Sudhirjee, Fool Bihari or Fooled Bihari? I think the latter is more appropriate. In an open loop democracy, the public has no immediate tool to counter with and control its elected figures, the responsibility of political figures are much more in care taking. If they do not look and come to help in uneven situations, what can public do instantaneously except gaining improvement in circumventing difficulties? And to teach lesson in long run is also not effective. The common people keep their brain like a blackboard (Siletia Dimag) for political affairs. Every politician understands it, and during election they come in succession to write and erase whatever they like. So much more voting is done in confusion under different curfews on thoughts of the voters. So they usually fail to teach lessons. In nutshell, they forget their pains of past and neglects faced so far. Also it's impossible to fix this problem totally by making public fully aware of it. The majority of people in selection board (Public) in democratic election is usually inferior to candidate. Perhaps that's why people fail to choose the right candidate. So I think political figures should comply with standard norms of the political responsibilities.

Flood is a chronic problem of Bihar. It takes many lives every year and people forget after that. Sky picnic is essential to remind the public in the next election about their concerns. Dead bodies are not going to vote or affect their election plan. Reaching Delhi bring their lives back to normal with “Biriyani and Chicken Pulao.” It's true as 'Jis na pair me phatee bebayee wo kaya jane peera parayee (Only the bearer best knows where the shoe pinches).

It's complete failure of of planners that Bihar faces and looses everything in flood. It seems like joke that Baandh normally breaks during flood. Why not they make it with better technology? Every government knows that flood will come but what about its pre preparation? Nothing.

So if the government likes to get permanent solution, it needs to search solutions in technical framework with a priority.

Regarding caste based anything, the concept will survive till the caste survives. The concept of caste in our country is first personal then social. The concept is getting attack from social side and is recurring again with social face. If its personal existence is cracked, it will be expelled out completely. Until concept of caste exists nobody can stop its use as a political tool. I think promoting inter-caste marriage will be one of the best steps to take out concept caste from mind of people. - Dr. Rajkishore Prasad, Research Fellow, Japan - Aug. 7, 2007

Dear Dr Sudhir

It was really a very good article on Bihar - our motherland. There is no iota of difference in what you think and million of intelligentsia from our state think. There is no dearth of people whose hearts bleed for Bihar. But when it actually comes to doing something, there is no one. This is what the rotten politician in our state are taking advantage of. (With due respect to the honest ones - I do not know whether such a class exists or not). Whom do we blame? The debate is endless.

Let us remind ourselves that once it was the best administered state in the country. The politicians of the soil have done a brave work of making it worse over many decades. The rot now pervades all spheres of our life. The time needed to put it back on track is going to be very painful and long as well. There is no magic solution to any problem in Bihar. It is only the common people of Bihar who can bring about the change. This needs awakening, Renaissance!

There are three kinds of people when it comes to situation like Bihar. (Correct me if I am wrong).

1. Faced with difficult times they try to bring about changes, fight with the system. Some make compromises during this journey and change themselves and stop fighting. Others (very few though) continue this fight and bring about the real change. They are the true leaders of the society. We do not have one at the moment in my opinion.

2. Another group knows what they want in life and what they are not capable of doing i.e. bring about the change in the society so they leave the place in search of greener pastures. We form this part of the group.

3. The third group which forms the majority are very suggestible with a short term memory and gullible at the hand of politicians and this is the one which is always at the centre of trouble. They are the ones who need grooming and good political leadership.

Look at the socio-economic and political situation of Bihar. Ridden with utter unemployment, extreme poverty, highest rate of illiteracy, very big divide between rich and poor. Rich have become heartless, .exploit the poor and treat them as scum of the earth. (Well not all of them but they are rarity). The political parties are proud of their leaders with a criminal track record. If you look at all the elected members of the Assembly - most of them have got criminal backgrounds. They are the ones making legislation for Bihar.

If you say it is the people's fault because they chose their representatives, where is a sensible alternative for them? How can you then actually blame the people? The vested politicians have systemically eroded the conscience of Bihar. It will take a long time to build it up and build up Bihar from scratch. More importantly, it will need son of the soil who can lead the state to glory. - Dr Rakesh Ranjan, UK - Aug. 9, 2007

Discussion on this topic is now closed.