ARA’S CONNECTION WITH NATIONAL POLITICS

ARA’S CONNECTION WITH NATIONAL POLITICS

6-APRIL-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Today marks the death anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram, who served as the country's first Deputy Prime Minister. Born on April 5, 1908, in the village of Chandwa in Ara, Jagjivan Ram was also affectionately known as 'Babuji.' He undertook numerous initiatives for the state of Bihar that are remembered to this day. It was Babuji who transformed the Shahabad region into the "Rice Bowl" of the state; furthermore, he successfully resolved irrigation issues plaguing the districts of Rohtas and Kaimur.

On the occasion of Babu Jagjivan Ram's death anniversary today, the entire nation is paying tribute to his memory. Babu Jagjivan Ram held the distinction of serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the 'Shahabad-II' constituency. Jagjivan Ram remained an MP throughout his entire life and earned the honor of becoming the country's first Deputy Prime Minister. During the severe famine of 1966, the situation became dire; people were forced to send their children and livestock to stay with relatives. Witnessing these harrowing circumstances, Jagjivan Babu was deeply moved. Thanks to Babuji's efforts, the Shahabad region is today renowned as the "Rice Bowl."

Few leaders in the country's history have gone through their entire parliamentary careers without ever losing an election. Babu Jagjivan Ram—a hero of the freedom struggle and a prominent leader from the Shahabad region—emerged as one such exceptional figure who never tasted defeat. Representing the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency, Babu Jagjivan Ram served as an MP for eight terms. When the country's first general elections were held in 1952, the Shahabad region comprised two Lok Sabha seats: Ramshobhak Singh represented 'Shahabad-I,' while Jagjivan Ram represented 'Shahabad-II.'

Jagjivan Ram's political career spanned over 50 years. With the sole exception of the Prime Ministership, he held every major portfolio within the Union Cabinet. Babu Jagjivan Ram also had the privilege of serving as the Deputy Prime Minister. On two occasions—in 1977 and again in 1979—he came tantalizingly close to ascending to the office of Prime Minister.

Born on April 5, 1908, in the village of Chandwa in Ara, Jagjivan Ram was affectionately known as 'Babuji.' He played a pivotal and active role in India's freedom struggle. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution. He had the privilege of serving in the Interim National Government formed in 1946. Jagjivan Babu was the youngest minister in Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.

Babu Jagjivan Ram was appointed as the Minister of Labour in the first Indian cabinet. During his tenure as Labour Minister, he laid the foundation for numerous labour welfare policies in India. In Indira Gandhi's government, in addition to serving as the Minister of Labour, Employment, and Rehabilitation, he also served as the Union Minister of Food and Agriculture. Jagjivan Ram is also remembered for successfully spearheading the Green Revolution.

The people of the Sasaram parliamentary constituency still cherish the memory of Babu Jagjivan Ram. Vinod Tiwari, a journalist from the Sasaram district, recounts that in 1967–68, a severe famine struck their region; the situation became so dire that people were compelled to send their livestock and children to live with relatives. There was absolutely nothing left in people's homes to eat. Deeply moved by this plight, Babu Jagjivan Ram initiated the construction of an extensive network of canals across the Shahabad Lok Sabha constituency. If Shahabad is today hailed as the "Rice Bowl," it is Babu Jagjivan Ram who wrote the script for this transformation.

It is worth noting that the regions of Rohtas and Kaimur faced significant irrigation challenges. During his tenure as Minister of Agriculture, Babu Jagjivan Ram—through his dedicated efforts—facilitated the construction of the Indrapuri Dam. Thanks to this dam, several canals branched off from the Son River, creating a vast network of irrigation channels extending from Indrapuri to various parts of Sasaram, Dehri, Rohtas, and Aurangabad. Similarly, the Durgavati Reservoir Project effectively resolved the irrigation issues plaguing agriculture in the Kaimur region.

Babu Jagjivan Ram led a life of profound simplicity and contested elections with minimal expenditure. During election campaigns, he would solicit a donation of just one rupee from the public. Even if someone wished to contribute a larger sum, he would politely request that they donate only a single rupee. Wherever he went to seek contributions, an earthen pot would be placed there, into which people would drop their one-rupee coins. The country remained under a state of Emergency from 1975 to 1977. During this period, Jagjivan Ram supported Indira Gandhi; however, in 1977, he decided to leave the Congress party. When an ETV Bharat correspondent spoke with Dr. Narendra Pathak—Director of the Jagjivan Ram Research Institute—and asked why Jagjivan Ram, despite supporting Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, chose to part ways immediately after it ended, Dr. Pathak stated that there is no definitive evidence to explain this.

"Neither did 'Babuji' himself ever make any statement regarding this, but contemporaries suggest that Babu Jagjivan Ram was not in agreement with the imposition of the Emergency. His stance was that Indira Gandhi had become politically vulnerable, and for that very reason, it was essential for her to receive his support. Following the Emergency, Jagjivan Ram expected Indira Gandhi to project him as a prominent leader; however, this did not happen." — Narendra Pathak, Director, Jagjivan Ram Research Institute.

It is also alleged that while Indira Gandhi remained silent on the matter, it was Sanjay Gandhi who actively worked to humiliate Jagjivan Ram. During this period, Jagjivan Ram resolved to leave the Congress party; in 1977, he founded the 'Congress for Democracy' party and joined the Janata Party alliance. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979.

Gurcharan Singh, a resident of the Sasaram region and a professor, remarks that Babu Jagjivan Ram held a cherished place in the hearts of the people. He would not even campaign in his constituency after filing his nomination papers, yet he would win his elections with ease.

"It was the common people who fought the election on his behalf. When Jagjivan Ram served as the Defence Minister, the 1971 war between India and Pakistan took place, resulting in the surrender of 96,000 Pakistani soldiers." "...was." — Gurcharan Singh, Professor