In the recent years, he was trying to work out some sort of synthesis between the socialist concept and the sarvodaya concept. This is what he was trying to do and, for that, he was using the term “total revolution.” He stood for certain ideas. He was one of the men, possibly next to Mahatma Gandhi, who never took any office under law; he never took any office under statute. He was great, not because he held any particular office, but he was great because he was great.
He never contested a single election to any Assembly or Parliament. He belonged to that category of leaders who changed the course of history, who not only met history but changed the course of history. And that is the impact he was left of Indian mind and history.
Today, we are all sorry on his passing away. He did not belong to any particular party though he led certain political parties on occasions. But at the time when he died, he belonged to the Indian people and the Indian people will never forget the contribution that he has made for their uplift, for the liberation, for the freedom struggle and for everything.
Myself and my party join with the feeling of sorrow not only of the Prime Minister, the Janata Party and the Government here but this is the sorrow of the crores of people of India. We are amongst them. The House should, certainly, convey, through you. Sir, our sorrow to his brother or anybody whoever is there in his family. But this is really the people’s sorrow, the sorrow of all of us. His family was the whole nation. We have to convey our feelings to them.
SECOND STATEMENT
Shri Yashwantrao Chavan (Satara) : It is a very embarrassing situation for the parliament and I share the indignation that was expressed by Mr. Stephen, the leader of the Opposition, because such a situation puts not only the individual concerned in a difficult position but it is again the Parliament of the country and we have been led to a position where we were expressing feelings of condolence for a living person and a person who is respected and hounoured. So, I must share that indignation. I cannot help it. But at the same time I support the Motion moved by hon. Member Shri. A. C. George. We are very glad that Shri Jayprakash Narayan is living amongst us and we pray that he lives decades more amongst us.