In this blog post we are dealing with a brief history of the Jana Sangh. If you want to know about Jana Sangh, then this post is for you.
Jana Sangh
Jana Sangh was founded by Dr. Shyam Prasad Mukherjee in 1950–51. He was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha. Dr. Shyam Prasad Mukherjee was a member of Nehru’s Cabinet; but left it because he felt that the Government had betrayed the Hindus of Pakistan.
Originally the Jana Sangh consisted of a large number of conservative Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members in North India and personal followers of Mukherjee in Bengal.
This automatically affected Jana Sangh to be under the control of RSS and its leaders. In fact, one prominent member, Dr. M.C. Sharma, resigned from his membership in Jana Sangh in protest against RSS domination over Jana Sangh.
But Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had never been involved as an organization in the affairs of Jana Sangh. The only evident was the dual membership of the individuals to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Jana Sangh (JS). However, one was free to join any organization.
When Hindu Mahashaba declined the Jana Sangh gained a great strength. Under the presidentship of Dr. Mukherjee; their organization was recognized as one of the national parties of All India.
Aim and goal of Jana Sangh
The Aim and goal of Jana Sangh was to unify the nations in leading to social and economic equality through economic reconstruction; and prosperity for the greatness of India. Jana Sangh tried to bridge the big gap between the highest and lowest by pulling the rich down and lifting the poor.
It announced its belief on equality; its attempt was abolishment of Zamindar system by giving the land to the tillers; making labourers participate in economic management and reducing the wealth and income of the rich people.
Jana Sangh as a Political Party
Jana Sangh was quickly progressing and won 3 seats of Lok Sabha in 1952 General Election; and 35 seats won State Assembly election. In 1957 election it secured 4 seats of Lok Sabha and 46 seats of State Assembvlies.
In 1962 it secured 14 Lok Sabha seats and 114 seats of State assemblies. In 1967 JS obtained 35 seats of Lok Sabha and became largest National Party after the Congress. Unfortunately, in 1968 Mr. Dean Dayal Uapdhyaya (who succeeded Dr. Mukherjee), the then president of Jana Sangh, was murdered.
But the death of a leader did not decline the movement of the party. This is the special comment that can be given to this political culture of the Jana Sangh; as it is often said that the Jana Sangh is not an organization oriented to individuals.
The death or failure of a leading person of the party did not affect the whole movement of the party. According to the belief of Jana Sangh members, political party must produce leaders; but not the particular leader should produce party.
Political party based on individual person and individual leadership had no chance to grow better, but had to split up.