Is Maharashtra only for Marathis?

Also Read " Letter to Editor, Outlook Hindi"

What type of nationalism are Mr. Bal Thackrey’s Sainiks preaching? Nationalism of regionalism or regionalism of nationalism? Recent upsurge of anger against Biharis in Assam and Maharashtra is certainly not showing a good sign of national integration. The national disintegration starts on the background of alienation. This alienation was so much felt when I was shocked while listening All India Radio news at 9 p.m. dated 24th November; news reader commenting ‘Bihar Again!’ while talking to Alok Mehta, Editor, Hindi Outlook in the context of CAT paper leakage case. This simple comment shows as if previous day Assam-Bihar conflicts were based on the corruption and only Bihar were a corrupt state! The attitude and tone of the news reader reminds me of a jubilant child who have caught his mate doing wrong things while ignoring the misdeeds of his other mates like Telgi in Maharastra and various other mates in Punjab and other parts of India.

Even public, especially in Delhi, are used to gossip about corruption only when it involves Bihar or a Bihari. They seldom discuss when more serious corruption cases occur in other parts of India. Even worse, in the IIM paper leakage case, the responsible persons are from Patna while forgetting it was the management that should be considered more responsible for this type of happening. And certainly, the management or organizing board was outside of Bihar. The main focus of the debate was “persons belong to Bihar” rather than leakage of CAT paper itself. This type of attitude among matured personalities and intellectuals could be seen or felt as much more usual. This is a ‘Nation in Making’ !

Also Read " Letter to Editor, Outlook Hindi"

Even media, especially electronic media and some particular newspapers leave no stones unturned in reporting, even sometimes unimportant, incidents as if to show only the bad side of Bihar : So, murders occur only in Bihar!, Rapes take place only in Bihar!, Even road accidents occur only in Bihar! Every wrong thing is happening only in Bihar! I have been a regular reader of main English newspapers for almost 18 years, and have found, in many instances, media is hell bent on damaging the reputation of Bihar. I have rarely found any state news being given so much prominence when something wrong has occurred in that state vis-à-vis Bihar. Thanks God, Munish Dalal (of Nisha Sharma’s Dowry case) was not from Bihar as media reports suggest!

Some one says that this upsurge of anger against Biharis is taking place because Bihar, I mean Bihar Government is not doing any Development works in the state? Is underdevelopment or development a criterion to support the view of restricting one person to go to other states? Punjab, Gujarat and some other states are developed. But why do the people from these states come and settle in Delhi? Many central institutes are opened by the Government of India, but not in Bihar. The reasons may be anything. “It is Bihar Government’s failure” echo Central Government and other non-Bihari common people. Is Bihar outside of India or is it independent country? As a part of union of India, is the central government not responsible for the making of Bihar? The students from Bihar go to other states for the better education merely because so many good institutes of central government are in other states. There is no a single Central University or  IIT in Bihar! While so many distinguished lecturers and professors from Bihar are teaching in the Institutes of other states, they hardly find any good ones in their own state. Even proposed National Institute of Science does not cover the state of Bihar. I could not see the logic of Central Government to choose Orissa as one of the proposed National Institute of Science while ignoring the more prestigious college , Science College, Patna. Is it wrong if Bihari students go to other states? A few years back, Delhi Government had tried to impose restriction for outsiders (read Biharis) forgetting that Delhi University is a Central University!

Also Read " Letter to Editor, Outlook Hindi"

It is commonly understood that politicians, everywhere talk more during the election time, and work less during the ruling time. This phenomenon is prevalent almost in every political party and state. Is central or national leadership not responsible for this? The poor have no jobs in Bihar. They go to Assam, Punjab, Maharashtra and some other states for earning their livelihood. They are not going to another country ‘Assam’ or ‘Maharashtra’. Is Maharashtra only for Marathis? Dear sir-  Hon’ble President of India and Chief Justice of India- are you aware of this? Please adjudicate the matter asap.

(Note: This article is written by Pawan Kumar Jha on November 28, 2003. Reproducing this article without permission of author is illegal. The author can be contacted by E-mail: pawankumarjha@yahoo.co.uk )   

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Letter to Editor, Outlook Saptahik (Hindi), New Delhi

Date: 4 December, 2003

Mr. Alok Mehta

Editor

Outlook (Hindi) Saptahik

AB-6, Safdarjung Enclave

New Delhi-110029 

Subject: Objections regarding Bihar related reports in the 8 December, 2003 Issue of Outlook Saptahik

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Dear Mr. Mehta, 

This letter is in regard to some objectionable reports about the people of Bihar in the 8 December 2003 Issue of Outlook Saptahik. 

