->BrownHairedGirl at 09:58, 26 April 2021

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{{Short description|A defunct political party from Purulia, West Bengal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
The '''Lok Sewak Sangh''' ('Union of Servants of the People', abbreviated '''LSS'''), or '''Manbhum Lok Sewak Sangh''', was a [[political party]] in [[Purulia District]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]].<ref name="Ghosh1981">{{cite book|author=Anjali Ghosh|title=Peaceful Transition to Power: A Study of Marxist Political Strategies in West Bengal, 1967–1977|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s3EeAAAAMAAJ|year=1981|publisher=Firma KLM|page=25}}</ref> LSS was founded in 1948.<ref name="Dab2007">{{cite book|author=Jayanta Kumar Dab|title=Local Politics and Indian Nationalism, Purulia, 1921–1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVJuAAAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Progressive Publishers|isbn=978-81-8064-136-7|page=244}}</ref> The party was the main political force in Purulia District from the [[independence of India]] until the fall of the second United Front cabinet.<ref name="MajumdarSingh1997"/>

It is not to be confused with the [[Gandhi]]an social movement by the same name.

==Background==
LSS had been set up as a local social movement in [[Manbhum]], by leaders like Nibaranchandra Dasgupta and [[Bibhuti Dasgupta]], who had been released from jail in the early 1930s.<ref name="(India)Sengupta1985">{{cite book|author1=West Bengal (India)|author2=Jatindra Chandra Sengupta|title=West Bengal district gazetteers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSBuAAAAMAAJ|volume=12|year=1985|publisher=State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers|pages=104–105}}</ref> LSS was a [[Gandhi]]an movement working for [[Swaraj]] and social reform.<ref name="(India)Sengupta1985"/> They challenged caste hierarchies, preaching to [[Adivasi]]s and [[Dalits]] to participate in social and political life on equal terms with upper caste Hindus.<ref name="(India)Sengupta1985"/> The organization sought to fight against discrimination against [[leprosy|lepers]].<ref name="(India)Sengupta1985"/>

==Foundation==
LSS was constituted as a political party by former leaders of the [[Indian National Congress]], who had played a leading role in the [[Quit India movement]] in Purulia District.<ref name="MajumdarSingh1997">{{cite book|author1=Anis Kumar Majumdar|author2=Bhanwar Singh|title=Regionalism In Indian Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3puAAAAMAAJ|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Radha Publications|isbn=978-81-7487-094-0|page=133}}</ref><ref name="Ayyar1956"/> Notable members of this group included [[Bibhuti Dasgupta]] and Arun Ghosh.<ref name="MajumdarSingh1997"/> Through forming LSS they wanted to promote use of [[Bengali language]] in Bengali-dominated areas in southern [[Bihar]] state.<ref name="Ayyar1956">{{cite book|author=R. V. Krishna Ayyar|title=All India Election Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QSs-AAAAIAAJ|year=1956|publisher=Oriental Publishers|page=32}}</ref> They labelled the imposition of [[Hindi language]] as 'linguistic imperialism'.<ref name=c/> After breaking with the Indian National Congress its elected officials resigned and were re-elected on LSS tickets.<ref name=c>{{cite book|title=Journal of Gandhian Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GyotAAAAIAAJ|volume=10|year=1983|publisher=Gandhi Bhawan, University of Allahabad.|pages=125, 127, 129}}</ref> The party adhered to [[Gandhian socialism]].<ref name="Ghosh1981"/>

==1951–1952 elections==
The party contested the [[1951 Indian general election|1951–1952 parliamentary elections]] as well as the first assembly elections, being able to defeat Congress candidates in some constituencies.<ref name="Ayyar1956"/> In the election to the [[Lok Sabha]] (Lower House of the [[Parliament of India]]), LSS won the [[Manbhum South-cum-Dhalbum (Lok Sabha constituency)|Manbhum South-cum-Dhalbum constituency]], which elected two parliamentarians.<ref name=e1951/> The LSS parliamentarians were [[Bhajahari Mahaton]] and [[Chaitan Manjhi]].<ref name=e1951>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1951/VOL_1_51_LS.PDF STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1951 TO THE FIRST LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404203355/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1951/VOL_1_51_LS.PDF |date=4 April 2014 }}''</ref> LSS had fielded 4 candidates, won together mustered 309,940 votes (0.29% of the national vote).<ref name=e1951/>

In the [[1952 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], LSS fielded 12 candidates out of whom 7 were victorious.<ref name=b1951>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/StatisticalReports_51_BIHAR.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BIHAR]''</ref> The LSS elected legislators were Sirish Chandra Banerjee ([[Baghmundi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Baghmundi]]), Dimo Charmahar ([[Purulia-cum-Hura (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Purulia-cum-Hura]]), Samarendra Nath Ojha (Purulia-cum-Hura), Nitai Singh Sardar ([[Manbazar-cum-Patamda (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Manbazar-cum-Patamda]]), Satya Kinkar Mahata (Manbazar-cum-Patamda), Bhim Chandra Mahato ([[Barabazar-cum-Chandil (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Barabazar-cum-Chandil]]) and Atul Chandra Singh Bhuiya (Barabazar cum Chandil).<ref name=b1951/> In total the 12 LSS candidates mustered 148,921 votes (1.56% of the statewide vote).<ref name=b1951/>

