All NRBs are not in position to invest in Bihar because there are NRBs who are being butchered in Assam and then there are some who get raped in UP and are forced to return to Bihar. There are also NRBs or NRIs of Bihari origin who are doing some job on monthly salary in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, USA etc. How can these people think about investment in Bihar, carrying on with their own lives must be quite hectic? No need to issue general statement on behalf of all NRBs such as they are fools or intelligent. Those NRBs and NRIs who are capable and see business sense in investing Bihar will invest irrespective of your advice about Bihar. Good entrepreneurs are not supposed to be followers; they are supposed to be leaders. It will be really unfortunate if entrepreneurs start taking decision based on examples set by politicians, babus and their relatives. Business is not Charity, neither at home nor outside!!

True entrepreneur will always say, "Please, Follow Me, Sir". Only follower will say, "Please, After You, Sir".

Bihar does not belong to only politicians and Babus, Bihar also belongs to common Biharis. Forget about NRBs, over 8 crores of Biharis are making their living in Bihar. If your logic is followed then all these Biharis should leave Bihar and there should not be any Bihar. There is constant campaign against Bihar, those who are capable and are getting carried away by such campaign should ask themselves if they are damaging their own business interest by having bias against Bihar.

Anyway today while presenting Railway budget Laluji has shown what a Bihari politician can achieve. Some 15 to 20 people were shouting on his face but nothing was heard accept Laluji’s profit of 20000 crores without increasing fare for last 4 years!! - Shiv Shankar Sharma - Feb. 26, 2007

I have been reading comments from many NRBs on PatnaDaily.Com and I fully respect their views. However, I am a little perplexed by the high level of expectations that they hold when it comes to change in Bihar.

It seems every NRB group has a different agenda. One group appears to be interested only in catching the killers of Prof. Papiya Ghosh while another group is only interested in making sure Bihar has an IIT and an IISR. Yet another group is largely concerned with road conditions in Bihar (be it Patna or Gaya or Siwan) while yet another group wants the government to set up an international airport in Patna. A few years ago, a very emotionally charged up group was setting up web site and collecting donations to help the family of Satyendra Dubey, the slain IIT engineer. This group is by and large silent on the murder of Prof. Ghosh as if somehow one life is more valuable than the other. The same mistake is being committed by those who want justice in Papiya Ghosh case by ignoring the fact that many other people have also been killed since the gruesome murder of Dr. Ghosh and the police also has a responsibility to catch other killers as well.

My intention is not to somehow undermine the brutal murder of Prof. Papiya Ghosh or Satyendra Dubey. One can't help but feel for the victims' families and friends. However, the state police has hundreds of murder cases in their hand not to mention other crimes being committed against the ordinary citizens of Bihar. The government also has to deal with other issues (check out the news in pictures section of PatnaDaily.Com; you'll see everyone is staging dharnas and rallies to reflect their own 'pressing needs').

People tend to forget that Bihar government's job is not just to keep the NRBs in good humor but also to deal with issues that is faced by hundreds of thousands of people who, unlike most of us here on this message board, have no choice but to live and rot in Bihar. Most NRBs live comfortably in America, Middle-East, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Australia and other places and visit Bihar only occasionally. Yet, it seems they expect the Bihar government to drop everything else and tend to their needs when they visit their home state or when it comes to their demands. What about the millions of people in the state who get only 4 hours of drinking water each day in their houses, or frequent, prolonged power cuts in each area? What about the corrupt officials that suck innocent, not-so-powerful people's blood on a daily basis? What about the Naxal issue? What about robberies, attacks on jails, escape from police custody; frequent loss of lives because of speeding vehicles; extortions?

The list is endless and the government has only limited resources to deal with each issue while also keeping the NRBs in good humor.

I wish people would quit imposing their personal interests and priorities on the government - at least for some time. Most of us believe Nitish Kumar is doing his best to improve conditions in Bihar; now we should leave him alone for a while and let him restore some sanity in the state that was pushed into a dark, deep abyss by the previous rulers. Changes cannot be brought overnight. As long as the government is genuinely (emphasis on 'genuinely') trying to rebuild the state and not engaging in corrupt practices like the last government, I am sure Bihar will once again rise to the top and NRBs will not mind returning to their home state. It will take time but it will happen, I am confident! - Rohit Narayan - Feb. 26, 2007

Response To Mr Sharma & Mr Narayan

Dear respected Sirs,

I will not demean the millions of Biharis who DO live in Bihar & I was in no way claiming that Bihar needs to change in the hope that NRBs will return in flocks to invest in Bihar but investments by NRBs can be in many different ways that the govt (& local Biharis) have to accept.

The best example that I can give you both is that of Kerala. When I was in college, I came across many Keralites who were going to the Gulf to work and all that money was re-channeled to build houses, apartments and businesses. The govt on its part also gave them permits (without bribes) and the infrastructure that was needed to get these projects going. So Mr Sharma & Mr Narayan the whole society gets to enjoy the fruit from the NRIs money that was returned to that state not just the remitter. In Bihar, unfortunately there is no sense at all of safety (personal & property) and so any person with even a little sense of business would rather invest it somewhere else rather than have to deal with the uncertainties of Bihar.

