BIHAR AND HIGHER EDUCATION July 30, 2008

After a long period of exploitation by its predecessors, Bihar is now rising up from the ashes of backwardness, corruption and vitiated educational condition,thanks to the viable initiative of the current Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar. It goes without saying that many a positive change has, no doubt, taken place here which shows that Bihar is marching ahead on the path of progress almost in each and every field whether education, roads, thus checking the unbridled corruption and so on and so forth. For this Mr. Kumar has won and is still winning the laurel not only in Bihar but outside also for setting the things right on right track.

However, I am of the opinion that a lot of work still needs to be done with positive attitude. In spite of the changes that happened and are still taking place, the condition of college and university education remains the same. Nothing is being done for improving the deplorable and pitiable condition of higher education. No constitution of College Service Commission, no examinations, no appointment of fresh lecturers.

It is sad that not many BET qualifiers have got any appointment as lecturers. It is often reported that a large number of posts of professors, readers and lecturers are lying vacant in colleges and universities since long. But the authorities concerned are not worried at all about all this. If this continues ,the days are not far when all colleges and universities have to see the closure because of paucity of competent and highly qualified teachers. Even today it is very rare to find a competent and well qualified teachers of English except a few ones who, though neglected and unknown inside home, are earning name and fame outside Bihar by writing books after books. Many students with higher degree are getting jobs of lectures outside and they are all proving their mettle .

In view of the above, the Chief Minister of Bihar must improve the poor condition of education , particularly that of higher education by following the way Jharkhand Government conducted Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET NET) for appointment of lecturers to to the vacant posts. In this way, the unemployed youths with sound educational background will get the golden opportunity to show and prove their academic caliber. Government should also develop full-fledged websites for BPSC, College Service Commission (is it really going to be constituted?).

I am hopeful that the Government of Bihar must pay heed to the above points to bring out the radical revolutionary changes even in higher education at all levels.

 

BHASKARANAND JHA

 BASANT,KHARKA,J

ALLEY,DARBHANGA,BIHAR

Nuke Deal: Baseless Oppositions July 30, 2008

The proposed nuclear deal between India and the US has become a big issue of heated debate in the country and caused so much of a hue and cry, thanks to multi-cornered attacks and oppositions coming tough particularly from the Left parties and the BJP, supported by a few small parties that the government was forced to face the trust motion. Fortunately, the government has managed to survive somehow or the other. The simple reason behind oppositions to the deal is that it would hurt the nation more than it would help, as apprehended by Communist Party of India (ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. He described it as ‘anti-national’. As far as my opinion in this regards is concerned, it needs to be reiterated that the Nuke deal is in the interest of the country which needs Nuke Deal to overcome the shortage of fuels for reactors for generation of sufficient amount of electricity which will illuminate the backward and poor states like Bihar. Mr. Lalu Prasad deserves a lot of thanks for supporting the deal, the reason may be whatever. Among the great politicians of the country he has really towered his personality with his support to the UPA government. History has it that the Left parties have always been opposed to introduction of something new in our country for the reasons best known to them. It is to be recalled that even prior to their objection to N-Deal, Left parties in the mid-eighties also had stonewalled the introduction of computers in government offices on the ground that it would lead to massive retrenchment. It is ironical that the Left, which had spearheaded the campaign against computerisation, is now a firm believer in the benefits of technology. Even in days to come, they are sure to bask in benefits of the deal if done. It has also become a great talk of the town. Go anywhere you like but you can’t escape from the heated debate on Indo-US nuclear deal. You will find some people speaking in favour while some ones dead against the deal. On being questioned, I have felt that this category of people can’t satisfy you with their proper and satisfactory reasons. In fact, they are only speaking in the voice of their parties concerned. It is a great pity that without understanding the multidimensional advantages of the the deal all the parties, except a few ones are trying to oppose the deal. As for the BJP, it is quite shameful that they are against it because they think that the Congress Party is going to gain the advantages in the upcoming elections because of the nuclear deal. It is to be recalled that it was the Vajpayee-led NDA government that initiated this deal with the USA but now was pretending to oppose it to score political points in view of the upcoming Parliamentary elections. With the survival of the government it has proved that the deal is in the interest of the country. BHASKARANAND JHA BASANT,KHARKA,JALLEY DARBHANGA,BIHAR

BIHAR: CULTURE AND MANNER July 30, 2008

In the last two-three decades, Bihar, once a well known seat of learning and cultures attracting the people of the world towards its varied richness in various fields, has earned for it a dark and bad name more because of, say, the nefarious deeds of its people earning their livelihood in other states, the economic backwardness, caste-based cruel politics and inactiveness of its people. All these factors have led to inferiority complex in Biharis. What a shame that even a few gentlemen (Biharis) shy of calling themselves Biharis in a talk with so-called educated people of other states.

