Jayaprakash Narayan (1902-79) was one of the most prominent leaders and thinkers that India has produced in modern times. Although he never sought power for himself, he played a major role not only in the struggle for Independence, but also in the Socialist and Sarvodaya movements and finally in the movement against authoritarianism (1947-7), popularly known as the J.P. movement. This series of volumes has been planned with a view to presenting as comprehensive a picture as possible of the evolution of J.Ps political life and thought through his writings, speeches and letters. As he was in many ways a mirror of his times, it is hoped that the series will also provide an idea of the main currents of ideas and movements during the times in which he lived and worked. The items included in this volume throw light on J.P.s role in Indian politics and the evolution of his political thought between April 1946, when he was released from the Agra Central Prison, to March 1948, when the Socialist Party, under his guidance, decided to leave the Congress and function as a completely independent party.
In particular, they show his consistent opposition to the path of negotiations with the British being pursued in 1946-7 by the Congress High Command, his ardent advocacy in favour of a different path - the path of struggle - for achieving independence and his strong denunciation of the forces, both among Hindus and Muslims, then engaged in fostering communal hatred among the two communities. They further show J.P.s simultaneous preoccupation with the problems of the workers, particularly those employed by the government, his efforts to build up the Socialist Party and create a consensus among its members regarding its ideological orientation in the changed situation in India after the achievement of Independence, his emphasis in that connection on democratic and Gandhian principles, and finally the reasons which led him, after considerable hesitation, to advise the socialists to leave the Congress and function as an independent political party.