THE BIHAR

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Dear Friends,

We are delighted to present our Bihar webzine which truly showcases the efforts of our people, for our
people.

It’s an earnest attempt to connect Bihar to world and rest of world to Bihar. Our inspiration and guiding
sources are the greats of Bihar like Ashoka, Chanakya and Lord Mahavira to name a few. We take great
pride in our past and also look forward to usher into Bihar 3.0 which we believe will lead the country and
world at large.

Our webzine truly represents the collaborative, passionate and committed efforts from friends of Bihar.
We aspire to set new standards in our attempt to showcase the best which Bihar has to offer. Inspired by
Constantin Brancusi, Romanian sculptor, quote "Create like a goddess, Command like a queen, Work
like a slave", we believe this effort will strengthen our sincere resolution in scripting a new story of
progressive Bihar and a better world.

Do share your feedback with us, it will extremely valuable in our journey.

Team Bihar


CONTENT
Bihar Society- An introduction..................................................................................................................................... 4

How to connect the fellow Biharis :............................................................................................................................. 7

Want to contribute to this magazine ........................................................................................................................... 7

Want to advertise in this magazine ............................................................................................................................. 7

Editorial Board ............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Dasrath Manjhi - A symbol of Bihari resilience............................................................................................................ 8

Right to education ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Shivnath Singh: the greatest among the Indian athletes .......................................................................................... 12

Nalanda and the pursuit of science ........................................................................................................................... 13

Education sector ........................................................................................................................................................ 17

Babu Kunwar Singh .................................................................................................................................................... 18

Empowering Bihar through renewable energy ......................................................................................................... 19

Bhojpuri Cinema’ a declining phase for lack of patronage. ....................................................................................... 20

Collaboration of “Deswa” and “Brand Bihar” ............................................................................................................ 23

Launch of Blissful Bihar Campaign- The Blissful Bihar desktop calendar for 2011 .................................................... 24

Development of SSI sector in Bihar ........................................................................................................................... 25

U ...................................................................................................................................... 28

[ ............................................................................................................................................. 30

Institution of Facebook youth ICON OF BIHAR by Facebook BIHAR group……………………………………………………………..32

A forgotten temple of Knowledge- waiting for its revival………………………………………………………………………………………33

Seasons – a Poem………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….35

, ………………………………………………….…………………………………………36

PRACHIN BHARAT -Bringing History and Technology together ................................................................................. 37

World Class University & Research ............................................................................................................................ 40

Green Leaf Energy Pvt. Ltd. – an integrated renewable energy company .................................................... 24

Volunteer Jobs………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………43


Bihar Society- An introduction

Bihar Society is a non-profit organization based in New York and promoted by non resident Biharis from all over the
world to promote Bihar interest not only within Bihar and India but also outside India in the International arena.

Bihar Society is inspired by Ashoka (http://www.ashoka.org/), Asia Society( www.asiasociety.org ), Japan Society
(http://www.japansociety.org/), Wikipedia( www.wikipedia.org ), OpenSource, AIF and similar global organizations
that have made a significant impact on the lives of people around the world.

At Bihar Society our goal is to work to strengthen relationships and promote understanding between Bihari and
International leaders, people and institutions. We seek to increase knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage
creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of arts and culture, policy business, and education. In
this pursuit Bihar Society would like to contribute towards making Bihar the Knowledge, cultural, social and
entrepreneurial hub of the world as it once was in yore.

Founded in 2007, Bihar Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution with offices in Patna ( as Karma
Society) Europe, Singapore, New York, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
The symbol of the Asia Society is the the ruins of the Gloripus. Nalanda University which once was the knowledge
capital of the World.

The vision is to make Bihar Society a leading organization both within and outside Bihar on similar line the Asia
Society in Ney Your. Bihar Society wants to become what Asia Society is for Asia on world stage.

It mission is not only to promote the brand Bihar on international level but also to make it a premium Brand which
excites one and all in its own unique way. It also wants to connect Bihar and its stakeholders.

Why Bihar Society ?

After Bihar's darkest days in last few decades, Bihar has been bouncing back in the area of governance. There has
been a surge of political, cultural and economic revival in Bihar and civic society needs a glocal ( Global+Local)
platform to help connect the million mutinies taking place in Bihar and rest of world. Most civic society efforts
have been event focussed or a cause focussed or person focussed. When that person or group goes through
cyclical changes in status those efforts die down. Many times those isolated efforts could have a greater impact if


were orchestrated and co-ordinated via an umbrella organization. Bihar Society can fill that void by emerging a
network of networks (people, orgs and causes) to reap the benefits of synergy.

I am not from Bihar, why should I care ?

If you care about world then Asia is the largest in terms of population and within that India, China and Japan are
the three largest economies and populations. Bihar is the heart, mind, soul of Asia.

a) World's biggest ideas, people and contributions in the area of art,science,culture,religion. In short, much of
India's glorious heritage has origins in Bihar have come from Bihar

Yogasutra of Patanjali
Gautam Buddha of Bodh Gaya
Mahavir (Jainism) of Pawapuri
Democracy by Licchivis in Vaishali
Astronomy (Aryabhatta, Patna
Political Economy (Arthashastra by Chanakya), Patna
Sikhism (Guru Gobind Singh), Patna
Largest Empire (Ashoka) based in Patna
Chandragupta Maurya based in Patna
World's oldest and larges University, Nalanda
India's Freedom Struggle (1857,1947) at Bihar
First President and Father of Constitution, Rajendra Prasad, Jiradei, Siwan
Total Revolution to removed Indira's Emergency by Jai Prakash Narayan, Patna

Hence like all great societies, Bihar has gone from a glorious past to a complete collapse. It has started bouncing
back and the world needs to help it re-emerge

I am already part of many social causes, why should i help or join Bihar Society ?


World's biggest problems also have their epicenter in Bihar

Malaria
Polio
Poverty
Malnutrition
Unemployment
Water
Energy

Who is funding Bihar Society ?

Bihar Society was conceived and started by Atul Kumar with the help of various friends of Bihar who came to know
each other via various online yahoo-groups / mailing lists, events, causes, alumni groups, social and professional
networks and projects. It was also inspired by world class social organizations like Wikipedia, Asia Society,
Ashoka.org, AIF, ...

What will Bihar Society do ?