While living in West Bengal for more than three years what I have observed very closely is that unlike Biharis, the people of other states feel very proud of being the people of their respective states. They never complain to anyone against anything pertaining to their states. What is more, they rather highlight their qualitative features everywhere they live. But we Biharis often talk ill of Bihar so much so that we sometimes hide the fact that we are Biharis. We are often led by inferiority complex. I think that Bihar is defamed more because of our own ill-propagation than all other social, political, economical evils and all other ills gripping Bihar ruthlessly. We should understand that let alone states, everyman is a mixture of good and bad. But what we should do is highlight our goodness and hide our evils. When we do this, goodness is sure to dominate evils, which in due course will no longer be in practice.

In short, let us all Biharis take a strong and determined vow that from now onwards we won’t express our grumbling at anything of Bihar. Nor do we make any complaint to ‘outsiders’ against its social, political and economical problems, which are common more or less in almost all the states of India. On the other hand, we must cultivate the habit of highlighting various qualities, past glory of Bihar. At the same time we should develop civic sense, sense of responsibility and positive attitude towards our state and try to individually give contribution in any way to the all-round prosperity of Bihar. Like the citizens of other developed and developing states, we should dispel the sense of discrimination between he-child and she-child, and be satisfied only with one child whether girl or boy. We should ensure the child’s proper education. We should never resort to the feeling of casteism amongst us, never practice caste-based politics.

Last but not the least, let’s all proclaim with pride that we are the brave sons of Bihar which has given light to others, even to the foreign countries at the cost of darkness in its own home. We have always been giver to the world. We are not the people to be pitied on. Let’s dive into the past glory and bring back the fragments of honour for the sake of our mother state.

BHASKARANAND JHA
BASANT,KHARKA, JALLEY,DARBHANGA

ENGLISH IN BIHAR July 24, 2008

ENGLISH WRITING IN BIHAR
– Bhaskaranand Jha

Indian Writing in English has always been attracting the readers of english Literature written by Indians.It has been an interesting endeavour.But when it comes to the writers of Bihar writing in English we find it diffcult to find out none in particular with wide range of popularity.But the fact is that many a Bihari writer has been contributing to Indian English Literature with their writings which , very unfortunatley , failed to catch the illuminating eyes.
At the very outset I dare to declare with honesty that it is a hurculean task to find single out the writers with outstanding works and highlighting their writings in English in Bihar is even more a complicated job. However I have tried to bring to the notice of the people the valuable gems of English writings which are hidden form their eyes.

It is remarkable that Dean Mahomed, a Bihari , was claimed to be the first writer in English. His Travels (completed on January 15, 1794) was the first book in English by an Indian. Dean Mahomed was by no means the only Bihari to have left his mark on Indian English literature. How can one forget 19th century writers like Avadh Behari Lall, as well as the fact that so many leading Indian English writers and critics today have had something to do with Bihar: Vikram Seth, Meenakshi Mukherjee, Shyamala Narayan. There are, of course, also a few contemporary or recent writers from Bihar who remain quite visible in the English-reading world: Amitava Kumar, Sidhartha Chowdhury, Indrani Aikath-Gyaltsen, and others. That all this is so often forgotten has much to do with the fact that there has been a lack of political will in Bihar to highlight its own literatures and arts, and in particular the contributions of Biharis in English.