Yes I will agree with both of you that the Nitish govt has done a lot to correct what the previous govt screwed up & my accolades go to the CM for his efforts. Mr Narayan, you seem not to see the real picture of these Dharnas (some are legit) which is organised by some 'Party' or other because I saw a dharna/procession against the Shilpa Shetty case which made me laugh since if you had interviewed all the participants I will bet that half of them did not know what the whole episode was all about (Save me the retort of National Pride - we have to be proud of being a Bihari first).

And Mr Sharma, you putting Prof Ghosh & Mr Satyendra Dubey's murder as commonplace just contradicts your statement that NRBs need to look at the plight of the locals sounds like these murders were of no consequence (not that the locals getting murdered is not significant) but you lost a scholar & a high ranking executive who were actually doing something for the GREAT STATE OF BIHAR and then you say NRBs should ignore such murders (It hurts more when the victim was someone VERY CLOSE to you - yes I personally knew Prof Ghosh). - Johnny Chiang - Feb. 27, 2007

Mr. Chiang, you are evidently reading way too much between the lines. Your response appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to what Mr. Sharma or I wrote.

While I cannot speak for Mr. Sharma (even though I think you unintentionally referred to me as Mr. Sharma in your last paragraph), I already said that my intention was not to belittle or undermine the ghastly deaths of Dr. Ghosh and Mr. Dubey. Any type of killing of innocent citizens is reprehensible and must be condemned by all. However, it is you who seem to believe that murder investigation should be based on one's social standing. For your information, I also knew Papiya Ghosh in one way. I knew her because she was only two years senior to me while I was in Patna College. I was also an avid reader of Junior Statesman where both Dr. Ghosh and her sister Tuktuk Ghosh used to send their articles on a regular basis. I was as much stunned and pained by her sudden, brutal death as you or Mr. Bakshi or many of her thousands of admirers were.

Do you think the murder death of a, let's say for the discussion sake, newspaper hawker on Patna Junction deserves any less attention than Papiya Ghosh or Satyendra Dubey? That vendor also had family and loved ones and they also think their case should be the number one priority for the police. Just because you don't know the victim personally does not in any way lessens the brutality of crime against less-privileged people.

Yes, I know that most of the dharnas/rallies (as depicted in the news pictures) are mere waste of time and even laughable, as you rightly pointed out in your Shilpa Shetty example, but try to tell it to those who are holding dharnas. The government still has to allocate resources to deal with them irrespective of the legitimacy of their demands.

Furthermore, my comments were not about Papiya Ghosh or Satyendra Dubey per se. I was merely talking about the attitude of various NRB groups carrying varying chip on their shoulders while expecting the government to quit everything else so it could take up the NRB's cause. The state government has limited resources and it has to allocate it in a very judicious manner. That's all. - - Rohit Narayan - Feb. 27, 2007

Mr Johnny Chiang, please read my comment again before dragging my name in something on which I have not commented at all, check your last paragraph. - Shiv Shankar Sharma - Feb. 27, 2007

This "Which came first, anda or murgi?" debate will, like always, lead to nowhere. If Bihar becomes paradise on it's own steam no help will be needed from the NRBs either ways. So NRBs who want all the great things to happen first in Bihar before they think of investing there can save their breath. If you have guts and feeling of belonging for Bihar, go ahead and do what is needed or else all this wishful thinking and whining becomes "Mungerilal ke haseen sapne".

If our home is dirty and we happen to go to our neighbors house which is clean should we come back and say "Had my house been pink in color, had it faced south, if only it had a garden, if only it had a swimming pool, if only it had been sparkling clean..." I would have cleaned it."

Be like Nitish Kumar and work against all odds if you are tough enough. As they say "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". If you are a softie go ahead and pine for the day when Bihar becomes so good it does not need your help. - Rajesh - Feb. 27, 2007

Sounds like I touched somebody's nerves. First and foremost let me apologise for the mix-up in the comments; I stand corrected. The point I wanted to raise here is that everyone sounds like a pendulum - in one breath you (in general) want the NRBs to invest (or at least think of coming back to Bihar) and in the very next breath you (again in general) you say that NRBs are expecting too much before they come with their hard earned money (as well as knowledge gained in their endeavors outside Bihar).

Well, This question is for both of you - would you invest in ANYTHING that you had no minimum guarantees of even partial success or ROI??? Of course not. I cannot speak for every NRI or NRB but my observation (and I may be wrong - apologies in advance) is that there is not much of a sense of safety in Bihar and thus the exodus of a lot of people who can (apologies again) and want to leave to seek a better place to raise their families and start their businesses somewhere else. Yes I know the response already from you - there are businesses which still carry on in Patna and not everyone is running away and I agree with you partially. This is because the old guard is still holding the fort (e.g. Roshan Bros; J G Carr, etc) but the younger generation sure is leaving fast (e.g. Sweet home's original owners). Also the ones still there are doing business with a sense of fear for their lives (even the not so well known names) since every time they venture out to go to the bank or go home after closing they always have to look around them to make sure they are safe. What kind of state is that?????

