The Ambiguous Strategy of JP's Last Phase

Abstract

In the last phase of his life, 1974-79, Jayaprakash Narayan ('JP'), co-leader with Vinoba Bhave of the Sarvodaya Movement, formulated and sought to implement a revised strategy for achieving a nonviolent revolution in India. The revision was prompted by the relative failure of the movement's campaign for Gramdan and by his fears that Mrs. Gandhi's regime was subverting Indian democracy. The various elements in JP's revised strategy are identified. His attempt to pursue the new strategy revealed its weaknesses and its fundamentally ambiguous character. It is suggested that this helps to explain why, despite some successes, the movement has so far failed to achieve its objectives.