Some days back I happened to read a good article published in The Hindu (Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008) bringing to our notice the annual status report on education. According to this report, school children in Bihar have been found doing better in English and Mathematics than students in other parts of the country. It is to be noted that the report was released by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi.In order to dispel the inferiority complex from the mind of the people living in Bihar it deserves to be mentioned here that the first book in English by an Indian was written by a Bihari. This writer was none other than Dean Mahomed who was born in Patna in 1759. His “Travels” (completed on January 15, 1794) was the first book in English by an Indian. But Dean Mahomed was not the only Bihari to have left his mark on Indian English literature. Bihar is the land which is proud to have produced one of the most remarkable English writers in the form of George Orwell whose celebrated book “Animals Farm” needs no introduction . There are, of course, also a few contemporary or recent writers from Bihar who remain quite visible in the English-reading world. Among such Bihari writers writing in English Upamanyu Chatterjee, Amitava Kumar, Tabish Khair, Siddhartha Chowdhury, Indrani Aikath-Gyaltsen are the most remarkable literary figures who have greatly contributed to the Indian English Literature with their literary output and won the laurel as such.Some of the prominent teachers who taught me and did a lot for arousing in me literary and linguistic taste in English language and literature when I was doing MA in English in Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, are now teaching in most renowned universities and institutes of the country and abroad as well. Dr. Pashupati Jha is teaching in IIT Roorkee, and so is Dr. Binod Mishra. Another teacher Dr. Mukesh Ranjan Verma is the Head of Department of English in Gurukul Kangari University. Some, though they have retired, are earning name and fame abroad by teaching English. This is all about English teachers whom I know. Like them, there are definitely a large number of other competent and efficient teachers, unknown to me, who are fetching Bihar a great name and fame.

- BHASKARANAND JHA BHASKAR
BASANT,KHARKA,JALLEY,
DARBHANGA, BIHAR

English Writing in Bihar
Indian Writing in English has always been attracting the readers of english Literature written by Indians.It has been an interesting endeavour.But when it comes to the writers of Bihar writing in English we find it diffcult to find out none in particular with wide range of popularity.But the fact is that many a Bihari writer has been contributing to Indian English Literature with their writings which , very unfortunatley , failed to catch the illuminating eyes.

At the very outset I dare to declare with honesty that it is a hurculean task to find single out the writers with outstanding works and highlighting their writings in English in Bihar is even more a complicated job. However I have tried to bring to the notice of the people the valuable gems of English writings which are hidden form their eyes.

It is remarkable that Dean Mahomed, a Bihari , was claimed to be the first writer in English. His Travels (completed on January 15, 1794) was the first book in English by an Indian. Dean Mahomed was by no means the only Bihari to have left his mark on Indian English literature. How can one forget 19th century writers like Avadh Behari Lall, as well as the fact that so many leading Indian English writers and critics today have had something to do with Bihar: Vikram Seth, Meenakshi Mukherjee, Shyamala Narayan. There are, of course, also a few contemporary or recent writers from Bihar who remain quite visible in the English-reading world: Amitava Kumar, Sidhartha Chowdhury, Indrani Aikath-Gyaltsen, and others. That all this is so often forgotten has much to do with the fact that there has been a lack of political will in Bihar to highlight its own literatures and arts, and in particular the contributions of Biharis in English.

Some days back I happened to read a good article published in The Hindu (Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008) bringing to our notice the annual status report on education. According to this report, school children in Bihar have been found doing better in English and Mathematics than students in other parts of the country. It is to be noted that the report was released by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi.In order to dispel the inferiority complex from the mind of the people living in Bihar it deserves to be mentioned here that the first book in English by an Indian was written by a Bihari. This writer was none other than Dean Mahomed who was born in Patna in 1759. His “Travels” (completed on January 15, 1794) was the first book in English by an Indian. But Dean Mahomed was not the only Bihari to have left his mark on Indian English literature. Bihar is the land which is proud to have produced one of the most remarkable English writers in the form of George Orwell whose celebrated book “Animals Farm” needs no introduction . There are, of course, also a few contemporary or recent writers from Bihar who remain quite visible in the English-reading world. Among such Bihari writers writing in English Upamanyu Chatterjee, Amitava Kumar, Tabish Khair, Siddhartha Chowdhury, Indrani Aikath-Gyaltsen are the most remarkable literary figures who have greatly contributed to the Indian English Literature with their literary output and won the laurel as such.Some of the prominent teachers who taught me and did a lot for arousing in me literary and linguistic taste in English language and literature when I was doing MA in English in Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, are now teaching in most renowned universities and institutes of the country and abroad as well. Dr. Pashupati Jha is teaching in IIT Roorkee, and so is Dr. Binod Mishra. Another teacher Dr. Mukesh Ranjan Verma is the Head of Department of English in Gurukul Kangari University. Some, though they have retired, are earning name and fame abroad by teaching English. This is all about English teachers whom I know. Like them, there are definitely a large number of other competent and efficient teachers, unknown to me, who are fetching Bihar a great name and fame.

BHASKARANAND JHA
BASANT,KHARKA,JALLEY
DARBHANGA,BIHAR

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