Become an agent, instrument and platform of Soical-cultural-scientific economic change agents with stake in
Bihar. We will connect ideas,people,money and other resources to each other. We will have city and country
specific chapters besides working groups in areas of Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Water, Energy,
Governance, Industry, Art & Culture etc


How to connect the fellow Biharis :

Please join us on Facebook:

1. Facebook Bihar Communityhttp://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_153744714660549&ap=1

2. Bihar Society Org on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/biharsociety

3. Bihar Society on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=36628&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Want to contribute to this magazine

Please send your artcile to the Editor: Santosh Pandey – email santoshpandeyca@gmail.com

Want to advertise in this magazine

Please send your advertisement to the Editor : Santosh Pandey – email santoshpandeyca@gmail.com

Editorial Board

Editor in Chief - Santosh Pandey ( email: santoshpandeyca@gmail.com )

Blog: http://santosh-pandey.blogspot.com/

Executive Editor - Atul Kumar (email: atultech@gmail.com )

Blog: http://atultech.blogspot.com/

Consulting Editor - Thakur Vikash Sinha (email: tvsinha@gmail.com )

Consulting Editor - Mayank Krishna (email: mayank.krishna@gmail.com)

Consulting Editor - Manoj Pandey ( email: manojpandeycma@gmail.com )

Consulting Editor - Sarvesh Upadhyay ( email: sarveshk@gmail.com )

Consulting Editor - Anirudh Kumar ( email anirudhhcl@gmail.com )

Consulting Tech Editor - Samir Mishra (email: samirmishra@gmail.com )

Design & Creative Editor - Sanjay Prasad ( email: prasadcom2@gmail.com )

Blog: http://www.freewebs.com/sanjayprasad/

Associate Editor - Bhartendu Kumar Das ( email: bhartendu_351@rediffmail.com )

Associate Editor - Vivek Kumar (email: vivek.learner@gmail.com )

Blog: http://visionvivek.blogspot.com/

Associate Editor - Ankit Kumar (email: ankit4jec@gmail.com ),

Editor - Ajit Chouhan (email: ajitchouhan@gmail.com )

Blog: http://coolbihari.blogspot.com/,

Editor Prashant Kumar ( email zimbo77@gmail.com )

Consulting Guest Editor - Mrunalini Chembrolu (email: mrunalini@gmail.com )


Dasrath Manjhi - A symbol of Bihari resilience

the town through his path. It was return empty handed. She could
true that he had taken up this neither fetch water for him to
Herculean task by seeing the quench his thirst, nor could she
shadow of helplessness on his dear save the pot itself. He saw the grief
wife's face, but then wasn't he and helplessness on his wife's face.
already feeling impatient at the Guilt ridden helplessness was
sufferings of his people? The path streaming out in the form of tears
had to be made and he had made it. from her eyes. This image got
He jolted himself to return to the etched on his mental screen.
real world from his dream world and
started to walk to the point where Dashrath Manjhi started to
His eyes were moist with contemplate: My god this hill is
he had started his chiseling. His joy
enchantment as he stood there standing like a mountain in the
knew no bounds as he traversed
watching the road through the pass path of my people for generations.
through the rocky path that he had
without batting his eyelid. Today his This is coming in the way between
created alone. This great soul was
resolve had borne fruit. His resolve our thirst and water. It has to be
Dasrath Manjhi, a resident of the 25
could only be compared with that of removed. He kept thinking for days
house hamlet of Gehlaur in the Gaya
the legendary Bhagirath who on end. His manliness got aroused
district of Bihar. His is a name in the
chiseled the mighty Himalayas to and one day he decided to cut it
tradition of the great saint Kabir
bring the holy Ganges to earth. Then out of the way. He took a vow that
who was also illiterate like
he looked at his palms and started he would not sit idle till he had cut
Dasrath Manjhi and had a great
to ruminate. For the last twenty two a path through the mountain. He
desire to break the shackles of
years, he had been chiseling away at took the chisel and the hammer in
sufferings for the masses.
the mountain single-handedly and his hand and started his expedition.
today his effort had borne fruit. One day a thirsty Manjhi was And thus started the resolve to
Then in a flash his tears of happiness impatiently waiting for his wife to capture the mountain – the
became those of sorrow and started fetch him water from the other mountain of Gilhaur in Gaya
to fall on the rocks in a stream. His side of the mountain. The district. Some people would
mood turned somber as he unforgiving summer of Gaya had ridicule him. Some would look with
remembered his departed wife. It parched his throat dry as the sun utter amazement at his gargantuan
was her suffering that had made beat down mercilessly and he effort to chisel the mountain away.
him take this seemingly impossible anxiously waited for her to fetch But he was not concerned by either
task of creating a path through the the life giving water. She had taken praise or ridicule. He just kept at
mountain all by him. It was she who longer than usual. Then he saw the his work chiseling the mountain
was his inspiration for achieving the silhouette of his wife in the alone. He even shifted his hut near
impossible task. Alas she had passed distance, coming back empty the mountain so that he need not
away before the task could be handed. He asked in a tone of waste his time in moving back and
completed. Perhaps this is what HE hopelessness mixed with surprise forth.
had willed. "Why are you coming back empty
handed? What happened to the After twenty two long years of
Then the stream of tears came to an unbroken effort, he had managed
earthen vessel?"
abrupt halt. The weight of sorrow to dig a pathway – fifteen to
Wife could barely control herself as
on his heart lifted slowly and he twenty feet broad and an amazing
she replied with sorrow written all
started to smile to himself. So what three hundred and sixty feet long.
over her face that she could not
if his wife was not there to savour And this path would reduce the
fetch water for him as she slipped
this moment. His village folks would distance with the nearest town by
and fell down. In the process, the
now traverse 80 km less to reach 80 kilometers. The villagers would
earthen pot broke and she had to


not have to go around the five acre plot. When he met the fighting cancer. He passed away on
mountain to reach Wazirgunj again. Chief Minister of the state August 18 at the age of 80 years.
He was given a state burial by the
This is not the only instance of the Mr. Nitish Kumar, Nitish felt so
Government of Bihar.
steely resolve of Dasrath Manjhi. overwhelmed that he got up from
He once decided to go to Delhi. He his chair and asked Dasrath Manjhi This article was originally written
did not have enough money to to sit there. As the old saying goes, by Udai Narayan Choudhury, in
undertake the journey. So he a man is known by his deed. Indeed Hindi the then speaker of Bihar
decided to walk all the way, a the illiterate Dalit from Gilhaur has assembly and was published in the
distance of over one thousand shown his sublime character by his book “Gauravshali Bihar” released
kilometers! During this unique steely resolve and his by ONE BIHAR. English translation
journey, he took the signature of determination to bring is done by TV Sinha. (TV Sinha is a
the station masters of the railway development to his impoverished senior executive with a software
stations along the way in his diary. people. The district administration company and based in Mumbai, he
This man of single minded honored him with a special award. can be can be reached at
determination wished to have a tvsinha@gmail.com)
hospital opened at his village on a Post script: The last few days
of Dasrath Manjhi was spent


