Jayaprakash Narayan (1902-79) was one of the most prominent leaders and thinkers produced by India in modern times. Although never seeking power for himself, he played a major role not only in the struggle for independence, but also in the Socialist and Sarvodaya movements and finally in the movement against authoritarianism (1974-7), popularly known as the J.P. movement.

This series of volumes has been planned with a view to presenting as full a picture as possible of the evolution of J.P.`s political life and thought through his writings, speeches and letters. As he was in many ways a mirror of his times, it is hoped that the series will also provide an idea of the main currents of ideas and movements during the times in which he lived and worked.
The present volume begins with Why Socialism?, a treatise on socialism with a critique of other systems of thought, particularly Gandhism, and elucidation of the objectives and programme of the Congress Socialist Party, published in early 1936. This is followed by J.P.`s other writings, speeches and letters up to the outbreak of the Second World War in the first week of September 1939. These relate mainly to the progress in the organisation of the Congress Socialist Party, radicalisation of the Congress, dissatisfaction with the performance of the Congress Ministries, and controversy between Subhas Chandra Bose and the old leaders of the Congress before and after the Tripuri Congress (1939).