Dr Jayant Jigyasu
Sharad Yadav, a staunch supporter of socialism, was born on 1 July 1947 in the family of Nandkishore Yadav, a farmer, and Sumitra Yadav of Aankhmau, a small village in Babai tehsil of Hoshangabad (now Narmada Puram) district of Madhya Pradesh. Sharad Yadav, who grew up in a rural environment, received his education in Jabalpur, which is known as the cultural center of Madhya Pradesh. He studied Electrical Engineering from Government Engineering College, Jabalpur. Sharad Yadav, who topped in studies, was also awarded the gold medal. He entered student politics from Jabalpur. He was the President of Jabalpur University Students Union in 1970. Sharad Yadav, who made the great socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia his ideal, contested the Lok Sabha by-election from Jabalpur for the first time in 1974 at the age of just 27 and registered a historic victory. On the advice of Dada Dharmadhikari, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan made him the People’s Candidate, and the election symbol was – Haldhar Kisan. When the tenure of the Lok Sabha was extended in the country, there were only two MPs who resigned in protest – Madhu Limaye and Sharad Yadav. Then praising Sharad Yadav Jai Prakash Narayan Wrote a letter to him:
dear autumn,
The courageous example of sacrifice that you have presented by resigning from the Lok Sabha cannot be praised enough. The youth of the country have heartily welcomed your step, which is proof that the feeling of respect for sacrifice and sacrifice is prevalent among the youth. This step of yours has given a new inspiration to thousands of youth struggling for democracy. I believe that this example will awaken in them that collective conscience which is necessary to revive the structure of democracy.
I send you my warm wishes and blessings.
your love,
Jai Prakash
Sharad Yadav is the first leader who was sent to jail under MISA even before the Emergency.
Sharad Yadav ‘s life is full of events. He was detained twice in MISA. Sentenced to a total of 18 months. He is the first leader who was sent to jail under MISA even before the Emergency. During various movements, he stayed in the jails of Narsinghgarh, Jabalpur, Indore, Vilaspur, Balaghat, Seoni, Bhopal and Rewa of Madhya Pradesh, Etah of Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh. He was a successful fighter of JP movement. His flamboyant style of speeches made him a public leader and in 1977, he was again elected MP from Jabalpur for the sixth Lok Sabha.
Sharad Yadav became the national president of Yuva Janta, the youth wing of Janata Party in the year 1978.
In the year 1978, he became the national president of Yuva Janta, the youth wing of the Janata Party and remained in this post from 1980-84. In the year 1985, he became the National General Secretary of Lok Dal. Due to the untimely demise of Sanjay Gandhi after the defeat from Jabalpur in 1980, he became the joint candidate of the opposition against Rajiv Gandhi at the behest of Chaudhary Charan Singh in the Amethi by-election. After losing from Badaun in 1984 due to Indira sympathy wave, he was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha for the first time from Lok Dal in 1986.
Sharad Yadav became the Minister of Textiles and Food Processing Industries Department in the government of Vishwanath Pratap Singh from 1989 to 90.
Chaudhary Devi Lal, VP Singh, Chandrashekhar and Sharad Yadav played an important role in the formation of Janata Dal, which was formed as a result of the merger of Lok Dal, Jan Morcha and Janata Party in the year 1988. Sharad Yadav was made the General Secretary of Janata Dal. In the year 1989, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. He became the Minister of Textiles and Food Processing Industries Department in the government of Vishwanath Pratap Singh from 1989 to 1990. This was the pinnacle of his political career, when he became the architect of implementing an important recommendation of the Mandal Commission. He took out the Mandal Rath from the tombs of Madhepura and worked to awaken the dormant consciousness of the people in North India and was called Mandal Messiah.
Sharad Yadav gave a historic speech in 1990 at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
In the presence of many ministers of the Government of India including Prime Minister VP Singh, Sharad Yadav had said in the Janata Dal rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on October 8, 1990, ‘As per its promise, Janata Dal has not only provided reservation to the backward classes who have been exploited for thousands of years. Not only have we participated in the opportunities, but we have also worked to awaken their dormant consciousness and self-respect. Hold the hands that rise against absurdities. The support of the oddities will prove effective in your movement. In the same rally, Lalu Prasad had said, ‘Whether the sky falls on the earth or the earth hangs in the sky, the Mandal Commission will remain in force. We are not going to compromise on this.