Right to education

Section 3(2): Is any fee (or any social and demographic aspects of
other expenses) being charged by an area like how far some
the schools from students? Are conservative families will send their
disabled students treated like the girls for education.)
other students? What are the
various forms of discriminations Section 7(6): What is the national
curriculum that the central
against them?
government has formed is it being
Section 4: Is appropriate training used/implemented/duplicated in
being provided to students who are the state as well?
inducted for the first time in a class
based on their age? What is the (The need for education in local
quality of the training and how is it languages has been said again and
conducted and evaluated? Is again. Assessing the need and
The first task has to spread possibility for the same and also
education being provided to those
awareness about the legislature finding local/national players that
children who are more than 14
amongst following stakeholders can help with this)
years of age and have not
a. Schools – Government and completed elementary education?
private
(This might not be in place right
b. Parents and Students
now, so the focus will also be on
c. Local authorities: enforcing and
evaluating the plans that the
implementing
educational institutions have on
d. State government
implementing it. Also, the
e. Central government
associated NGOs which have been
f. Teachers
already working in this area needs
g. NGOs
to be assessed to find out their plan
h. Allied agencies
of action to help implement this.)
Following is the list of highlighted
Section 5: Is speedy transfer of
sections from the legislation and
child from one school to another
what are the questions that we
being done properly or not? What What are the standards that are
need to answer while evaluating
are the problems children facing formed for the training of
and assessing the implementation
due to formalities like transfer teachers? What is the enforcing
of RTE:
certificates? mechanism for the same? Are the
Section 1(2): Has RTE been teachers’ trainers following these
Section 6: What is the spread of
implemented all across in Bihar? standards or not?
the schools? Are local authorities
(Considering that we are taking setting up schools in the region (Need to assess the teacher
Bihar as our population and a with a target of 3 years in training modules at all levels.
smaller set of districts inside Bihar mind?(Definition of a neighborhood Creating an assessment module,
as the sample set for our study) school would change for different specifically for teachers, to gauge
terrains. E.g. in hills, this need to be their knowledge/skill and
Section 3(1): Percentage of seen according to the difficulties motivation levels. After assessment
coverage of children in the defined the students face in reaching their is completed creating training
age bracket in the defined area? destinations. Also, assessing the


`

modules in coordination with (Major focus for this will be private the activities and meetings of the
government authorities like DIET to schools in cities and towns. The school management committee.)
create robust and state specific intent behind this is ensuring that
teacher training module.) no one is denied quality education Section 23: Conformance to
because of lack of financial support minimum qualification?
What are the technical support and and also ensuring no financial
resources provided by the Section 25: What is the teacher-
bullying by schools. This would pupil ratio? What was it last year?
government for promoting require assistance with NGOs
innovations, research, planning and working in cities/towns on (Historical data analysis to be done
capacity building? education and RTI) for the same. This would also
Section 8: What are the include assessment of single
Does quality of education meet the teacher teaching multiple classes
enrollment, attendance and
norms specified in schedule? and its impact)
completion rates?
Section 12: Reimbursement to What are the other non-
(This will require partnering with private school against
Pratham (ASER department) for educational works that the teacher
reservations? is involved in? Who would do them
most of this information. Also doing
some primary surveying in the field Section 13: Capitation fees and if the teacher doesn’t?
for the same) Screening processes. Is punishment Section 29: How the curriculum is
against contraventions enforced? being set, is the agency taking care
Is there discrimination against the
children belonging to weaker of all the mentioned points in the
sections or disadvantages group? section. If yes, how? If no, why?
Section 14: Are children denied
What is the status of infrastructure admission due to lack of Section 30: Are there board exams
in the terms of availability of documentation? in the state board or school?
essentials like rooms, power, Certificate of elementary
toilets, TLM, mid-day meals, Section 15: Is admission allowed education?(Schools like DAV have
teaching staff etc. during any time of the year? national level board exams in class
eight, which is prohibited now.)
(This will require partnering with Section 16: The law prevents
school to fail or expel a student. © Kumar Ankit – Kumar Ankit is
Pratham (ASER department) for
most of this information. Also doing What changes schools are making currently studying at XLRI
some primary surveying in the field in their evaluation system to Jamshedpur and is founder &
integrate this scheme in their Executive Director at Green Leaf
for the same)
system? Energy Private Limited a startup
How the selection and admission company in the area of renewable
being done and is it confirming to Section 21: Has the school formed and green power. He can be
prescribed standards? school management committee? contacted at ankit4jec@gmail.com
What is the composition for the
same? What are its functions and
how is it documented?

(This would again need assistance
of the local NGOs and local
authorities for a regular vigil. In
spite of just creating a rule, It can
be made binding on the schools to
submit monthly information about