In response to Mr Rajesh, I think you answered your own discussion - "If Bihar becomes paradise on its own..." There is a definition of 'insanity' I totally agree with - Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

The story of Bihar over the last few regimes we have had (not the respected Mr Nitish - I have all the respect for what the man is trying to do for Bihar - May God give him the strength and direction to succeed.) - Johnny Chiang - Feb. 27, 2007

To me the definition of insanity is expecting the same results always if the inputs are the same. The circumstances change and so does the outcome. Nitishji has been adjudged one of the best CMs of India. It will be foolish to think that nothing good is happening in Bihar and that Bihar is still stuck in the past. A lot of good work has been done but that is visible to people who visit the state not to people who have seen Bihar once upon a time. The case of Bihar proves beyond doubt that the man at the helm of affairs makes all the difference. Progress is being made and Bihar is improving by the day. Whether you want to help or not is your choice. As I said it is about attachment.

Only a fool will come to invest in a place unsuitable for investment but only the courageous with a sense of belonging will come forward to contribute in social causes to uplift their state. If you want to do business Bihar is still not a great place for it. Perhaps it may not be the most profitable place in your lifetime. However, if you want to help no place is too bad to be helped. In today's materialistic world where parents are abandoned if taking care of them does not make good economic sense, abandoning your state as it is not the best place to do business should not be a great load on anyone's conscience. Why the discussion then? - Rajesh - Feb. 27, 2007

No Mr. Chiang, you did not touch anyone's nerve. We are simply having some difference of opinions, nothing personal. However, you didn't expect no one to response to your views, did you?

Here is the bottom-line: If you are a pure businessman with no emotions attached to your home state or home country, please start your business elsewhere where you feel comfortable and safe. There are many people like you who think along the same line, not that there's anything wrong with it.

However, if you have a shred of feeling for your home state/country, profit and personal safety will become secondary. You may not believe it but even today there are people who are willing to die for their state or for their nation. Surely you don't take them as 'paagal', do you? Rajesh ji is absolutely right. In today's age when people ignore the well-beings of their own aging parents, why would they invest in a sick state like Bihar?

Would I personally invest in Bihar? Absolutely. I don't expect the government to serve me opportunity in a silver platter. A good businessman will find the opportunity even in war-torn places like Iraq or Bosnia or Darfur. They have and they are.

With all the news of corruption and crime, there are people in Bihar who have attained worldwide fame by setting up what is now known as Super-30. And there are more than just one example. These people must be insane, wouldn't you say so?

You also completely ducked my question about equal justice for all regardless of one's social standing. - Rohit Narayan - Feb. 27, 2007

I had not expected this type of bickering to be expressed through PatnaDaily.Com. The real issues are being overlooked. Over the last two days mostly partisan type of comments have been published in response to what had been written by Mr. Bakshi.

I will be grateful if you publish the following:

"Please stop making mockery of the lives that were lost through criminal acts in Bihar in the past and in the present. All lives have value to their families regardless of the economic class of the slain person.

There is no sense of entitlement at play if citizens appeal for justice and generally plea to improve the safety and security conditions. This by no means implies that the government has to drop everything it is doing in order to address one issue at a time. Thank you."

There is no freedom of speech in your medium in case this letter is not published in your journal. I reiterate that I am not making any derogatory comments about any one - I am merely lamenting at the level media has come to in Patna. - Jaya Ghosh - Feb. 27, 2007

I agree with Jaya. Why anything happening bad in Bihar is somehow associated with murder case of Prof. Papia Ghosh. Could we please stop pulling her or Mr. Dubey's name in for every topic of debate on this site.

I also do agree with Shiv Shankar, Rohit and Rajesh's view. If every investor starts thinking like BakshiDa and Johnny Bhai then Bhagwan is the only Malik of Bihar. I visited Bihar last year and found that even though the roads were still not good like 'Hema Malini Ka Gaal', common people were overall showing very positive mood for the effort and initiatives taken for the development of Bihar. The development projects I saw last year in Bihar what I had never imagined it happening in so sort period. Some sort of development projects going on in every part of Bihar.

The good news is, the common Biharis are out of depression mode. You must be in good spirit before you could even think of a fresh start. Every one should be sure before investing a single hard earned penny so Bakshi Dada and Johnny Bhai, please wait for another 1-2 years and then visit Bihar again. By the way, I think Bihar has received enough money from New Delhi to take care of all of it projects. World Bank has rated Bihar good recently. Japanese are coming to invest in Bihar. Patna has been rated much better place to do business then big metros of India. I think, Bihar is on right track. The biggest challenge is to maintain the course.

In recent 'Bihar Global Meet' the honorable vice CM of Bihar, Mr. Modi had promised that very soon Bihar government will be setting up a separate NRB department. The Keralities had done the same to attract investments from larg number of Kerala folks living abroad in Gulf. Nowadays, almost every state of India has such sort of arrangement. We must have it in Bihar too. - Naren Singh, India/USA - Feb. 28, 2007

Discussion on this topic is now closed.