Home

Back

• 

 
 

Browse by Organization

 
 
Extend support to Rejuvenate India
Dr. JP’s clarion call to Indian Diaspora

By Ravi R. Ponangi

Atlanta, GA: During the month long “Rejuvenate India” tour of different cities across America Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (Dr. JP) of Lok Satta urged NRIs to come forward and join hands with compatriots back home to work towards a better India. He appealed to the elite to take to politics as a national service divorced of commercial interests. Quoting Margaret he said “Small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world”.



While expatiating on the role of NRIs in “Rejuvenating India” Dr JP recalled how since pre-independence days till the recent tech revolution the NRIs had played constructive roles. NRIs who have seen the other part of the globe can extend meaningful support to uplift India. He explained how NRIs can serve as bridges between India and the West and acquit themselves as worthy brand ambassadors of their motherland.
Dr. JP further explained that many among the galaxy of selfless freedom fighters of India had studied abroad. They were the most privileged and aristocratic and yet they fought for India’s independence renouncing all their comforts and prosperity. He aid that drawing inspiration from these exemplary leaders, the NRIs should come forward and join hands with people back home to work towards a prosperous India.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, a former member of the Administrative Reforms Commission, sitting MLA in Andhra Pradesh and President of Lok Satta Party, India toured different cities across America during his month-long sojourn on an invitation from "People for Lok Satta", a non profit political organization. Dr. JP kicked off "Rejuvenate India" tour on May 4th in Boston and it culminated on June 2nd in St.Louis. Dr. JP addressed more than 50 gatherings of enthusiastic audiences all over the U.S. Dr. JP toured Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and St.Louis . Dr. JP also interacted with hundreds of individuals and many diverse groups in different cities across America. Dr. JP, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, started the Lok Satta Party several years ago to usher in corruption-free politics.
Dr. JP said that he was overwhelmed by eagerness among Indians in the U. S. in shaping up India as one of the world’s super powers. It is for the first time that a politician from India has carried on a sustained campaign for rebuilding India and ensuring equitable justice to all.



People gathered in large numbers in all cities to avidly hear Dr. JP and to seize the opportunity to interact with a leader, a visionary with such unmatched patriotic zeal. His programs elicited spontaneous response from people belonging to different walks of life and cutting across age barriers. The immediate reaction of every body was to explore ways how they could help Dr. JP attain his goal of a resurgent India.

Speeches of Dr. JP contained words of wisdom, inspirational messages punctuated with humor urging everyone to work in tandem to take India forward. The audiences were spellbound and avidly listened to every single word he uttered. Dr JP talked about the achievements of the NRIs, India’s political ailments and how we can join hands to change the system. He stressed on the role the youth and the middle class and called on them to cleanse the accumulated political garbage. His speeches received a standing ovation and they were followed by question and answer session.


He answered questions from the audience on various wide ranging topics like, combating corruption and how NRIs can help achieve this. Dr. JP identified five factors, amongst others, that will bring about the transformation - secularism, neighborly relations with Pakistan and China, entry of women in politics, establishing a national think-tank and a national judicial commission. Numerous questions were asked in every city on the state of Indian politics, how the party planned to address the issues, and the readiness of India for real change. Replying to a question from the audience, he said that the best guarantee for the people are people themselves, empower them, entrust them and guide them. The secret to good governance is the creation of responsive local governments with accountability.
In all the gatherings in different cities, Dr. JP stated that the energy, enthusiasm, and passion shown by the people of Indian origin have tremendously inspired him. He said that he was deeply impressed by the interest evinced by the people and was drawing great energy from the concern that the Indian Diaspora is showing for the betterment of their beloved nation. There is a pervasive sense of frustration and despair amongst all and the only means of remedy is through good politics, he averred.


Calling upon the educated middle class to actively partake in the democratic process, Dr. JP emphasized the need to set aside petty differences for fulfilling the bigger cause of national reformation. He praised the NRIs for their achievements and the laurels that they have earned for themselves and their country and pointed out that India requires their dedicated participation.
Dr. JP urged the NRIs not to feel demoralized as India is still a nation in progress. With the technology and resources the country now has, he was hopeful that the goal can be accomplished in 10 years and not 100 years. In conclusion, he said, “I ask of you to give a bit of your energy, your time, your organizational ability, your technological capability and your resources, most of all, your passion, your love of fellow human beings and your country of origin, a bit of it for the next 10 years so that the country can be truly transformed, much taller and much prouder”

In every city he told NRIs, “You are not recognized as Telugus or Tamils, Northerners or Southerners, Hindus, Muslims, TANA or ATA and not on any linguistic basis or caste basis, but, as Indians. For heaven’s sake, do not forget that” and the crowd responded with a thunderous applause.

Dr.JP called everyone to work in unison to bring changes in India. An individual cannot bring about change no matter how worthy or sincere the person is. He cited the example of Mahatma Gandhi who fought indefatigably to keep the country united, fought for an India with decentralized power, fought for a corruption-free India, but he could not, because of lack of national solidarity. Change is not possible by a single person, but together we can bring change.

Dr. JP also talked about what we have to do to become a great nation. For this he cited that emerging economic forum recently published that India can become second largest economy in the world by 2040. Dr.JP then stressed the need for reforms and empowerment of local bodies. He also mentioned the need for administrative and police reforms. The next thing he said which was needed was to eliminate corruption. Dr. JP said that India had missed the boat of industrial revolution once and we can ill-afford to lose such an opportunity again. We should make strong progress in education which will fuel technological development.


The greatest hurdle to India’s transformation is the present electoral system, which comes in the way of people voting for the right person. The country can be transformed in no time with a switch over to the proportional representation system. The second hurdle is the reluctance of the best and the brightest to take to politics as a calling. So long as the middle class intelligentsia does not go to the polling booth, the country’s future will be dismal.

Dr. JP stated that the personal involvement of NRIs is as important as their monetary contributions and pointed out that it was the NRIs who made the freedom struggle possible. He asked the NRIs to own responsibility and make a better system for future generations as the country has the potential. He said “We have problems and we will have problems. But 20 years down the line let us discuss the problems of that day and not today’s problems.”

Dr. JP reiterated the importance of creating a new political culture where people need not spend crores of rupees to win an election. Dr. JP emphasized the need for substantial technological transformation for the growth of India. To a pointed question Dr JP said that population growth in India will be an asset if we empower them with robust health and quality education. He finally quoted that Unity in Diversity is India’s unique strength and the crowd cheered when Dr. JP said, ‘You can take an Indian out of India but not India out of an Indian’.


Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan(widely known as Dr. JP), is the founder and president of Lok Satta Party, an astute administrator, a relentless crusader against political corruption, a powerful orator and a prolific author on political systems. A patriot beyond compare, DR. JP is the nucleus behind the reforms happening in Indian polity. Non-partisan, rational, not prone to populist appeals, yet sensitive to the needs of the citizens he is seen as the voice of reason in Indian polity.
 
5-July-2010