`

Shivnath Singh: the greatest among the Indian athletes

remarkable 11th in a very strong Gold medal winner in Rome (1960)
line up and in an Olympic Game and Tokyo (1964) Olympics, also
which was not marred by any ran marathon barefoot in Rome
major boycotts. Remarkably, he ran Olympics. Bikila's winning time
this most enduring race (42.195 2:15:16 was a World Record and
km) for the first time only in the still it is the second fastest barefoot
trial of Montreal Olympics. India marathon. The world record for the
Today, in its obituary to the great fastest barefoot marathon
runner, wrote “He finished 11th in (2:12:00) is held by this humble
the Montreal Olympics in a race Bihari, Naib-Subedar of Indian
that included Lasse Viren and Frank Army from Buxar, Shivnath Singh.
Shorter. Indian athletics would give
its limbs for a performance of the The great athlete died at the age of
If achievement lies in being the same kind today.” 57 years in Jamshedpur on June 6,
best, greatness is acquired by 2003. One of his fellow athletes,
remaining the best. However, true For a better perspective, it may be while recollecting the kind soul,
greatness is bestowed on those mentioned that post Shivnath said: “This generous athlete once
selected few who remain the best Singh, no other Indian athlete has divided the Rs.10,000 he received
forever. There has been no other even qualified for the main event from the Bihar government for his
Indian athlete whose record of Marathon in the Olympics till achievements among his team-
remained unsurpassed for more date. Later in Jalandhar in 1978 mates. He handed over half the
than three decades now except Shivnath clocked 2:12:00, a most amount to colleague Satpal Singh,
Shivnath Singh’s national record in significant national record which who had finished second in a
Marathon made in 1978. still stands intact. marathon,” He remains the only
recipient of Presidents Vishesh
Born on July 11, 1946 in the The most noteworthy thing about Seva Medal among athletes of
Manjaria village of Buxar district of Shivnath Singh’s running was that Jharkhand and Bihar.
Bihar, Shivnath Singh joined army he ran barefoot. Barefoot running,
at an early age where he developed even long distance, is not Written by --- Bhartendu Kumar
a liking for long distance running, uncommon particularly among Das
particularly 5000 meter and 10000 amateurs. However, at such high
meter. A gold medalist in 5000 competition level, Shivnath Singh (Bhartendu works for Reserve Bank
meter in Tehran Asiad (1974) and was the only athlete with such of India and can be reached at
recipient of Arjuna Award same preference. It may be mentioned bhartendu_351@rediffmail.com ).
year, the best in Shivnath was, here that the greatest ever
however, to be seen in the longer marathon runner of the world,
version of race, i.e., Marathon, two Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, two times
years later where he came a

Nalanda and the pursuit of science

answer if we are looking for a chairing its interim governing body,
university in continuous existence. I am finding out how hard it is to
re-establish a university after an
Nalanda was violently destroyed in 800 year hiatus. But we are getting
an Afghan attack, led by the there. This meeting here gives me
ruthless conqueror, Bakhtiyar Khilji, an opportunity to recollect the
in 1193, shortly after the beginning pursuit of science in old Nalanda
of Oxford University and shortly which will inspire and guide our
before the initiation of Cambridge. long-run efforts in new Nalanda. I
Nalanda university, an say long run, because mainly for
internationally renowned centre of cost reasons — indeed entirely for
higher education in India, which cost reasons — we cannot start the
‘Nalanda stood for the passion of was established in the early fifth science faculties immediately
propagating knowledge, century, was ending its continuous (physical and biological sciences
understanding.' Amartya Sen's existence of more than seven cost much more money than the
keynote address at the 98th Indian hundred years as Oxford and humanities and the social sciences
Science Congress in Chennai on Cambridge were being founded, do). The recollection — and more
January 4. and even compared with the oldest challengingly, assessment — of the
European university, Bologna, scientific tradition in old Nalanda
The subject of this talk is Nalanda Nalanda was more than six are important right now, partly
and the pursuit of science, but hundred years old, when Bologna because we have to start thinking
before I go into that rather was born. Had it not been about the long run (even as we try
complex issue, I must say destroyed and had it managed to to raise money for initiation and
something about Nalanda itself, survive to our time, Nalanda would expansion), but also because a
since it is still an obscure entity for be, by a long margin, the oldest scientific attitude and disciplined
most people in the world. Since the university in the world. Another thought are important for the
university is being, right now, re- distinguished university, which did entire conception of new Nalanda,
established under a joint Asian not stay in existence continuously including the teaching of — and
initiative, the fact that Nalanda was either, viz. Al-Azhar University in research in — humanities (such as
a very ancient university is Cairo, with which Nalanda is often history, languages and linguistics,
becoming better known. But how compared, was established at a and comparative religion), as well
does it compare with other old time, 970 AD, when Nalanda was as the social sciences and the world
universities in the world? already more than five hundred of practice (such as international
years old. relations, management and
Well, what is the oldest university development, and information
in the world? In answering this That is enough vaunting of age (as technology). Let me identify a few
question, one's mind turns to you know, in India we take age questions about the pursuit of
Bologna, initiated in 1088, to Paris quite seriously), and I hope you science in Nalanda. First, was the
in 1091, and to other old citadels of have got the point: we are talking old Nalanda sufficiently large to be
learning, including of course Oxford about the oldest university in the a factor in whatever pursuit it
University which was established in world by a long margin, that is, if might have been championing?
1167, and Cambridge in 1209. we do not insist on continuous Was it not merely a drop in an
Where does Nalanda fit into this existence. The university is being ocean of superstition and
picture? “Nowhere” is the short re-started right now, and since I ignorance that some people see as
happen to have the difficult task of the characteristic feature of the


