On the rumor of death, Nitish Kumar and Narendra Singh had reached Patna Veterinary College campus in search of their missing leader Lalu.
Lalu Yadav says that his success as Railway Minister changed his identity. People who used to call him “Joker Lalu” started calling him “Professor Lalu”. He has many stories to tell about his successes. But the success of his life that he remembers the most is his tenure as Railway Minister. It is a different matter that the IRCTC scam of the same ministry has become a thorn in the neck of him and his family for the last eight years. On the occasion of Bihar elections, the court has also framed charges against him as well as Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav in this case. It is certain that this case will continue to deprive his family of peace.
Lalu has been making people laugh by saying, “As long as there is potato in samosas, there will be Lalu in Bihar.” Lalu, convicted in several fodder scam cases, was declared ineligible for elections years ago. Health is also not supporting me. But even in these adverse circumstances, there is a lot of discussion about him in Bihar elections. He is the main architect of RJD’s strategy for the coronation of his son Tejashwi. As always, the rival camp is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to attract voters to its side by reminding it of Lalu’s Jungle Raj.
Of course, Bihar has been Lalu’s center of power. But his native style and different style of speaking has given him far-reaching fame. Lalu, who started his political journey as a student leader, has been adept in attracting people’s attention since the beginning. Interesting incidents related to him are not only on people’s lips but are also a part of many books. On the occasion of Bihar elections, read some interesting incidents from Lalu’s autobiography “Gopalganj to Raisina” and Sankarshan Thakur’s book “Bandhu Bihari” which show that as a student leader, Lalu had started showing glimpses of taking a big leap in politics.
What is that leader who remains untouchable in times of danger?
On March 18, 1974, the Bihar State Students’ Struggle Committee had called for the siege of the Bihar Assembly in support of its 12-point demands. Lalu was the president of Patna University Students Union at that time. Thousands of students from all parts of the state had gathered in Patna. Clashes started between students and police. Police lathicharged. Released tear gas shells and then started firing. Many students died. Many were injured. Many arrests were made.
Many interesting stories are recorded in Lalu’s autobiography “Gopalganj to Raisina”. Photo: Getty Images
According to Lalu, “Meanwhile, a rumor spread that I had been killed in police firing. This rumor spread discontent among the people and students in large parts of the state. The situation became so bad that there were reports of looting and violence from many places. The news of my death reminded me of the village game when I was a child and my brother Gulab Rai used to pretend to die and then come alive at the right time.”
In reality, safe Lalu was hiding in a corner of the assembly. He told Mukund Bhai, who was coming by bicycle, that there was no need to worry. Go home and tell Rabri that I am alive. Don’t tell anyone else. I am going underground to lead the movement.
Lalu slipped away as soon as the police came into action
Sankarshan Thakur presents the opposite picture of this incident of March 18 and Lalu’s role in it, quoting his then colleagues Narendra Singh and Nitish Kumar in “Bandhu Bihari”. According to him, the student movement was gaining momentum and Lalu Yadav was riding on its peak without doing anything special. On March 18, 1974, the police opened fire on students marching towards the Bihar Assembly. Many deaths occurred. Lalu Yadav escaped arrest. The truth was that as soon as it became clear that the police were going to take strict action, they ran away from there. He was leading a protest procession but ran away long before the first round of firing began.
After darkness fell, Narendra Singh and Nitish Kumar, searching for their missing leader, reached his brother’s house on the Patna Veterinary College campus. Lalu was found bent over a pot of boiling meat in the backyard of the house. A stunned Narendra and Nitish were looking at the head of the Sangharsh Committee. Lalu laughed shyly and then said, “Let’s run away. Very nice meat has been prepared. Awa-awa, eat it.”
There was a time when the rumor about Lalu’s death spread and Nitish Kumar was found cooking meat. Photo: Getty Images
Couldn’t even join police, got injured while running
Narendra Singh, son of socialist leader Shri Krishna Singh, was among those who initially took Lalu forward in student politics by associating him with Yuvjan Sabha. Lalu’s ability to draw crowds started manifesting itself in his student days. On one occasion there was less time to prepare for the meeting.
