Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

An Open Letter to Bihar’s Minister

Posted : November 29, 2005 at 10:42 am [IST]

Dear Minister Sir!

You are the hero of the news below:

“Continuing the trend from the previous government under Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Janata Dal (U) leader and newly appointed Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh, on Monday, slapped a senior magistrate when he was asked show an ID while entering the Vidhan Sabha.”

I don’t know if your action will build the brand image of your community or your governement of Biharis. Have you not learnt the basic lesson of a good ancestory? Why can’t you be humble? Are you not educated, as the education gives humilty?
Even the position you have been offered is not because the people wanted that and you deserved that. It was a charity of your boss who still has to maintain a caste balance in Bihar, the state that still lives in primitive era. Do you think people of even your caste but for some psycophants will praise you for your action reported in press? I don’t know your caste but if you belong to mine, I am ashamed for your action.

Dear Minister Sir, you are to work hard day in and day out to improve the productivity of agriculture in Bihar, and to make it financially viable for all the poor farmers. For that you will have to earn respect of the bureaucrats and officers as well as scientists with knowledge of agriculture. You will have to educate yourself so that you can guide them. If this government builds itself on the mafia class of strength, the people will loose faith. I request and appeal to you and your other colleagues to work hard to change the image of Bihar and Bihari leaders.

All of you have been got this once-in-life opportunity to change the future of Bihar on line of the rest of the country. Please don’t miss this because of your adamancy. People will not tolerate the politician clan for long, if they don’t change themselves.

Please work and behave in a way that we all can feel proud of. Why don’t initiate a compaign in rural Bihar to bring Bihari farmer at par with Punjabi ones with diversification of crops, with contract farming, commercial plantation, and with knowledge input.

It is no less a reason then the reasons for which Nitish asked for the resignation of Manjhi. I wish Nitish ji discussed the code of conduct for his ministers first.

As a very senior citizen with a background of Presidency College, Calcutta and IIT, Kharagpur I was really pained to read the news. I was forced to write this letter because I, like most Biharis living outside the state, am well-wisher of the state. We associate ourselves with the good and bad deeds of yours.

I am sure you shall not be taking it as otherwise.

Read the views of many on the topic.

Can we Make ‘Bihar smile again’ with ministers of this level of emotional maturity and tolerance.

- Indra

Category: Indian politics |