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It's Time to Introspect
By Madani
Mohiuddin Ahmad
King Saud University, KSA,Riyadh
Feb. 12, 2008 |
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Even after
separating Jharkhand from the second largest
populated state, Bihar, the ongoing situations
in Maharashtra against the people of Bihar is
bound to stir the minds of millions Biharis. It
is a burning question which is to be answered
not by those people of Bihar who suffered in
Assam or Maharashtra only, but its a question
for every thinking Bihari: why are we being
treated and targeted in a way which is
absolutely unlawful and a threat to the
integrity of the country? A sudden realization
by a common man of Bihar is not a complete
answer. The answer to the question needs a brain
storming exercise and introspection in order to
“Re-Build” Bihar.
Keep apart that Biharis are hard working and a
sizable number of civil services aspirants get
through country’s prestigious UPSC examinations
and we keep our head high by saying that once
upon a time ‘Bihar has been the best
administered state’. A political persona like
Raj Thackeray's comment on ‘Chatth’ with sole
intention to hurt the feelings and humiliate the
millions of people of a particular region;
doesn’t need a certificate to be given by the
people of Maharashtra or an honour to be
bestowed upon him . Else the birth of Dr Bhimrao
Ambedkar on the soil of Maharashtra would have
not been a reality. He was a Buddhist by faith
and the follower of Mahatma Buddha who got
enlightened on the soil of Bihar. A sensible
citizen of the country might keep his finger
crossed and would like to know from Raj
Thackeray that he didn’t say anything against
Buddhapanchami and the modern Gaya of Bihar
which is the Mecca for billions Buddhists. If
so, will Japan or China or any other Buddhist
country will take notice of a comment on
religious matter? To one’s general perception ,
perhaps a big NO. Because Jin ke Ghar Shishe ke
honn, Wo Dustre Ke Ghar Pathhar nahin Fenkhte (A
wise man saves his own house of glass. He
doesn’t stone others).
Biharis need to realize that all roads do not
lead to Rome. Bombay is the financial city of
the country. It is not because of the people of
Maharashtra only; every citizen from across the
country is responsible. National growth and
development and the people’s strength rest with
all-round development and growth of the people
and the country. Why not, then, an another
capital city in Patna or any other city of
Bihar? It's a fact that Biharis will accommodate
all whosoever comes there.
The highest number of immigrants from the
southern states of India are working in all the
gulf countries. Why Keralites or Tamilians or
Telugu or Kannad: was never raised by any Gulf
countries? What comes first is the labour that
is productive and fetches income and results
into growth and development of the region.
Labour is a costly thing anywhere everywhere and
work is a kind of worship. Today’s Taj Mahal
took 20 years and the thousands of lobourers
were not only from Maharashtra or Bihar; the
establishment of TATA Steel Plant, the first of
its kind in the country which got established at
Jamshedpur, no Maharashtrian objected to the
selection of place, and no Bihari then, objected
to TATA’S head office in Bombay.
In view of swift changing and competitive world,
we the people of Bihar need to be acknowledged
to win the race of today; we need to restart the
making of an edifice on which we raise and fix
our own issues. Youngsters flock in to other
states at the cost of their own regional income
and spend it for better education or
opportunities somewhere else only because we lag
behind in many fields as compared to other
states. Something is missing. This something is
a big question in itself but certainly an
ignition key to ignite our thoughts in order to
repair our homeland. We have given much to
others and taken less. It's time to introspect
that how long the darkness will remain at the
bottom of our own lamp? Raj Thackeray’s comment
on ‘Chatth’ is his pseudo-intellectual flimflam
which adds insult to our injury. At the same
time, we introspect and admit that the door is
not wider than our home where I am not an
exception as a Bihari. But an exception proves
the rule. I think humiliation is a bitter
medicine.
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