A tribute paid to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on Lohia Jayanti as flashed on the f.b on March 23,2011

Bishwa Nath Singh

The grateful nation celebrates Lohia Jayanti today.On this date in the year 1910-one hunderd years ago Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia a great socialist political leader,great thinker as well as a noted freedom fighter of India was born in the village of Akbarpur of the District of Faizabad.in Uttar Pradesh of India.Let us pay our floral tribute and respected homage to that great leader who was the first to introduce the unification of some six hundred fifty Indian princely states together to form larger states, an idea later adopted by Sardar Patel, first Home Minister of Independent India.

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(Photo of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia)


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Bishwa Nath Singh :

 Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia, a socialist political leader, great thinker as well as a noted freedom fighter of India was born in the village of Akbarpur of the District of Faizabad.in   Uttar Pradesh on  the 23rd March, 1910. His father Hira Lal, was a nationalist by spirit and a teacher by profession. His mother, Chanda, died when Ram was very young. Ram was introduced to the Indian freedom struggle at an early age by his father . He did his intermediate from Benaras Hindu University. He did his BA from Calcutta University in 1929. Lohia then flew to Germany whereby he joined Berlin University and learnt German. He was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's ideas which instigated the feeling of Swaraj (freedom) into him. 'Salt Satyagraha' was his subject in the PhD thesis paper. Though he had a good affinity with Jawaharlal Nehru but dissented with him on many political issues. His first contribution as a nationalist leader was organizing a 'hartal' on Bal Gangadhar Tilak's death. In 1928, he joined protests against the Simon Commission. His first contribution as a nationalist leader was organizing a 'hartal'( strike) on Bal Gangadhar Tilak's death. In 1928, he joined protests against the Simon Commission. In Europe he organized 'Association of European Indians' . He had Joined Indian National Congress and established Congress Socialist Party in 1934. He was elected the Secretary of All India Congress Committee in 1936. He was arrested on the 7^th of June 1940 and sentenced to two years imprisonment for writing an article 'Satyagraha Now' in Gandhiji's newspaper Harijan. He had published and circulated posters and pamphlets on 'Do or Die' during the 'Quit India Movement' in  1942. He along with Aruna Asaf Ali edited a Congress Party monthly newspaper called 'Inquilab'. Lohia went to Calcutta to revive the movement there. He changed his name to hide from the police who were closing in on him. Lohia fled to Nepal's dense jungles to evade the British. There he met he Nepalese people and Koirala brothers (courageous freedom fighters in Nepal), who remained Lohia's allies rest of their lives Lohia was captured in May of 1944, in Bombay. Lohia was taken to a prison in Lahore, notoriously known throughout India for its tormenting environment. In the prison he underwent extreme torture. His health was destroyed but his courage remained. Even though he was not as fit his courage and willpower strengthened through the ordeal. Under Gandhiji's pressure the Government released Lohia and his comrade Jayaprakash Narayan. A huge crowd waited to give them a heroes welcome. Lohia decided to visit his friend in Goa to relax. Lohia was alarmed to learn that the Portuguese government had censured the peoples freedom of speech and assembly. He decided to deliver a speech to oppose the policy but was arrested even before he could reach the meeting location. The Portuguese government relented and allowed the people the right to assemble. The Goan people weaved Lohia's tale of unselfish work for Goa in their folk songs. As India tryst wit freedom neared Hindu-Muslim strife increased. Lohia strongly opposed partitioning India in his speeches and writings. He appealed to communities in riot torn regions to stay united, ignore the violence surrounding them and stick to Gandhi Ji’s ideals of non-violence. Lohia comforted the Mahatama as nation that once wielded the power of non-violence took refuge in killing their own brothers and sisters. Lohia remained beside Gandhiji as son would remain beside a father. Dr. Lohia was the first to introduce the unification of some six hundred fifty Indian princely states together to form larger states, an idea later adopted by Sardar Patel, first Home Minister of India. Lohia favored Hindi as the official language of India, arguing, "The use of English is a hindrance to original thinking, progenitor of inferiority feelings and a gap between the educated and uneducated public. Come, let us unite to restore Hindi to its original glory." He was one of the greatest thinkers the Indian Parliament would ever see. He realized that the prevailing poverty would create an India with a weak foundation. As an economically crippled India tried to find ways to get rid herself of its abject poverty, he had  decided to make the mass public realize the importance of economic robustness for the nation's future. During pro- independence era, he took the leadership of building a dam on river Paniyari called 'Lohia Sagar Dam'. He had founded 'Hind Kisan Panchayat' to provide solution to the farmers. He had Set up World Development Council and World Government to retain peace. He wanted to abolish private schools and establish upgraded Government owned municipal schools which would give equal academic opportunity to students of all casts. This he hoped would help eradicate the divisions created by the caste system. At the Socialist Party's Annual Convention, he set up a plan to decentralize the Government's  Power so that the general public would have more power in Indian politics. He also formed Hind Kisan Panchayat to resolve farmers' everyday problems. He was a  true socialist and wanted to unite all the socialists in the world to form a potent platform. He was the General Secretary of Praja Socialist Party. He established the World Development Council and eventually the World Government to maintain peace in the world. During his last few years, besides politics, he spent hours talking to thousands of young-adults on topics ranging from Indian literature, politics and art. He died on October 12, 1967 in New Delhi. He left behind no property

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f.b.

March 23,2011.