Lalu climbed the railing of the college corridor and gathered hundreds of students within a few minutes by waving his towel with his special style of speaking. But Lalu had no interest in the issues or the nuances of ideology or in reading the books of Lohia or other socialists. They could disappear or appear at any time. Lalu’s presence was considered necessary in a meeting regarding student protests. But there was no trace of him. They reached the college campus in the afternoon. Looked disheveled and worried. He kept avoiding questions from his colleagues. Later they told that police recruitment was going on and they did not want to lose the opportunity. The companions were surprised.
Lalu told that he had gone to appear for the police recruitment examination. At that time, neither did he realize what heights Lalu had to reach, nor did his colleagues of that era think about it. Then why did Lalu want a police job, “Because if you get a police job, they give you free uniform, free boots. They also give you salary. What could be better than this? But there was a race and I could not run fast. I failed and I also got injured.”
Got his partner arrested, then took food to jail
Lalu had learned the lessons of taking a big leap in his political career in student politics itself. As the President of Patna University Students Union, he invited Morarji Desai for a speech. Lalu gave a long speech on the pretext of introducing Morarji and then disappeared from the stage. After the meeting they met at the old base of the paan shop. My friends said why didn’t I stop? Lalu’s reply was that he spoke first because after Morarji, who would listen to me? I didn’t stop because I found others’ speeches boring.
The police were looking for both Lalu and Narendra Singh in connection with a student movement. The same night Narendra Singh was caught by the police but Lalu remained alive. Narendra was surprised how the police reached them so quickly? Then soon Narendra Singh came to know from the police itself that Lalu had made it easy for him to reach him. But the same Lalu reached the jail two days later to meet Narendra Singh with food prepared by his mother.
According to Narendra Singh, “Had it been anyone else, he would not have shown his face after doing such an act. But he is Lalu Yadav. He came. He handed over the food in my hands without any embarrassment and remorse. When I asked whether you had told the police about me, he easily accepted it. Then he said, see how much you have benefited from this arrest. Your name has appeared in all the newspapers. You have become a leader.”
During the student movement, Lalu killed many students in Patna. Had brought puri-jalebi as a feast. Photo: PTI
Taken to the jail gate in the name of Puri-Jalebi
Lalu has also recorded his exploits as a student leader in his autobiography. During the Sampoorna Kranti movement, JP asked the students to be ready to go to jail. As the head of the Student Struggle Committee, Lalu had a big responsibility. Lalu wrote, “The movement was still in its initial phase. In such a situation, very few people were ready to go to jail. Still, I prepared 17 people, most of whom were from Student Council and Sangh. I brought them to Patna saying that there was a Puri-Jalebi party at one of my friends’ place. Then I put them in a police van which started taking them to Buxar jail. But as soon as the van reached near the jail, all the 17 workers escaped from the bus. This is true. that i tell them lies “Brought it along.” Interestingly, even after admitting his lie, Lalu termed the disappearance of the people brought in the name of a party as soon as they saw the jail gate, as his weakness.
I drink toddy, not alcohol.
According to Lalu, due to his closeness to JP, the people of Vidyarthi Parishad used to hate him. Sushil Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad and some other council workers complained to JP that I drink alcohol and have accumulated huge amount of money. Angered JP called Lalu to his house for clarification. Lalu clearly refused to talk about money. Lalu told JP, “Babuji, I sometimes drink toddy. It is common in the village to drink toddy. Encouraged by my confession and giving a jolt to a close aide to divert JP’s attention, I said that I have heard that Shivanand Tiwari smokes ganja. After this JP calmed down and made an affectionate comment that alcohol and cigarettes are not good for health.”
On the other hand, Lalu’s comrades of those days told Sankarshan Thakur, “The students requested Jayprakash Narayan to lead the movement. But he was reluctant. They feared that the students might indulge in violence and force the police to open fire. JP was not very happy supporting an organization which was being led by Lalu Yadav. He was too unsophisticated, too unreliable for JP’s taste. But Lalu JP Fell at the feet of. Said you have to lead. This is not the time to think about one person. Think about the country.”
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