==Struggle for inclusion in West Bengal==
Ahead of the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]], LSS organised a movement in 1955 to secure the transfer of Bengali-speaking areas of Bihar into West Bengal.<ref name="MajumdarSingh1997"/> The party organized a march of [[satyagrah]]is by foot from Pakbirah village ([[Manbhum District]]) to [[Calcutta]], a 480 km walk.<ref name="Franda2015">{{cite book|author=Marcus F. Franda|title=West Bengal and the Federalizing Process in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yA7WCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA55|date=8 December 2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-7525-2|pages=55–56}}</ref> The march lasted 16 days, gathering some 1,000 participants.<ref name="Franda2015"/> When reaching the vicinity of the West Bengal government headquarters, the march was broken up by police and participants arrested.<ref name="Franda2015"/> Some were jailed.<ref name="Franda2015"/>

After the reorganisation of the [[states of India]] in 1956, most of the areas where LSS was active became part of [[West Bengal]].<ref name="Ayyar1956"/> As of 1956 the leader of the party was Sirish Chandra Banerjee, who became of the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] in 1956.<ref name="Ayyar1956"/> In the [[1957 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] LSS fielded candidates in all 11 assembly seats in Purulia District.<ref>{{cite book|title=Thought|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5sUcAQAAMAAJ|volume=9|year=1957|publisher=Siddharta Publications|page=116}}</ref>

LSS contested the [[1962 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], fielding 11 candidates. LSS obtained 68,583 votes (0.72% of the statewide vote), winning 4 seats.<ref name=vidhansabha1962>{{cite web| url =http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_WB_1962.pdf |title = General Elections, India, 1962, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal | publisher= [[Election Commission of India]] | accessdate = 4 December 2016}}</ref>

==United Front==
Ahead of the [[1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] LSS entered into a seat-sharing agreement with both the [[People's United Left Front]] and the [[United Left Front (1967)|United Left Front]].<ref name="Roychoudhury1977">{{cite book|author=Profulla Roychoudhury|title=West Bengal—a Decade, 1965–1975|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ujluAAAAMAAJ|year=1977|publisher=Boipatra|page=56}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Link: Indian Newsmagazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0OQxAQAAIAAJ|volume=9|year=1967|page=16}}</ref> After the election Bibhuti Dasgupta of LSS was named Minister for [[Panchayat]]s and Social Welfare in the first [[United Front (1967)|United Front]] government.<ref>{{cite book|title=Asian Recorder|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQAuAQAAIAAJ|volume=13|year=1967|page=7634}}</ref><ref name="Kashyap1974">{{cite book|author=Subhash C. Kashyap|title=The politics of power: defections and state politics in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=17u1AAAAIAAJ|year=1974|publisher=National Pub. House|page=509}}</ref>

LSS fielded 6 candidates in the [[1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], winning 4 seats.<ref name=vidhansabha1969>{{cite web| url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf|title = General Elections, India, 1969, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal | publisher= [[Election Commission of India]] |accessdate = 4 December 2016}}</ref> The party obtained 99,844 (0.74%).<ref name=vidhansabha1969/> After the election LSS politician Bibhuti Dasgupta was named [[Panchayat]] Minister in the second United Front cabinet.<ref name="Committee">{{cite book|author=Communist Party of India (Marxist). West Bengal State Committee|title=Election results of West Bengal: statistics & analysis, 1952–1991|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNeNAAAAMAAJ|publisher=The Committee|page=379}}</ref>

==After the fall of the United Front==
The LSS dominance over Purulia politics was broken after the fall of the United Front.<ref name="MajumdarSingh1997"/> In the [[1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] LSS fielded 11 candidates, but none was elected.<ref name=vidhansabha1971>{{cite web| url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf |title = General Elections, India, 1971, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal | publisher= [[Election Commission of India]] | accessdate = 4 December 2016}}</ref> The party obtained 52,980 votes (0.41% of the statewide vote).<ref name=vidhansabha1971/>

The party went into rapid decline.<ref name="Bhattacharya2004">{{cite book|author=Dwaipayan Bhattacharya|title=Interrogating Social Capital: The Indian Experience|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0-LdQKkIYAC&pg=PA148|date=8 December 2004|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-0-7619-3286-4|page=148}}</ref> Most of its erstwhile supporters joined the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]].<ref name="Bhattacharya2004"/>

==Relief work==
In line with Gandhian principles, LSS ran relief activities in during food scarcities, floods and other calamities.<ref name=c/> It ran an auxiliary organization, Muktiyuddho Sewak Sangh, to help former freedom fighters.<ref name=c/>

==''Mukti''==
LSS published ''[[Mukti (newspaper)|Mukti]]'' ('Liberation') as its weekly organ during many years.<ref name="NewspapersSanyal1983"/><ref name=c/><ref name="Dab2007248">{{cite book|author=Jayanta Kumar Dab|title=Local Politics and Indian Nationalism, Purulia, 1921–1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVJuAAAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Progressive Publishers|isbn=978-81-8064-136-7|page=248}}</ref> The publication had been founded during the independence struggle.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mainstream|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzDQAAAAMAAJ|volume=27|year=1989|publisher=N. Chakravartty|page=32}}</ref> Bibhuti Dasgupta, the general secretary of the party, edited ''Mukti''.<ref>{{cite book|title=India Who's who|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGVmAAAAMAAJ|year=1973|publisher=INFA Publications.|page=248}}</ref>

As of the early 1980s, it was issued in 1,000 copies and edited by Arun Chandra Ghosh.<ref name="NewspapersSanyal1983">{{cite book|author1=West Bengal (India). Fact Finding Committee on Small & Medium Newspapers|author2=Sasanka Sekhar Sanyal|title=Report of the Fact Finding Committee on Small & Medium Newspapers, 1980|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arlFAQAAIAAJ|year=1983|publisher=Information & Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal|page=50}}</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Political parties in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1948]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in West Bengal]]

Lok Sewak Sangh - Revision history

->BrownHairedGirl at 09:58, 26 April 2021