ACHARYA NARENDRA DEO

ACHARYA NARENDRA DEO

(Prisoner No 3 of Ahmednagar)

One of the pioneers of India's freedom movement, Acharya Narendra Deo was born on 30th October, 1889, at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh

, where his father, Shri Baldev Prasad, was an advocate. Educated at Muir Central College, Allahabad & Queens College, Banaras. 1920 Quit his Lawyer's Profession and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement. Acharyaji was himself a lawyer by education, a staunch educationist by profession and an accomplished character of a selfless personality in life. Acharyaji is regarded as the founder of democratic socialist movement i India. He uncovered the new dimensions of Marxism with reference to nascent Indian

nationality and democratic ideals.

1926-36: Member of the Congress Working Committee. 1937-46: Member of Legislative Assembly of United Provinces. 1942 : Imprisoned for participation in Quit India Movement and detained in Ahmednagar Fort for 34 months. 1947-51:Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University. Presided over the 7th Conference of the Socialist Party at Patna. 1950: President of Socialist Party & Kisan Sabha. 1952 : Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. 1954-56 : President of the Praja Socialist Party, Member of Rajya Sabha (Upper House) & Founder of "Sangharsh", a Socialist weekly. Also a renowned scholar on Buddhism.

 He made continuous eforts throughout his life to set and implement socialist principles and ideals for socio-cultural reality. His role in the field of education, culture and literature was unique. He interpreted the liberalised essence of Indian culture. Acharyaji was also deeply interested in the philosophy and culture of Buddhism. His best compositions relate to Buddhism. In the words of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Acharya's zeal and inteligence were unique. He was unique in honesty, heart and action. He reflected noble qualities by his behaviour and not just by speech.

The Acharya was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in 1938, and again in 1946. He was a member of the Legislative Council, Uttar Pradesh, in 1952-54 and of the Rajya Sabha in 1954-56.

Acharya Narendra Dev died on 19th February 1956 in Tamil Nadu. Pt. J.L.Nehru called him an embodiment of scientific outlook, nobility of spirit, deep rooted humanism and compassion and erudite scholarship, who zealously worked for the preservation of the dignity of man and for the revolutionary transformation of human society.