FLORAL TRIBUTES TO JP

FLORAL TRIBUTES TO JP

10-OCT-ENG 28

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWL

ARA----------------------------On the occasion of the 47th death anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, a floral tribute ceremony and a discussion seminar were held at the Loknayak Jayaprakash Memorial complex at 7:00 AM on October 8. The event was presided over by former MLA and senior 'JP Senani' (JP movement activist) Ramakant Thakur. It was conducted by theatre artist and social activist Ashok Manav, while Prof. Vishwanath Chaudhary proposed the vote of thanks.

The program commenced with Ramakant Thakur offering floral tributes at the portrait of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Following this, those present also paid their respects.

After the floral tribute, a seminar was held on the topic "Loknayak's Final Journey." The keynote speaker, Prof. Neeraj Singh, spoke in detail about Jayaprakash Narayan's final moments and his last journey. He noted that the most significant feature of Loknayak's final journey was the participation of leaders from almost all political parties—large and small—alongside social activists and ordinary citizens from across the country. He mentioned that his mortal remains were placed near Krishna Memorial Hall, and a large number of people had gathered at Gandhi Maidan to pay their final respects.

In his presidential address, Ramakant Thakur stated that he had played an active role under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan during the student movement of 1974. Following the movement, he won the election from the Brahmpur Assembly constituency and became an MLA. He remarked that participating in JP's funeral procession felt akin to attending the final journey of a guardian.

Conducting the proceedings, Ashok Manav announced that on the upcoming birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan—October 11—a garland-laying ceremony would be held at 7:00 AM, followed by the lighting of lamps at 6:00 PM.

Local 'JP Senanis' (activists associated with the JP movement), social workers, theatre artists, and journalists were present on the occasion.

Prominent attendees included Sushil Tiwari, Gulab Chand Prasad, Ganga Singh, Ashwani Sinha, Salil Bharti, Parashuram Chaudhary, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, journalist Ashutosh Pandey, Anant Kumar, and Akhilesh Amul.