jaiprakash, “After fifty years, people do not remember those small-time leaders who were big ministers of that time, who had big names, whose big photographs were seen.” When I came here, here too I saw big photographs of some people. People won’t remember these big photos after fifty years. We will remember that one person who has been kept quietly and locked in a secluded room. It has been kept locked.”
In the discussion organized on Sunday evening, without naming anyone, he said indirectly, “Whose picture is flashing before your eyes on this issue which has been kept closed today?” About which the Supreme Court is silent today, about which the government is hinting. The government is winking and the courts are silent.
Referring to ‘My Jail Diary’, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said, “This book gives us confidence that fifty years from now, the world will not remember the names of these people sitting on big chairs, it will remember the name of Umar Khalid who is imprisoned today.”
‘Meri Jail Diary’ was first published by Rajpal & Sons Publications in 1977 and has been republished this year.
Yadav said that today every kind of protest, leave aside demonstration, even expression of protest is being termed as treason, but this was the call given by Jayaprakash Narayan. “I am saying this because it will be difficult for these people (the ruling party) to oppose Jaiprakash ji’s views because these days they want to make Jaiprakash their hero.”
Quoting from the book, he said that at one time, despair had arisen in the mind of Jayaprakash Narayan. They felt that nothing was going to change. But this book reminds us that after moments of despair there is morning, Yadav said.
Referring to the book, he said that at that time Prime Minister Indira Gandhi also used to say that disobedience is generally not a part of the opposition party’s programme, they should contest elections and protest in a normal manner. But Jayaprakash Narayan had said that on some occasions, when the government continues to commit evil acts, the opposition party becomes helpless and has to disobey.
Yadav said that socio-economic questions are some of the areas where not only civil disobedience but also Satyagraha becomes necessary.
He ended by reading a poem from the book:
“It is a day of celebration for the owls and jackals whose screeching and growling sounds we hear all around, for no matter how deep the night is, the morning is sure to come.”
