Tribute to L.C.Jain- Militant Gandhian: Lakshmi Jain

L.C. Jain passed away on November 14, 2010 at the age of 85.

I first met Lakshmi Bhai exactly three decades ago when I was beginning to engage with grassroots empowerment efforts in rural areas. He spoke in a meeting at Gandhi Peace Foundation on the same topic, but with an emphasis that such efforts can only be made by people themselves; government programmes may result in disempowerment.

His passion for voluntary action towards citizen empowerment had perhaps grown manifold after the failed Janata government experiment. His book, Grass Without Roots, actually became a source of reinforcement of our ideals and principles in PRIA.

I vividly recall another face-to-face encounter with Lakshmi Bhai in the summer of 1986 when many of us were very agitated with the then proposed ‘Code of Conduct’ Bill for Voluntary Agencies. I was trying to mobilize voluntary agencies to come together on a common platform to fight for their autonomy. Lakshmi bhai instantly sensed both my anger and frustration, and in his own affectionate way, encouraged me to carry on the struggle, even if results were not immediately obvious. Over the years, I went to seek his blessings whenever I was similarly agitated and frustrated; he would always narrate a story from his own experience (or history) under similar circumstances as a way of suggesting the continuity of struggles over time; his smile energizing me to take that struggle forward.

Lakshmi bhai always stood with the efforts of civil society to articulate government accountability. He would write to prime ministers and other senior leaders reminding them about their constitutional obligations to protect and advance an active civil society; from FCRA to Tax Code, he always championed the cause of an autonomous and active voluntary action in the country.

His commitment to Gandhian values, principles and insights was always evident in contemporary manifestations. When the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments made panchayats and municipalities institutions of local self-governance, his vision of local governance as a people’s government was an inspiration to those of us pursuing myriad efforts towards strong and accountable panchayati raj institutions. His guidance was available to all of us in various aspects of devolution of authority, finance and human resources. When he became a member of the Constitutional Review Panel a decade ago, he asked us to be his ‘secretariat’ where he could discuss real experiences and generate practical solutions towards making panchayats and municipalities institutions of local self- governance.

His sustained assertion to realize this dream of devolution of authority and capability to local governments encouraged thousands of us in the Indian voluntary sector to continue to engage with the efforts towards democratic decentralization, despite frustrations, harassments and intimidations by vested political and bureaucratic interests. He came to a consultation in Ranchi five years ago, and roared to challenge the establishment to support the demand of civil society to hold panchayat elections. For ten long years, the Government of Jharkhand functioned in an unconstitutional manner by not holding panchayat elections. When these elections will be held later this month, Lakshmi Bhai is no longer here to witness them.

Saying ‘goodbye’ to Lakshmi Bhai is not easy; it will never be. But his smile, his militancy and his steadfastness will remain with us for a long time.

Rajesh

November 15, 2010