Indian old world: you only have to Indeed, Xuangzang wrote about Nalanda, but as a way of
read James Mill's “History of India,” them too, even though he himself understanding better the Buddhist
which was obligatory reading for all studied in Nalanda. There was a intellectual impact. One of the
British civil servants sent off to run larger social culture to which connections on which evidence of
the Raj, to see how firm and Nalanda belonged, and this is intellectual connections between
politically important this important to recollect in thinking China and India is plentiful is the
conception of the past was in about the tradition of Nalanda. impact of Buddhists in general, and
keeping modern India in check. of adherents of Tantric Buddhism
in particular, on Chinese
Well, Nalanda was an old centre of mathematics and astronomy in the
learning that attracted students seventh and eighth centuries, in
from many countries in the world, the Tang period. Yi Jing, who was a
particularly China and Tibet, Korea student of Nalanda, and to whom I
and Japan, and the rest of Asia, but referred earlier, was one of many
a few also from as far in the west translators of Tantric texts from
as Turkey. Nalanda, a residential Sanskrit into Chinese. Tantrism
university, had at its peak 10,000 became a major force in China in
students, studying various subjects. The second question to ask is the the seventh and eighth centuries,
Chinese students in particular, such difficult one about the room for and had followers among Chinese
as Xuanzang and Yi Jing in the science in what was after all a intellectuals of the highest
seventh century, wrote extensively religious institution. Nalanda was a
on what they saw and what they Buddhist foundation, as were standing. Since many Tantric
particularly admired about the Vikramshila and Odantapuri, and scholars had a deep interest in
educational standards in Nalanda. surely the central focus of these mathematics (perhaps connected,
Incidentally, Nalanda is the only institutions were studies of at least initially, with Tantric
non-Chinese institution in which Buddhist philosophy and practice. fascination with numbers), Tantric
any Chinese scholar was educated The point to remember here is that mathematicians had a significant
in the history of ancient China. by the nature of the philosophy of influence on Chinese mathematics
Buddha, whose focus of preaching as well.
was on enlightenment (the name
given to Gautama, viz Buddha, Indeed, as Joseph Needham notes,
itself means “enlightened”), there “the most important Tantrist was I-
was a basic epistemic and ethical Hsing (+672 to +717), the greatest
curiosity in the tradition of Chinese astronomer and
intellectual Buddhism that sought mathematician of his time.”
knowledge in many different fields. Needham goes on to remark that
Some of the fields were directly “this fact alone should give us
related to Buddhist commitments, pause, since it offers a clue to the
It is also important to recognize such as medicine and healthcare; possible significance of this form of
that while Nalanda was very others went with the development Buddhism for all kinds of
special, it was still a part of a larger and dissemination of Buddhist observational and experimental
tradition of organised higher culture, such as architecture and sciences.” Yi Xing (or I-Hsing, to use
education that developed in that sculpture; and still others linked Needham's spelling), who was in
period in India — in Bihar in Buddhist intellectual queries with fact never a student of Nalanda,
particular. In addition to Nalanda, interest in analytical discipline. but belonged to a tradition of
there were in the vicinity other which Nalanda was one of the
such institutions, such as Let me comment briefly on the last results, was fluent in Sanskrit. (I
Vikramshila and Odantapuri. — not specifically with reference to request the audience to be careful


of the distinction between Yi Xing, impact on the Arab world (with universities in the world — that
the mathematician, and Yi Jing, the widely used Arabic translations of produced Galileo Galilei. (I was,
intellectual trained in Nalanda, who the works of Aryabhata, incidentally amused when, while
was, among other things, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta and receiving an honorary doctorate at
interested in medicine.) As a others), which would later Padua, I heard Paul Ricoeur,
Buddhist monk, Yi Xing was familiar influence European mathematics as another recipient, chastising the
with the Indian religious literature, well, through the Arabs (Gherardo University of Padua for not
but he had acquired a great of Cremona would make the first standing up sufficiently for Galileo.
expertise also on Indian writings on Latin translation of Arab Ricoeur's arguments were
mathematics and astronomy. mathematical texts that reported impeccable, though it seemed a
Despite his own religious on Indian work in 1150, just before little unfair to blame the current
connection, it would be a mistake the time when Nalanda would Rector of Padua for Padua's lack of
to assume that Yi Xing's come to its sudden end). support for Galileo.) To what
mathematical or scientific work extent such conflict arose in
was somehow motivated by It is this general intellectual Nalanda, I do not know, but as
religious concerns. As a general animation, including animation in more documents come to light, we
mathematician who happened to analytical and scientific questions, may well find out whether there
be also a Tantrist, Yi Xing dealt with that we have to appreciate in were tensions in the relation
a variety of analytical and interpreting what was going on in between science and religion in
computational problems, many of old Nalanda. I take the liberty of Nalanda. What is, however,
which had no particular connection mentioning here that it is not, of absolutely clear is that this
with Tantrism or Buddhism at all. course, unique to Nalanda that as a Buddhist foundation made much
The combinatorial problems religious foundation, it room for the pursuit of analytical
tackled by Yi Xing included such nevertheless pursued general and scientific subjects within the
classic ones as “calculating the intellectual and scientific studies campus of Nalanda University.
total number of possible situations the products of which were of
in chess.” Yi Xing was particularly great interest also to people who A third question concerns the
concerned with calendrical were not religious, or did not share subjects that were actually taught
calculations, and even constructed, the religion of the foundations in Nalanda. Here we do have a
on imperial order, a new calendar involved. Isaac Newton was problem, since the documents in
for China. religious — indeed very mystically Nalanda were indiscriminatingly
oriented — and while he burnt by Bakhtiyar and his
Calendrical studies in which Indian revolutionized the nature of conquering army. We have to rely
astronomers located in China in the physics, mathematics and optics, therefore of the accounts of
eighth century, along with Yi Xing, he had no problem with his (and, students of Nalanda who wrote
were particularly involved, made as it happens, mine and Venky about what they had seen, and
good use of the progress of Ramakrishna’s) college's (that is given the reticence of Indians to
trigonometry that had already Trinity's) the-then religiosity, and write about history (a subject of
occurred in India by then (going did not raise the kind of questions interest in itself), we have to rely
much beyond the original Greek about compatibility that some later mostly on the accounts of outsiders
roots of Indian trigonometry). The Trinity-men, like Henry Sidgwick, who did not share that reticence,
movement east of Indian would with powerful arguments. such as Xuangzang and Yi Jing. We
trigonometry to China was a part of The mixture of religion and science do know that among the subjects
a global exchange of ideas that also was by no means unique to taught, and on which there was on-
went West around that time. Nalanda, and to illustrate with going research, were medicine,
Indeed, this was another example, it was the public health, architecture,
also about the time when Indian Christian university of Padua — one sculpture, and astronomy, in
trigonometry was having a major of the earliest of the extant addition to religion, history, law


