Simple Things We Can Do to Improve Bihar

by Awadhesh Prasad
Canberra, Australia

January 25, 2006

Since the change of the Government in Bihar after the last general election, hopeful, optimistic and enthusiastic Bihari lovers, sympathisers, readers and writers have been suggesting numerous things, the new Government must do to improve the lot of Bihar. Of course these things are necessary and should be done by the Bihar Government. But there are many simple and small things which we could do ourselves even being outside Bihar in India or overseas, which will go a long way in improving the lot of Bihar. These things do not even require monetary resources. But these require a lot of paradigm shift and change in attitude. If we really want Bihar to attain its potential and compete with other states, we should do simple things such as.

1. We should stop asking fellow Biharis what caste he/she belongs to. Is not it enough to belong to Bihar; or for that matter to India? The very fact that even knowing some one belongs to Bihar, asking for one’s caste is propagating the illness which paralyses Bihar. Yes, it is a fact that being overseas is not a guarantee that the fellow Bihari will not ask your caste or try to know it otherwise. It is sickening to realise that while we denounce casteism as one of many evils besieging the Indian and especially the Bihari society, we ourselves propagate them. The associations like RANA (Rajput Association of North America), KANA (Kayastha Association of North America) and many others which I do not know of are cases in point. What are we trying to achieve here, on one hand propagating these divisions and on the other denouncing the common man and the politicians who try to take advantage of such divisions?

2. We should actively discourage our relatives and friends back in Bihar to resort to cheating in exams to get better grades and especially to bribe or do any sort of pairwi to secure a job or promotion or any official grant. It does not help any one denouncing the politicians like Lalu for the fodder scam and encouraging relatives to pull the levers of power by money or any inducement for job or any government or public benefit. We must not forget that it always takes two to corrupt and get corrupted.

3. We should reiterate our belief and ask our relatives to reiterate theirs in the infallible “Satyayamewa jayate – Ultimately the truth will prevail”. No, it’s not a big talk; it’s just doing the right things we all must do. Be it the studies, job or anything else, one will succeed if one has the merit and the confidence in one self. Despite all the prophecy of doom and gloom one thing must stay its course that is “Satyayamewa jayate”. The democracy and its result of the last general election should be an eye opener for all of us and prompt us to reinforce our confidence in the righteousness, principles and in our abilities. We must insist and if necessary force these time invariant principles on our relatives and youngsters we know of in Bihar. I for one know how much they need to be reminded of these simple yet ultimate truths in life.

4. Last but not the least we must reach out to all fellow Biharis wherever they are to unite them for the good cause of the development of Bihar, but start contributing to the cause even without others coming on board like doing simple things in our family.

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