LOK NAYAK JAYAPRAKASH
NARAYAN DID NOT ASPIRE ANY POST DESPITE ALL COMPETENCE-SHRI SHEKHAWAT
BIRTH
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN COMMENCED
Vice President, Shri
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has said that Jayaprakash Narayan did
not aspire for any post despite all competence, selfness and taking
the people always with him were his main principles. Shri Shekhawat
was speaking after inauguration of the Exhibition titled ‘Jayaprakash
Narayan: Revolutionary and Lok Nayak’ in the premises of National
Archives of India, New Delhi. Commemorative coins of Rs. 100,
Rs. 10, and Rs. 1 and a brochure were also released by the Vice
President. Recalling his fond memories during his association
with Lok Nayak, he said that Antodaya Yojana was very close to
his heart. He wanted the scheme to inculcate faith in the minds
of the poor that it was for their real prosperity and development.
Shri Shekhawat said that during his Chief Ministership in Rajasthan,
he implemented the scheme with full vigour and strength and made
it a success.
On the occasion,
Deputy Prime Minister, Shri Lal Krishan Advani said that Shri
Jayaprakash Naryan made invaluable contribution to strengthen
the democracy. At the time when there were some challenges for
the democracy he came forward to face them and save it. ‘Following
this spirit, now free and fair elections have been successfully
organised in Jammu & Kashmir and democracy has again won’
he added.
On the occasion,
former Prime Minister and close associates of Shri Jayaprakash
Narayan, Shri Chandra Shekhar appreciated the projects prepared
by Shri Jagmohan as the Minister for Culture for Centenary Celebrations,
he said his personal monitoring would ensure time bound completion
and spreading message about work and life of Lok Nayakji.
In his welcome address,
Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Jagmohan gave background
of the centenary celebrations and also particulars of the various
functions that are going to be held during the Centenary Year
– October 11, 2002 to October 11, 2003.
Giving the background,
Shri Jagmohan said that first meeting of the National Committee
constituted for chalking out the programmes for the centenary
celebrations was held on September 14, 2002 under the Chairmanship
of Vice President of India. This meeting was attended by Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, and other senior leaders,
including Shri Chandra Shekhar, Shri L.K. Advani, Shri Nanaji
Deshmukh and Shri Mohan Dharia. At this meeting, an Executive
Committee, under the chairmanship of Shri Chandra Shekhar, was
constituted for the purpose of chalking out/sanctioning programmes
and projects.
Shri Jagmohan gave
brief particulars of the programmes and projects so far approved
by the Executive Committee/National Committee for the period October
11, 2002 to October 11, 2003. These are as under:
The Exhibition -
‘Jayaprakash Narayan: Revolutionary and Lok Nayak’, would be taken
to other major cities of India including Patna. Thereafter, its
replication would be permanently set up as an adjunct to the Jayaprakash
Narayan Museum at Sitab Diara (Jayaprakash Nagar), which would
also be suitably upgraded. So would be the commemorative coin
and brochure which the Hon’ble Vice President released today.
Development of a
J.P. Memorial Park near Indian Express Building, New Delhi and
installation of statue therein. Setting up of a J.P. Memorial
College and statue at Pagaradam/Jaura where dacoits surrendered
to the Lok Nayak. Building a J.P. Memorial Public Library in the
Gole Market area, the maintenance of which would be subsequently
taken up by the New Delhi Municipal Council. Production of a full
length film on Lok Nayak’s life. Naming the National Mission for
Development of Wasteland and Natural Resources after Lok Nayak
Jayaprakash Narayan. Setting up of an Institute of Criminology
through the Ministry of Home Affairs. Setting up of a Kidney-cum-Cancer
Hospital/Unit through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The existing Prabhavati Devi Memorial Intermediate College would
be upgraded to the Degree level, wherein preference would be given
to employment-oriented courses and computer training etc. a hostel
for 30 students ad a separate set of rooms for the Warden would
be constructed. 7 staff quarters and a house for the Principal
would also be built. Furniture and other establishment items would
be provided to the existing college. About 5000 books suitable
for students would be purchased through Raja Ram Mohan Roy Foundation
for the existing small library, which would also be available
to the students of the college. A Librarian would also be posted.
For meeting subsequent expenditure for running the college, a
contribution of Rs. 15 lakh in shape of corpus would be made available.
At Shaheed Smarak park which is being developed near Balia, a
documentation-cum-history centre, tobe known as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash
Narayan Research and Documentation Centre, would be constructed/set
up at a cost of Rs. 1.00 crore. In the same complex, a good part
of the wasteland exists, which would be reclaimed/developed/aforesaid
under the project to be known as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan
Waste Land Development Project at a cost not exceeding rupees
one crore.
These functions and
programmes and others that may be chalked out further would undoubtedly
enable us too pay our humble tribute to Lok Nayak, but the best
respect that we can pay to his life and work is to always keep
in mind what he said 37 years ago: "Politics, at least under a
democracy, must know the limits it may not cross. Otherwise, if
there is dishonesty, corruption, manipulation, of the masses,
naked struggle for personal power and personal gain, there can
be no socialism, no welfarism, no government, no public order,
no justice, no freedom, no national unity – in short no nation".
