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Bihar - Leading by Example
By Sunny Singh
May 25, 2008 |
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History is
proof, one man can and has turned Bihar around.
It was Mahatma Gandhi who did it in 1917
Champaran movement. A seemingly helpless
population, which meekly submitted to every mean
levy of the autocratic English indigo planters,
rose in revolt as one man under the Mahatma's
magical and courageous leadership. The other one
being the historical 1977 movement of "Total
Revolution" led by none other than the Legendary
Loknayak Jay Prakash Narayan.
Bihar's first independent Cabinet was formed on
2nd April 1946;consisting of two members;
legendary Gandhian Leaders and the makers of
modern Bihar, Bihar Kesari Dr. Sri Krishna Singh
as chief minister and his Close colleague Bihar
Vibhuti Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha; who was
decidedly next to him in the Cabinet and served
as the first Finance Minister; they served in
office continuously until their death.
There was an interesting similarity at the first
independent government at Centre and the first
Independent govt. of Bihar, both had two centres
of power, shared between two sagacious Gandhian
leaders who fought shoulder to shoulder with
each other and were instrumental in the making
of a modern India & Bihar respectively.
At Centre the duo of Pd. Jawahar Lal Nehru (the
first PM) and the "Iron Man" Sardar Vallab Bhai
Patel (next to him in cabinet and first Home
Minister) worked as the two pillars of
government, while in Bihar, the duo of Sri
Krishna Singh and Anugrah Narayan Sinha were in
command. Ironically there were ideological
differences between them sometimes; yet they
were indispensable to each other and the state.
The bond between them was legendary.
These two eminent leaders Sri Babu and Anugrah
Babu were men of unimpeachable integrity and
public spirit. They ran an exemplary government
.An imperious Sri Babu and a very capable
Anugrah Babu complemented each other and made an
excellent pair of popular rulers, enriching
Bihar with wealth and wisdom. While "SriBabu"
(as Sri Krishna was popularly known) was famous
for his brilliance in oratorical presentations
to the masses; his close aide "Babu Saheb" (as A
N Sinha was affectionately called) was known for
his extraordinary administrative skills and the
simplicity and integrity by which he was able to
connect and inspire the masses easily.
While Sri Babu gained popularity through his
blunt movement against the British and was
instrumental in inspiring the masses against the
autocratic British rule; Anugrah Sinha was
handpicked by Mahatma Gandhi among with selected
prominent lawyers of the time, such as Braj
Kishore Prasad (father-in-law of Jay Prakash
Narayan), Rajendra Prasad, Ram Navami Prasad and
assisted Mahatma Gandhi in 1917 Satyagraha
Movement with Deshratna Rajendra Prasad and
became official in charge there.
Rajendra Prasad founded the "Bihar Vidyapeeth"
and as a co-founder Anugrah Sinha gave his
services as a teacher; among his first students
was Young Jay Prakash Narayan. Sri Krishna Singh
joined Rajendra Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Sinha
in the massive Civil Disobedience movement.
The Same duo also served in same capacity in the
first Congress Government of Bihar in 1937 under
the provision of provincial autonomy granted by
British. They resigned from "The Council Of
Estates" (Rajya Sabha) and were sworn in.
However they resigned in 1939 over the issue of
forcefully involving India in second world war
as did all other Indian CMs.
The 1942 movement was vigorously launched
against the British under the tutelage Of Gandhi
and both the Leaders led the movement in Bihar.
Subsequently both the Gandhians were arrested
and sentenced to 19 months rigorous
imprisonment.
Bihar was considered the Best administrated
State in the early years after independence
during their regime and had the distinction of
securing first position in Nation's first Five
Year Plan.
Many Educational institutes in various fields
such as Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities and
Universities such as the nationally recognised
BIT Mesra were established and the agrarian
(agricultural) regions of Bihar were widely
developed. Bihar was among the first in the
nation to posses a state of the art Agricultural
University at Pusa (later named as Rajendra
Agricultural University) and was bestowed with
several prominent Medical Hospitals cum
Institutions. The strategically and economically
important Damodar Valley Corporation project was
conceptualised and the Hydel project on River
Kosi were too completed during that period.
The Mineral Belt of erstwhile United Bihar got
the Industries established with the J.D. Tata's
vision.
While Bihar Vibhuti breathed his last in 1959;
Bihar Kesari Sri Babu made his transition in
1961.
Bihar continue to reap the fruits that are a
cumulative result of the vision and effort of
those great sagacious administrators who changed
the destiny of our nation and our state.
However the subsequent Bihar governments were
not successful in maintaining the administrative
excellence in the State and as a result;
although Bihar was among the first states in the
Country to take up manifold Initiatives and
developmental schemes in its early years; since
1985 it has been preparing a Fiscal deficit
budget.
The later years 1990-2005 did gave Bihar another
leadership pair at the helm of affairs; real
life couple as leaders, unfortunately the State
plunged into the lowest depths of anarchy,
chaos, disorderliness and an absence of
development. The administrative machinery,
institutional establishment suffered an all time
low. The long term results of the present ruling
Combination under Mr. Nitish Kumar is awaited
and it has indeed taken up appreciable measures;
however as the great Loknayak Jay Prakash
Narayan once put it "People must avoid
dependency on anyone else for their upliftment;
once they endeavour to nourish themselves and
their state, they will be taken care of."
Bihar's future is indeed bright and with a right
step in right direction; the state is all set to
achieve what it is worthy of!
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