Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Let me assure those who put their comments on my write-up on Bihar that even at 69+, I am quite optimistic about Bihar and so I kept on writing mostly positive stories on Dashrath and Lalmuni Devi in patnadaily.com itself. I will refer to only two things. First, the list of project proposals on Bihar government official website. Can some one say why can’t it be updated and why can’t in last two and a half year, even some have taken some concrete shape? The website data does hardly inspire. Most of the entrepreneurs in the list appear to be those who fly by night and take advantages of the corruption in the government like the old-timers of license Raj days. Second, many things are certainly happening, but villages like my own is not going to get electrified very soon, though I got a ray of hope with poles all around in 1967. I wish I were wrong. I wish Nitish had changed Bihar the way Chandra Babu did. Today, Hyderabad is competing with Bangalore.
However, if the readers wish to read some good story, here is one written by Madhav Chavan, co-founder, Pratham:
“Shivpur is a small village in Dehri block of Rohtas district in Bihar. The efforts of Ram Pyare Singh, a locally-educated son of a landless labourer, have led to something close to a miracle here. I am convinced that although the entire miracle cannot be fully replicated, large elements of it can be.
This village got a school in 1999, but it was not until 2003-04 that they actually got money to build their own school. The school has a standard Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan design, but there is something more. The campus, enclosed by a wall, is clean and the playground is flat. No rocks, no pebbles, no garbage. There are trees planted all around and extra care is evident everywhere. At 9:30 in the night, girls in the residential bridge class were studying in the rooms constructed especially for them. It was not for show. The girls were having a good time and were completely oblivious to anyone else around.
Unlike any other village I have seen, the villagers have constructed a separate space for a mid-day meal kitchen, with a separate enclosure for the children to eat. The villagers claimed they have collected about Rs 17 lakh from locals and those who work in the cities, in addition to the funds provided by the government. There are 480-odd children studying in class I to VIII. There is no private school in the village.
The only teacher employed by the government in this school is the head teacher. It is not because of neglect. It is partly by design. So, who teaches the children? Educated villagers and alumni of the school volunteer their time. Who trains them? The head teacher takes care of that. Although the school is only up to class VIII, they make sure all children in the village pass class X. Do they want the government to appoint more teachers? Ram Pyare Singh smiles his hesitation, but the answer is a clear ‘no’. But, would it help if the government gave funds to pay teachers that they appoint? There is no problem as long as it does not come with bureaucratic hassles and controls. What if the government worked out a per-child cost—say Rs 3,000 per year per child—and transferred it to the Panchayat or the Vidyalaya Shiksha Samiti to take care of all expenses? Yes, that would work.”

Posted by: Indra at 08/20/2008 @ 9:37 am for entry Bihar- what is there to write?

Comments from patnadaily.com:
I would like to join issue with you on this.

Indeed, Nitish Kumar is not as business friendly as one would like him to be. However, as CM, he is entitled to his views. After all, he will implement the policies that he believes in, not what you are I will like him to. Also, he is privy to the ground situation much more than what we who are outside Bihar are. As the saying goes, politics is the art of the possible. Maybe he feels if he pushes the business agenda harder, the situation may break down.

The changes that have come about in Bihar in the last three odd years cannot be dismissed. Kidnapping is much in control. Law and order situation is very much better. Road condition is much improved. The primary health centres in the rural areas are functioning well. The schemes to provide bicycles to school going girls in rural Bihar is nothing short of a revolution. In the 70’s when I was resident in Patna, people would gape at any lady who would be riding a cycle or a scooter or even a car. I saw scores of girls riding bicycles in rural areas when I recently travelled from Patna to Sultangunj by road.

Indeed there will be problems like the DM putting an RTI seeker to jail or other depressing news. Question is whether we would like to see the glass as half empty or half full. You talk of 685 engineering colleges in AP. But how many of them are producing employable graduates? As an IT guy, I can tell you, there is a definite quality issue with a vast majority of these graduates. A recent study by NASSCOM put the percent of employable engineering graduates at less than 25%. In this scenario, isn’t it heartening that NIT Patna is having near 100% placement?

Indeed, all of us would like to see the pace of change to be much faster. However, let us not get into a negative mood. The first few steps are always the most difficult and the pace of change is much slower. Once the momentum picks up, things move much faster.

I for one am extremely positive about Bihar.

Warm regards. - Thakur Vikas Sinha - Aug. 19, 2008

With all due respect to you Mr. Indra, I am a little surprised by your negative attitude.

I wholeheartedly agree that Bihar has not turned into another Karnataka or Haryana under the 3 years of Nitish regime but do you honestly believe that there is a magic wand that would solve all the problems of Bihar in 3 years?

But that’s besides the point; whatever happened to the tenet of ‘ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country’?

All we do is moan and groan and complain and pass the blame. When was the last time one of us, you included, did anything for Bihar that affected hundreds of lives?

I am a longtime visitor of PatnaDaily.Com and like many others, I am also very impressed with their new design. I liked PD before and I like it even more now. This site is an example of ‘Doing Something’ and taking matter in one’s own hand to make a difference. As far as I can gather, PatnaDaily is owned by some individuals (as mentioned in its recent editorial) and not by the government or a large media house. These people (the owners of PatnaDaily.Com) found a vacuum, visualized the idea, did their homework and put up a web site that all of us are today enjoying, not to mention giving voice to a lot of Biharis.

