Surendra Kishore
In 1954, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia had asked the MLAs of his party not to raise their normal standard of living. Dr. Lohia was then the National General Secretary of the Praja Socialist Party. How many leaders, who do politics in different states of this country by taking the name of Dr. Lohia, follow that advice of Lohia today? Some of today’s socialist leaders are occasionally traveling in chartered aircraft. While being an MP, Lohia himself could not even buy a car for himself. In 1967, when he was an MP, he usually used to travel long distances by train and bus.
In the meantime, has this country become so rich that even its socialist leaders travel by chartered aircraft and lead a five-star life? In 1967, Dr. Lohia had also said that a common civil code should be implemented in the country. In 1967, Mulayam Singh Yadav was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the first time from Lohia’s party Samyukta Socialist Party. Today Mulayam Singh Yadav’s party is strictly against the Common Civil Code. Keeping the ‘vote bank’ happy is the only reason for that protest.
Then people ask that why such leaders call themselves Lohiaists? Do they even have any moral right to say so? In fact, taking the name of Lohia and following the path shown by him are now two different things. In 1954, when Dr. Lohia advised the legislators, there were more leaders and activists who believed in the values of the freedom struggle. He was in favor of simple living and high thinking. He used to behave like that too.
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But, with the passage of time, the way the ruling party started declining, similarly the opposition was not untouched. Not equal to the Congressmen, but the leaders of the opposition who started becoming MPs and MLAs also started raising their standard of living. First politics was service, then it was like a job. Now there is no difference between politics and business. Exceptions are another matter. In the last few decades, gradually the difference between the Congress and the opposition has been eroding. In this way they started cutting off from the common poor people. Religion, caste and other elements dominated politics and elections.
Seeing the beginning of the decline, Dr. Lohia was already worried about it. For this reason, on June 12, 1954, he wrote a letter to his MLAs across the country in this regard. For many years, the difference in the standard of living of Congress leaders and opposition leaders was clearly visible. But after 1967 and especially after 1977, the difference started decreasing. Today the situation is even worse.
Dr. Lohia wrote in his letter that being elected a member of the Legislature, apart from political prestige, there is also income. People are also attracted to this work because of monetary benefits. So socialist legislators should keep in mind that they should not raise their standard of living. Party members should also not complain about the facilities required by the MLAs to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Dr. Lohia wrote that “The most important thing is that the legislators should help in building manpower with their speeches and works. It is necessary to link the parliamentary work with the other functions of the party, movement, constructive and welfare work. It is wrong to assume that the legislature’s work is Work is everything. Equally wrong is to say that it doesn’t matter.” Lohia had also written some other important things in his letter.
But, the question is, are today’s Lohiaists parroting the name of Dr. Lohia or doing anything to implement his values-ideals? The standard of living of many fake Lohiaites has risen to such an extent that it is difficult to differentiate between medieval kings and some of the present-day leaders. Barring exceptions, many leaders and parties are selling election tickets. Those who have a lot of money, only they are buying tickets.
It’s not about one party. Barring exceptions, most of the parties are involved in this business. Along with rich people, such musclemen are being sent to the legislatures, on whom dozens of cases are going on. Dr. Lohia used to say that we do politics not to win elections but to build the country. The opportunity to say this came to him in the 1967 elections as well. Then he was contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. A reporter asked him whether you are in favor of implementing a common civil code in the country. Doctor Lohia said that yes, I am on his side.
It is to be remembered that the chapter on Directive Principles of Policy of the Constitution of India states that “the State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.” This statement of Dr. Lohia was opposed by the Muslim community. Lohia’s socialist colleagues also told Lohia that now you will lose the election. To which Lohia said that I do not do politics just to win elections. Rather, I do politics to build the country. Even if I lose, I will stick to my idea. He could win by only about 400 votes. But he didn’t care.
(The writer is a senior journalist and political affairs expert)
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