All the pictures splashed across all the newspapers and television
channels of Biharis getting bashed up ruthlessly has become a common
feature and no longer evokes a shock or a feeling of disbelief. Yes,
it raises a lot of questions. And all the questions coagulate
towards a single question and that is "WHY BIHAR"? (including
Jharkhand)
In the 1950s, Sir Paul Appleby visited India. He was an expert in
public administration and came to India on an invitation by Pandit
Nehru. He went on record to say, "Bihar is the best administered
state in India and in the time to come it will become an example for
other states". Alas! Bihar lost out midway. It is high time to give
it a thought and evaluate, why and where did we lose our way?
We gave the first president to India and that doomed us. Since then,
we started considering ourselves as "INDIANS" and not "BIHARIS"
or "JHARKHANDIS". But the "REST OF INDIA" did not think the same
way. For them, we were and continue to be only Biharis, very
different from the rest of Indians.
Out if the feeling of the same "INDIANNESS", we gave for free our
rich mineral wealth to the rest of India so that their industries
can run. It was like giving our family gold or milk-giving cow to
them because we thought that they were our brothers. They took all
the minerals and despised us… hated us more and more as the time
passed.
Had we sold these minerals directly to European countries or China,
we would have been richer than Kuwait or any other country in the
world and the rest of India would have come to Bihar seeking work.
The constant and unrestricted drain of minerals is like allowing the
parasites to suck our blood... to let the traitors rape our women
and helplessly watch them having the last laugh. This was "Freight
Equalization" Policy which cheated us of our wealth and left us high
and dry.
Whenever it came to regional development, some states held the
country on ransom. They threatened and blackmailed India of
secession and in turn made the centre bow down before them and
fulfill their demands. They therefore, got the maximum benefits.
Perhaps, they have always been lucky to have powerful regional
leaders which unfortunately, Bihar has always lacked.
Punjab dangled the same threat in the 50s and the dam which was to
be built on river "Kosi" went to them as "Bhakra Nangal" project.
Biharis again sacrificed for the sake of India… for their Punjabi
brothers. But this sacrifice was not honored. The terrorists killed
innocent, defenseless and hapless Biharis in 80s who had gone to
Punjab to eke out a living for themselves.
The land of North Bihar is so fertile that we would have become
the "Rice Bowl" of the world. The "Green Revolution" which should
have happened in Bihar happened in Haryana and Punjab.
Has any state valued our sacrifices?
We kept dying of HUNGER, POVERTY, FAMINE and FLOODS but still voted
on caste lines. For us, the most important issue was being a Rajput,
Bhumihar, Yadav, Muslim, etc. But remember, the world always thought
of us as "DISPICABLE BIHARIS" who need to be wiped out of the map of
India.
Out of caste considerations, we kept on giving leaders like Laloos,
Rabris, Pappus, and Shahabbuddins and ensured that we disappear from
the radar of development.
The rest of India was too happy to see all this because out of our
destitution, we provided them very cheap labor which could run their
mills, build their homes, work in their fields, look after their
cattles, carry them on cycle rickshaws or rickshaws pulled by human
beings, and still tolerate their ill-treatment which they have
always meted out to Biharis. It started with "BIHARI" becoming an
ABUSE and this kind of treatment meted out to Biharis gradually
started giving rest of India a "PERVERSE PLEASURE"
Suddenly now, this despicable Bihari who was best fit to be at his
feet has started giving "COMPETITION" to the rest of India. Years of
struggle has hardened a Bihari and made him very competitive. This
has unnerved everybody. The violence which we now see against the
Biharis is a "NERVOUS REPRESENTATION" of the rest of India because
somewhere in their heart of hearts they know that they cannot
compete.
We always gave preference to "CASTE" while electing our leaders who
have always lacked "VISION". They have empowered themselves rather
than empowering the people of ill-fated Bihar. We have always lacked
a good regional leader of stature who could defend the needs of
Bihar. Had the then politicians put their foot down on the issues
like Kosi river or freight equilisation policy, Biharis would have
never migrated to other parts of the country to seek jobs. We now
need leaders who can not only restore our wealth but also
our "PRIDE".
It is important for every Bihari to realize that unless and until we
build our own home (Bihar), we will never have our pride anywhere
outside.
Dear Biharis, it has been enough now. We have suffered a lot… we
have been exploited a lot… we have tolerated all forms of atrocities
in the past sixty years. Our pride is at stake. Now, the time has
come to stand up and intensify our struggle to regain the respect
and dignity which we deserve in India. Let us start making our
efforts very much in the positive direction to build a new Bihar.
Let us create a people's movement to bring about a change... Let us
act now for the resurgence of Bihar.
AGAST ANAND.
Email: resurgenceofbihar@ ...
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of
others." - Mahatma Gandhi.
Dear All,
Changing Bihar needs a total revamp of socio-economic and political
system. Relying only on the politicians will not at all help us in
our mission because the entire system is currupt and rotten. We have
experienced it in the past 60 years. Only a "People's Movement" can
bring about a change. The people of Bihar ought to be made aware of
the whole scenario.
My plan is to:
1 Distribute thousands of pamphlets, mainly in rural and semi-urban
Bihar. containing the facts to inspire people to go for a change. It
had happened during our freedom movement too.
2. Hold public meetings to create awareness specially in schools and
colleges targeting the youth because this movement is aimed at
securing their future only.
3. Create groups of folk singers to spread the message of BIHARIYAT.
4. Send the emails to all the Biharis across the globe for their
support.
5. Encourage visionary and progressive young men and women to enter
into politics so that they can bring about about a change.
I request you to share your views on this. I also request you to
mail my article to more and more Biharis. It will also be nice if
you could arrange some meetings in Delhi or Patna or any other part
of the country so that I can address the people on this issue and
seek their help in this movement.
Looking forward for your response.
Regards,
Agast.
Email: resurgenceofbihar@ ...
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the
service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi.
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