and linguistics. Nalanda, such as Yi to rest among the cloudy fog high into the scientific connections of
Jing and Xuangzang, were not up, and provided an eye-catching Nalanda.
involved in mathematical studies. sight in the Nalanda campus. In
Those in China who were deeply that period the progresses in Indian The final remark concerns the
involved in Indian mathematics, and Chinese astronomy were passion for propagating knowledge
such as Yi Xing, did not train in closely linked with developments and understanding that Nalanda
Nalanda. There may have been with mathematics, particularly stood for. This was one reason for
others, in India or China or trigonometry. Indeed, all the Indian its keenness to accept students
elsewhere, from Nalanda who were experts that the Chinese brought to from abroad. Xuangzang as well as
involved in mathematics (a subject China for astronomical work were Yi Jing mentions the warm
that was flourishing in India in this mathematicians (one of these welcome they received as they
period) and whose documents Indian mathematicians became the arrived in Nalanda from China.
have been lost. However, we do Director of the official Board of
know, from Indian accounts, that Astronomy of China in the 8th Indeed, Xuangzang used this
logic was a subject that was taught century). We do not know enough commitment in an argument with
in Nalanda, and my guess is that about the ancestry of the Indian the faculty in Nalanda when he was
eventually evidence would emerge mathematicians who went to China asked — and pressed — to stay on
on this part of the curriculum in to decide whether any of them had as a faculty member in Nalanda,
Nalanda as well. Nalanda connections, but we do after he had completed his studies.
know that from early fifth century He mentioned his commitment,
Kusumpur, in nearby Pataliputra and here he invoked Buddha
(Patna), was the place where the himself, to spread enlightenment
mathematicians doing front-line “to all lands.” He asked the
innovative work on the subject rhetorical question: “Who would
were congregating. wish to enjoy it alone, and to forget
those who are not yet
I end with two final remarks. The enlightened?” If the seeking of
first one concerns an aspect of the evidence and vindication by critical
intellectual life of Nalanda that arguments is part of the tradition
emerges powerfully from the of science, so is the commitment to
accounts we do actually have about move knowledge and
Nalanda from Chinese as well as understanding beyond locality.
Indian scholars. The faculty and the Science has to fight parochialism,
students in Nalanda loved to argue, and Nalanda was firmly committed
and very often held argumentative to just that.
(Xuangzang, a Tang dynasty famous
encounters. I have discussed
Chinese Buddhist monk who visited
elsewhere how deep this (Dr. Amartya Sen, who won the
Nalanda)
argumentativeness is in Indian Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998
intellectual history, but I want to and was awarded the Bharat Ratna
What about mathematics? As it
add here that it is a part of the in 1999, is Professor of Economics
happens the Chinese chroniclers
scientific tradition as well, to seek and Philosophy at Harvard
from Further indirect evidence in
arguments and defences, refusing University in the U.S. and chairman
the direction of the presence of
to accept positions and claims on of the Interim Governing Board of
mathematics in Nalanda curriculum
grounds of faith. There were plenty Nalanda University)
was the inclusion of astronomy in
Nalanda. Xuangzang comments on of organised argumentative
that, and refers elegantly to the matches going on in Nalanda, and
observational tower that seemed this too fits, in a very general way,


Education sector

Education sector is one of the most read, class 8 students are unable to and because of the humiliation
neglected sectors in the economy. do simple arithmetic. kid’s dropout.
In 1950’s when education sector d) Syllabi: The syllabus is not
had an 8% share in the budget, and relevant for kids in primary
the government promised to schools.
provide free and compulsory e)Lack of books in local language.
education to all children, literacy f) Most of the school buildings are
rate was a meager 15%. used for non-school purposes in
Subsequently over the years, the % villages.
share of education sector has There are many more problems,
reduced to an abysmal 2.7% in the which can be listed down. But as
current budget plan outlay. Though we can see in the above problems,
overall literacy rate has increased there is a huge gap. Now the gap
So we come to analyze why India
to 65%, there is a lot to be desired. provides opportunity for
has not able to provide good
There is huge disparity among entrepreneurs to fill the gap.
quality education to its children.
literacy levels for men (75%) and
There are many problems and a) RTE provides great opportunity
women (52%).
causes, which have led to the for private entrepreneurs to
abysmal situation. Some of the work in PPP model with the
prominent ones are listed as government to implement RTE.
follows: Government allocates very They can work to set up new
less % of budget to education, and schools, construct school
the amount allocated is skewed buildings, revive old schools, and
towards higher education. Rural provide basic amenities.
schools and education gets a b)The mid-day meal scheme also
meager 26%, and the rest 74% is provides opportunity for
for urban and development of entrepreneurs to work in PPP
Over the years there have been higher education. model with the government to
several government schemes and implement the schemes.
a) Lack of infrastructure and basic
plans in the form of National c) Entrepreneurs can also look in to
amenities in schools. Most of the
Literacy Mission, Sarva Siksha work in syllabi development,
schools don’t have requisite
Abhyan, and now finally we have teaching methodology with more
teaching aids, lack basic
the Right to Education Act. But focus towards vocational
infrastructure in the form of
somehow all these schemes have learning, teaching aids as per
school building. Most of the
failed to reach their objective. local needs.
schools don’t have toilets.
Several NGO’s have also come © Kumar Ankit
b) Teachers: They are in short
forward to the cause with some of
supply, not given proper salary, (Kumar Ankit is currently studying
the prominent names as Pratham,
most of them are not serious at XLRI Jamshedpur and is founder
campaigns like Teach India. But as
about teaching, and remain & Executive Director at Green Leaf
very rightly quoted, “India is a
absent from schools. Energy Private Limited a startup
country of big problems, so we
c) Caste system: It leads to huge company in the area of renewable
need big solutions as well”. It is
disparity and humiliation for the and green power energy. He can be
even more revealing that even the
so-called untouchables, and they contacted at ankit4jec@gmail.com
children who are enrolled and
constitute 16% of our population, )
studying in class 5 are unable to