Super-30’s Abhayanand also comes in mind. They did not complain or whine about the failure of the government, they just went ahead with their idea and the rest is history. These people are the real heroes.

Over the years I have read all of your articles on PatnaDaily and have come to respect you but merely complaining about a failed government would do no good to anyone. I would rather see you fold up your sleeves, jump into some sort of noble project that dramatically changes the lives of the people of Bihar. If we all had that attitude, we wouldn’t be so much dependent on the government. What’s that line in Bhagwadgita - do your work and don’t worry about the result…?

As Barack Obama would say - “Yes We Can”!

With regards. - Aninda Bose - Aug. 19, 2008

Posted by: Indra at 08/20/2008 @ 9:35 am for entry Bihar- what is there to write?

Dear Sir

Just Now I reurned back from Sate Capial - Patna . State capital condition is worst . Now in your 3rd year , You can not always blame last government .

Most probably Major Industrialist Sonalika Tractors has withdrawn its major investment in Fathua -Patna .
Rumours are suggesting that Apollo Hospital which has been recently allocated a huge land piece is not ready to move in . There is no sign of any communication with Nitish Kumar own dear MAX Healthcare . Dr R Thakur proposal to revive Jayprabha Hospital with Rs 800 crores became beurocratic victim . After struggling 2 years senior congress leader from Muzaffarpur recently moved to MODINAGAR ( Near Ghaziabad ) to start World CLass Management School where he has been welcomed my progressive Mayawati .

You can not move in State Capital . Infrastructure conditions is worst in last 20 years .

But , Real Estate prices across the state is roaring - Credit must go with such Police officers who designed a fear of law among criminals . Even after Abhayanand departure , last ADG ( HQ) and present DGP is willing to continue with Abhayanand initiative SPEEDY TRAILS .

But , BIHAR needs huge investments which is lacking too much .

Ranjan

Posted by: Indra at 08/19/2008 @ 7:21 pm for entry Bihar- what is there to write?

Comments on Bihartimes.com

Comments…
DN Gautam, Abhyanand jee and Kishore Kunal are the real gem of Bihar administration. Bihar government has failed to utilize their services for earlier 15 years of rule. If they would have been utilized properly then scene would have been different. Today we are asking that we need Gill or Bedi. It could have been like other states would have been asking that they need Gautam, Kunal or Abhayand.
Hats off to them!!
Chiranjeev Singh
Bangalore

chirjiv22@gmail.com

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You have rightly selected three best of IPS lot in Bihar. As you have mentioned that most of the time you have spent out of Bihar I can tell you being born and brought up and studied in Bihar these are the three whom we too have seen the best in IPS lot in Bihar. During our childhood or school/college days , Kishore Kunal, Abhyanand and DN Gautam were synonym for honesty in police fraternity. I remember when DN Gautam was SP of Rohtas. It was terror among miscreants and anti-social elements. They were shunted during previous regime but again got opportunity in new government. Government should recognize them as role model and reward them. I know Bihar is a place where you can find critics pouncing on them as well with motive of defaming them but Mr. Nitish Kumar should have a deaf ear to such people. Abhyanand has proved himself with fair election (he was the right hand of K. J. Rao during last election), speedy trials, SAP and other welfare activities for public and police officials. Kishore Kunal was given the role to manage religious trusts in Bihar and he has come up fairly well. I was surprised to see some of his ideas and innovations where a chairman can bring up. A hospital, removing ailing mahants and recognizing some of very old temples in Bihar can be some of his good examples. I was surprised to see a discovery by him about Mundeshwari Temple at Bhabhua as one of the oldest temple of eastern India. How cum historians and ASI was not able to popularize this. Kishore Kunal and tourism department in coordination can bring Bihar on India’s tourism map. Biharis are proud of these biggest three.

Sarvesh

Bihar

sarveshk@gmail.com

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Very very thanks for this wonderful article by Indra R Sharma sir who himself most probably first Bihari IItian and graduated in 1961 and served many manfacturing industry and widely travelled across the globe .

His personal appeal as well request to two senior police officers as well as one ex-police officer is very true . Regarding his personal appeal to spread English as communication tool among primary students of Bihar is need of hour . Once I came to know that , Sri Abhayanand approached one retire IAS officer to guide his Super 30 achievers in IIT on English language . And Many of his students get benefitted during thier IIT life . So , Abhayanand Sir not only helped them to crack IIT JEE but also take care his students other needs in this corporate era . When Anand Mahindra put his desire to meet this Super cop in his one visit of Bihar - Sri Abhayanand just made a simple request to have exposure of Industrial & Corporate world for his students admitted in IITs .

Like Kishore Kunal , the whole world has started hope Sri Abhayanand as next Messiha in education sector . The tough fight by Kishore Kunal managed Mahaveer Trust to Bihar unmanaged & poor medical services is an example and similarly Sri Abhayanand guided Super 30 become a major threat to coaching walas . They both came with a very simple formula of success which may be copied across the state .

Its very simple , In the era of Internet - Many Non Resident Bihari can come forward to guide brilliant students in ENGLISH once they admitted in good technical institutes . Here Bihartimes.com can take a lead to identify such Gurus and who can guide better than Indra R Sharma Sir - a best chance to serve our own motherland .

–
Ranjan Kumar
Asst. Professor
JSS Mahavidyapeetha
Mysore-Ghaziabad .

ranjan.kumar@gmail.com

Posted by: Indra at 08/06/2008 @ 10:13 am for entry My Expectations from Bihar’s Biggest Three