Babu Jagdev Prasad
A commemorative postage stamp on the Death Anniversary of ‘Bihar Lenin‘ Jagdeo Prasad Kushwaha (JP), a revolutionary politician from Bihar :
Issued by India
Issued on Sep 5, 2001
Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp in honour of this charismatic leader.
Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Three Colour
Denomination : 400 Paise
Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 Cms.
Printing Size : 2.54 x 3.55 Cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Imported un w/m stamp paper
Stamps Printed : 0.4 million
Number per issue sheet : 40
Printing Process : Photo Offset
Printer : Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd.
Name : Babu Jagdev Prasad Kushwaha (Bihar Lenin)
Born on Feb 2, 1922 at Kurtha, Jehanabad district, Bihar, India
Died on Sep 5, 1974 at Kurtha, Jehanabad district, Bihar, India
About :
- Jagdev Prasad (1922-1974) was a fearless leader from Bihar who fought for the cause of the backward and downtrodden sections of the society.
- Hailing from a humble background, the young Jagdev had to undergo many hardships to pursue his studies. However, neither the financial difficulties nor the caste-based ostracism could deter him, and he went on to secure a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Patna University in 1950.
- The socialist ideology of Ram Manohar Lohia had a tremendous influence on Jagdev Prasad. He joined the Socialist Party and contributed his mite to fight social inequalities and economic exploitation, which continued to stain the social fabric of India, despite the attainment of freedom. He entered electoral politics in 1957 when Ram Manohar Lohia inspired him to contest from the Sasaram Lok Sabha Constituency. However, unaccustomed with the ways of contemporary politics, he lost the election.
- In 1967, he contested for the 4th Bihar Assembly from Kurtha and emerged victorious. He played an important role in forming the first ever coalition government in Bihar with Mahamaya Prasad Singh as the Chief Minister. He also made a mark as the Minister-in-charge of the Health portfolio in the Government. However, Jagdev Prasad soon realised that there was no honourable representation of the backward and downtrodden sections in the Government. When his attempts to rectify the situation met with stubborn resistance, he left the Government and the Party in anguish and formed his own ‘Shosit Dal‘. His fight for the cause of the backward and downtrodden sections of the people saw a number of Governments – all coalitions – being formed and pulled down. His relentless struggle for the upliftment of the weaker sections was markedly distinct in the political milieu of his times. However, his stand was vindicated subsequently when the Union Government itself took note of the handicaps embedded in our social structure which prevented the backward sections of the society from realising their legitimate aspirations and appointed the Backward Classes Commission and later, implemented the recommendations contained in the Commission’s report.
- Jagdev Prasad was also noted for his suave penmanship. His journalistic career started in 1953 with ‘Janata‘, the organ of the Socialist Party. Later, he also edited the English weekly, ‘Citizen‘ and the Hindi weekly, ‘Uday‘.
- The life and political career of Jagdev Prasad had an unfortunate end in 1974, when he received a bullet shot in his neck in the confusion which arose out of the police firing at a rally in Kurtha, which he was addressing.
- Text : Based on material furnished by the sponsors.