Babu Kunwar Singh

Kunwar Singh epitomises not only royal race). His ancestors belong to In his last battle, fought on April 23,
the spirit of liberty but also great Raja Vikramadity, Raja Bhoj 1858, near Jagdishpur, the troops
unparalleled courage and the will of malwa. under the control of the East India
to resist injustice at all costs and Company were completely routed.
under any circumstances. He Babu Kunwar Singh was nearly While crossing the Ganges on way
played a major role in the First eighty and in failing health when he to his ancestral seat at Jagdishpur,
was called upon to take up arms. Babu Kunwar Singh was wounded
War of Independence of 1857.
The great warrior that he was, he in the arm. Undaunted, Babu
gave a good fight and harried Kunwar Singh severed the injured
British forces for nearly a year and
limb and flung it into the river
remained invincible till the end. Ganges as is was his last offering to
Kunwar Singh assumed command the Ganges. Soon after, he
of the soldiers who had revolted
completely routed the British
at Danapur on July 5, Two days forces in the battle on 23 April
later he occupied Arrah, the district 1858 and died the next day (24
headquarters. Major Vincent Eyre April 1858).
relieved the town on August 3,
defeated Kunwar Singh's force and To honour his memory and his
(A stamp issued by government of
destroyed Jagdishpur. Kunwar contribution to India’s freedom
India)
Singh left his ancestral village and movement, the Republic of
Babu Veer Kunwar Singh (1777– reached Lucknow in December India issued a commemorative
1858), one of the leaders of 1857. In March 1858 he stamp on 23 April 1966. Veer
the Indian rising of 1857belonged occupied Azamgarh. However, he Kunwar Singh University named
to a royal PARMAR Kshatriya had to leave the place soon. after him, was established
(Rajput) house of Jagdishpur, Pursued by Brigadier Douglas, he by Government of Bihar near
currently a part of Bhojpur retreated towards his home his birth place. The ICSE board has
district, Bihar state, India. At the in Bihar. On April 23, Kunwar Singh in its Hindi text-book (Ekanki
age of 80 years, during India’s First had a victory near Jagdishpur over Suman) a play (by the name of
War of Independence (1857), he the force led by Captain Le Grand, Vijay Ki Bela, (literally: Moment of
actively led a select band of armed 26 April 1858 he died in his village. Victory) on the later part of Kunwar
soldiers against the troops under The mantle of the old chief now fell Singh's life, starting from the time
the command of the East India on his brother Amar Singh who, he was crossing the Ganges and
Company, and also recorded despite heavy odds, continued the finishing with his death,
victories in many battles. struggle and for a considerable
Contributed by Santosh Pandey
time ran a parallel government in
Kunwar Singh, king of Jagdishpur, (Santosh is a Chartered Accountant
the district of Shahabad. In October
was born in 1777, Jagdishpur, and currently lives in Czech
1859, Amar Singh joined the rebel
near Arrah in the state of Bihar. He Republic and can be reached at
leaders in the Nepal Terai.
belongs to Panwar/Parmar (gurjar santoshpandeyca@gmail.com )


Empowering Bihar through renewable energy

For a State growing at around 10% districts.Bihar continues to suffer energy for the community via
per annum, Bihar’s power due to Power deficiency; one of the utilization of locally available
requirement is expected to be biggest challenges lies in the area
lie resources. Successful case studies
around 8000 mega watts in the in of distribution and coverage. Last of the DRE model titled
next 5 years. Bihar has a power mile connectivity issues, “Empowering Bihar showcases the
Empowering Bihar”
generation capacity of 584MW maintenance and collection are success story of Rice Husk Power
compared with a demand of other areas which also needs System & Tripolia Hospital Solar
around 2500MW. The deficit is special attention. Greenpreace Research center.
made up by accessing the central recently ran campaign in the state
pool quota of 1,200MW, of which to create awareness for developing Currently Bihar Government does
the supply is around 700MW. As a models for renewable energy and support schemes for bio bio-gas
result, frequent and prolonged developing local self sustaining development, SPV systems of
power outages are common across models of power generations to Lanterns/Home lighting
the state. fuel the growth and growing need systems/street lighting systems,
of power in rural Bihar. and wind mills. Bihar Government
policy on private sector
Central Allocation Thermal Power Plants
Its public manifesto to make Bihar participation for develo
developing non
Gydel Orhers
3% power self sufficient has the idea of conventional energy sources is
Decentralized Renewable Energy available on
36% (DRE) model works on the principle http://www.bshpcltd.com/policy.ht
61%
of producing electricity through m
renewable energy near the source
of use or consumption. For Given the unique growth trajectory
example, a village which receives and need for power, it would be a
abundant sunshine throughout the
abun great opportunity for private
year and has surplus biomass could players to get asso
associated with this
become self-sufficient in energy by
self exciting journey of empowering
In recent times, State has approved producing power through a Bihar.
many power projects and also combination of renewable energy
worked towards increasing the technologies such as solar energy Contributed by Ajit Chouhan. (Ajit
Cho
production capacity of existing and/or biomass and manage the is an Alumni of XLRI Jamshedpur
plants. Bihar is to set up three new system locally. and currently works as HR BU
thermal power plants to generate partner in one of India’s leading IT
3,960 MW of energy. The plants, of The model ensures company. He can be reached at
1,320 MW each, will be set up at democratization of the process of ajitchouhan@gmail.com )
Kajra in Lakhisarai, Piparpainti in power production and secures
Bhagalpur and Chusa in Buxar access to reliable and quality

Bhojpuri Cinema’ a declining phase for lack of patronage.

started leaving the state. These was the class that would watch
were the people who would films just to forget their sorrow and
otherwise patronize good cinema not because they wanted to watch
in Bhojpuri. The image of Bihar kept a film-maker’s perspective on a
on deteriorating and Biharis living social issue inflicting the society.
in other states would feel ashamed Non-serious movies were still being
of declaring that they are from made in Hindi, but they went out of
Bihar. Then not only those who reach of this class due to
lived in other states but also those emergence of multiplexes and
who lived in Bihar stopped talking disappearance of the low-cost
in Bhojpuri. Speaking in Bhojpuri in theaters.
a public place was somehow
As far as I know, unlike Bengali
considered to be below standard.
cinema, Tamil cinema, Malayalam
People almost disowned the
cinema etc. there was nothing
language to the extent that they
called Bhojpuri cinema in the first
would not speak to their children in
place. There was no film making
Bhojpuri. In private, they would
culture in Bihar, there only were
communicate in Hindi peppered
sporadic films in Bhojpuri that were
with Bhojpuri words. And in public,
made by producers from Bollywood
the educated Biharis who lived
who came from eastern UP and The entrepreneur in Manoj Tiwari
outside the state did everything
Bihar. Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari identified this class and started
possible to hide their Bihari
Chadhaibo, Laagi Nahin Chhoote making movies that suited their
identity. We can’t blame them
Raam, and Balam Pardesia are taste and pocket. The target
though. All this happened because
examples of that. Later on too, audience started watching these
Bihar had gradually come to
some decent films were made in movies and much more came.
represent everything that an ideal
Bihar like Dulha Ganga Par Ke and Manoj Tiwari never made these
society should not be.
Ganga Kinare Mora Gaon and they movies for PLU (people like us).So,
The great migration started. Those
did good business. it is clear that quality Bhojpuri
who couldn’t leave Bihar out of
cinema went through a declining
compulsion were the poor who had
phase for lack of patronage.
no resources to move out, the
Bihar Government employees, and
those who could not leave their
land unattended for fear of illegal
capture by local politicians or their
goons. Anyone who could send
their children out of the state for
education/job, sent them.

