Jayaprakash Narayan Biography
(Political Leader)
Birthday: October 11, 1902 (Libra)
Born In: Bihar, India
Jayaprakash Narayan was an Indian independence activist and political leader. Popularly referred to as JP or Lok Nayak (“The People's Hero”), he actively participated in the civil disobedience movement against British rule in India for which he was imprisoned. Born in Bihar in British India, he grew up reading about the courage and valor of Indian kings which greatly inspired his young mind. A brilliant student, he moved to the United States for his higher studies. His Struggles to make ends meet in a foreign land made him realize the difficulties faced by the working class. After being introduced to Karl Marx's ‘Das Kapital’, he became convinced that Marxism was the way to alleviate the suffering of the masses. He evolved into a staunch Marxist and upon his return to India he joined the Indian National Congress on the invitation of Jawaharlal Nehru. He zealously participated in India’s struggle for freedom and remained a prominent figure in Indian politics following the country’s independence in 1947 and scaled new heights of popularity during the 1960s. In the 1970s he played a pivotal role in the popular people's movement known as the Bihar Movement despite his advancing age. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999.