First, the headline of the front page reads as “Assam se Mumbai tak Pit-te Bihari aur UP ke Log” . The sentence and photograph is very provocative. This will inculcate in the young minds of Bihari people a sense of rebellion. In the time of conflicts, you should preach the one-ness of India rather than fanning out the passion of certain regions of the country. The media is called the fourth Pillar of Democracy. Has this pillar no any responsibility towards the making and unity of the Nation? I was very disturbed when I  went through the reports and I have no any doubt that the reports will create the feeling of disenchantment with the Country as a whole, at least by Bihari people. 

Recently, only in the states of Assam and Maharashtra, there were reports of  anti-Bihari feelings, but in the reports, the attempt has been made to include the past and even future trends  of anti-Bihari feelings in various states while giving their own opinions by your reporters. These reports are written in such a way as to show only one side of the whole story blaming Biharis and Bihar Government for the state of these affairs.  

It is true that Bihar is under developed and state government is lax towards the process of development. But this underdevelopment should not be the criterion to despise the people of other states if they go to another states for their livelihood as the reports reflect. Mr. Bal Thackrey calls himself a patriot. But the patriotism for which- Maharashtra or India? If this happens, it means people are narrow minded and the people like you and Bal Thackrey encourage this trend through media. I can not understand Bal Thackrey’s views. Is Mahrashtra only for Marathis? If it is so as the views of Mr. Thackrey and the reports in Magazine suggest, then why do not you people suggest the Parliament to divide the Union of India into so many independent Countries with provisions of passport and visa? Only then, Thackrey’s soul would be satiated. 

Caption in one of the photographs in the reports is provocative. The reports are presented in such a way that these clearly reflect the anti-Bihari attitude of the reporters themselves. In the profession, this type of things should not happen, otherwise people like me will have a second thought about the goodness of the Media-Intellectuals. Reports say that even middle class Bihari people go to Punjab by referring hundred Bihar cadre of IAS or other posts.

I could not see the logic of your reporters. Is Punjab or any other state a separate country? If even middle class people go to Punjab through various posts, is it crime? If it is so, then what is the status of India?  Is it a country? Highlighting these and other reports about Bihar population in other states only show a tendency of biasedness against Bihari people. After independence, States were created (read demarcated) only for the suitability of administration and not for anything else. To claim some particular regions as their own is very ridiculous. Does Mr. Bal Thackrey have any sense of nationalism? 

In the aftermath of partition, many people from Pakistan came and settled in Delhi. That time, there was no any hue and cry. In due course, Delhi has become of Punjabis! This feeling is reflected in one sentence of the reports- ‘Original people-Punjabis’, Are Punjabis original Delhiites? If these people had come and settled and after sometimes began to claim Delhi as their own- is it not ridiculous? Have Bihari people, by virtue of being in their own country, no any rights to live and settle in the Capital if the situations so arise? 

The reports highlighted about the bad condition of Roads, health and other ills of Mumbai and Delhi due to presence of large number of Biharis. This is only one side of the concerns. It is true that very large number of Bihari laborers are in Delhi and Mumbai. But these laborers are engaged in the construction of houses of Delhiites (read non-Biharis to satiate your soul) and Marathis, construction of flyovers, roads and other infrastructure of Delhi and Mumbai. So to blame poor Bihari laborers for the bad civic amenities of the cities reflects the failure of respective municipalities and state governments towards discharging their duties. Only Delhi and Mumbai are not populous cities. There are many more populous cities around the world and the concerned cities should take lessons from them how to manage and keep the cities clean. So, giving the arguments by quoting respective leaders of the so called developed states and highlighting only those views in your reports-does not it smell biasedness? Through these writings, you people want to encourage so called developed states to despise the Bihari people which is not a good sign. The dignity of an individual or a community is more important than selling the magazines in the market through writing provocative headlines to attract the customers.  

By highlighting the views of anti-Bihari feelings of particular leaders, you people are misusing media through your magazine for the intended purposes. You people are forcing the Bihari people to call themselves ‘Biharians’, not Indians.

 

Yours truly, 

(Pawan Kumar Jha) 

Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer

(FITT), 

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016

E-mail: pawankumarjha@hotmail.com 

 


(Note: I did not get any response from Mr. Alok Mehta till date.)                                                top


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November 28, 2003
FITT,IIT Delhi
 Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016