Impression of Bihar : 2009I spent six weeks in Bihar earlier this year. I had
the opportunity to travel by road to
Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga Vaishali and surrounding areas of Patna. Since my
last visit a
year ago, I must admit I saw some changes for the better, like absence of
refuse on the
roads, construction of sewage system in Kankarbagh and road building in many
parts of
the districts I visited. I must admit that some of he road surfaces on dual
carriageway
that is being built are of European standard. Patna looked cleaner and
somewhat better
than my last visit a year ago.
Nevertheless, there is absolutely no change in the lives if ordinary
Bihari. I was stunned
to see the number of shops everywhere. People just spread a mat on
pavement, put a few
items and sat waiting for customer. It seems as if there is one shop for
each Bihari. It took
three weeks for me to understand the reason for such proliferation. As
there are no job, no
other opportunity to earn a living, people have no option other than to
sell something which is
better than the alternative - begging. Whilst a school kid and growing up
in 50s, I never saw
poors making footpath and pavements their home, where they cooked and
slept as is the case
now. People looked stunted and thin. Children looked smaller for their
age, malnourished and
ill. There being no Highway Code for vehicle drivers, there were
unnecessary traffic jams on
the roads. As a British national, I was refused a Sim card for my mobile;
in England, one buys
a mobile phone with Sim card like Cadbury chocolate, no matter who they
are. Reason for such
restriction was to prevent crime and terrorism. And yet, criminals go
unpunished, terrorists are
never apprehended, let alone prosecute and punish them. So, who is made to
suffer ? A common
law abiding citizen. Similar hardship I encountered when I went to buy a
new Maruti Omni car in
Patna.
Visiting Darbhanga to attend Foundation day and Alumni meet at the Medical
college was a nostalgic
journey. It was there that I became a doctor, spent 7 golden years and met
my wife. I suffered
emotional shock on seeing general deterioration. I was shocked to see my
room in West Hostel - so
dilapidated stained plaster. My colleagues talked about heart, liver,
kidney and brain diseases. And
yet, out of the lecture theatre, 85% people who were poor, needed medical
care for hookworm,
roundworm,malaria, Kala azar, TB.. They needed health education,
importance of hygiene and safe
drinking water. We addressed only 15% of population, 85% remained
unaddressed, untouched. We
must put our priorities right. And wrong priorities are what ails Bihar.
Hardly few thinks about 85% of
poor, deprived, disadvantaged Bihari.
I am sure people will say I live in England, come to Bihar once or twice a
year and just moan and

complain. They will be justified in their complain. They may also say as
to what have I done for Bihar.
Well, just a little. I created two jobs; a driver and a cook for my car and
home. I will be giving four
awards , each of Rs. 5000/-, to four poor and deprived students admitted
to first year MBBS in
Darbhanga Medical College every year. A boy and a girl from Muslim
community and a boy and a girl
from schedule caste Hindu community. This would enable them to buy items
like books, stationary and
clothes. This is the least I could do as a Bihari..


Dr. A. Kumar
Norfolk, England

ajk305@...
 The Above article  represents the ground realities prevailing in our
esteemed home state, a contrast in terms of good development taking off in face
of serious deficiencies.

Realizing why it is not easy to change, although not impossible, is perhaps how
reporting by people like Lord Macaulay hijacked the Indian identity to Western
orientation,  apparently  a  virtue established and deliberately recognized
superior to our cultural roots.
To see the design of our rulers in during Imperial India readers are requested
to go through the following passage, may be once again.

Dr. Kumar qualifies for indeed much applause for his gesture to the people of
Bihar. Thanks to Bihar Times too for  reporting  such inspirational news about
our native state.   

Lt. Col. (Retd.) Bajrang Bihari Singh, HOME: KORLAHIA, SITAMARHI,
BIHAR 843117, 06226-276222 NETARHAT VIDYALAYA: ROLL NO. 60 BATCH 1961-67 ,
ASHRAMS: GAUTAM & VIKRAM 
MOBILE: 91-9871129497 NOBA HELPLINE: 011-27601275


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