Then came the era of downfall of So, there was hardly anybody left in
Bihar. And I think the downfall of Bihar or outside Bihar to patronize
Bhojpuri cinema has a lot to do Bhojpuri cinema. The only people
with the downfall in the image and who were still speaking to their
content of Bihar. Politics, education children in Bhojpuri were those
and employment sector in Bihar from the lower strata of the society
started deteriorating and people – the poor, the uneducated. This


What is the way forward? watched. If it has a strong script to But good films will not come up just
hold audiences from the beginning because there are good intentions.
We need not worry about ‘Panditji to the end, it WILL be watched. If Something more is required to
Batain na Biyah kab hoi’ kind of patterns and treatments are not sustain this trend. One Nitin
movies at all. They are meant for a repeated, it WILL be watched and Chandra is not enough. We need
specific audience and such an liked. Even in languages such as more professionals from Bihar as
audience does and will always exist Hindi, Bengali or Tamil, quality Film makers. The current film
in any society; so there will also cinema is in short supply. Bhojpuri makers in Bhojpuri Cinema are not
exist film-makers who will make also has the advantage of numbers. trained professionals, that’s why
films for them. Ab in filmon ka they pay attention to making cheap
dusprabhav saare samaj par na movies.
pade, iske liye humein apni lakeer
ko unki lakeer se lamba karna
padega.

It cannot be denied that Culture &
Art play an important role in the
development of any society.
Cinema too is an apt medium to
educate the society. A well-made
and forward-looking Bhojpuri film
will not only regain the audience
that it had lost over time but it
would also promote the Culture,
Art & Music of Bihar outside the
state. Bihar will gain respect
through its cinema. It will help According to a recent government
attract tourists to the state of Bihar estimate, some 15 crore people
which will generate employment speak Hindi and Bhojpuri in UP and
for thousands. But the question is Bihar. So, I can only hope that our Then, we also will need to improve
how do we sustain the culture of member Nitin Chandra’s work the insecure conditions of the
quality-film making in Bhojpuri. ‘Deswa’ will mark cinema halls in the interiors of the
One thing is clear, corporatisation state which has also resulted in the
will not help. There is a difference the rebirth of good Bhojpuri decreasing rate of cine viewers. B-
between our objective and their cinema, rather birth of Bhojpuri grade theatres can afford only B-
objective. Through our films, we cinema that will establish itself over grade movies. Here, the govt.
want to reconstruct the Bihari time as a genre. From whatever needs to pitch in by giving them
society and promote Bihari art and little I have heard about the subject subsidies. It is the government’s
culture, whereas all the investing it deals with, I hope it will taste responsibility to help in offering
corporate would be interested in is decent success at the box office. low-cost entertainment (as
revenue. So that is out. The only Once that happens, more people opposed to cheap entertainment)
answer lies in the theory of will be attracted to making quality to its people; a deluge of cheap
demand and supply. There is an cinema in Bhojpuri. And when films will only corrupt and
unending appetite for good cinema people will have a choice of quality manipulate the youth who will
in Bihari audiences. But there is no over quantity, they will go for the determine the future of the state.
supply. So, if a good cinema in former. The government can also consider
Bhojpuri is supplied, it WILL be


giving a tax holiday for the next five automatically result in production setting up a film city and a film
years to films made in Bihar. This of good Bhojpuri cinema. training institute for Bhojpuri
will attract good filmmakers with Universities in Bihar too should movies near Sahjanwa town in the
meager resources to making films offer subjects on film making, so district. Is it a signal for Bihar
on socio-political issues in Bhojpuri that the young generation can Tourism dept. to act fast?
that, in turn, will create jobs for become interested in this art. I am
locals. sure if these measures are taken, Author: Rakesh Srivastava
Bhojpuri cinema will evolve, sooner (Rakesh works for a leading
The most important thing is that a rather than later. software consulting company in
Film Training Institute somewhere PS: Only last week, the UP tourism India and currently lives in New
near Patna must be set up. This department has sent a proposal to Delhi. He can be reached at
should be followed by setting up of the CEO of Gorakhpur Industrial rakeshtcs@gmail.com)
a film studio. It will launch a film- Development Authority (GIDA) to
making culture in Bihar which will allocate 110 acres of land for


Collaboration of “Deswa” and “Brand Bihar”

The young film director and one of the members of with print of “DESWA” in the front and a famous “ I
our group Mr. Nitin Chandra whose first directorial AM BIHAR” slogan created by ONE BIHAR and in
venture, a Bhojpuri feature film “DESWA” particular Mayank Krishna a team member of the
proposed to launch the “DESWA” merchandize for ONE BIHAR
promotion of the film. In this regard, Nitin
contacted the team “ONE BIHAR” (ONE BIHAR is an Soon you will see a T-shirt launched by team
organization of Biharis who are focused on many DESWA which will feature the Deswa photo (above
BIHAR related non for profit projects through their left) on the front and I AM BIHAR poetry on the
personal collaboration) to launch a joint T-Shirt back.


Launch of Blissful Bihar Campaign- The Blissful Bihar desktop calendar for 2011

On the eve of new year 2011, one of our members monthly calendar every month on our Facebook
Mr. Ajit Chouhan conceptualized designed and event page. This Calendar is free to circulate, can
launched a one man branding exercise for Bihar. be printed & shared with anyone with due credits.
Ajit designed a desktop calendar using 12 different to Mr. Ajit Chouhan.
photographs of Bihar from his personal photo
collection. The launch of this calendar was Campaign launched by by Ajit Ch
Chouhan
organized as an event on Facebook (Ajit Chouhan is an Alumni of XLRI Jamshedpur and
Blissful Bihar is an attempt to showcase Bihar’s rich currently works as HR BU partner in one of India’s
cultural & social legacy. Hopefully this calendar will leading IT company s. He can be reached at
remind the world of its glorious past & promising
st ajitchouhan@gmail.com)
future that lies ahead. We will be releasing the

Development of SSI sector in Bihar

There is lot of buzz about state the financing banks, it results in an estimated cost of Rs.450 crore
government making efforts for reduction in transaction costs as for employment and revenue
reopening of sugar mills and also well as mitigation of risk. Presently generation. The challenge however
on various industrial projects there are 388 SME clusters in India remains in early execution of the
including food processing units. identified by United Nations projects and building upon the
However, for alleviation of poverty Industrial Development momentum so generated.
and creating employment Organisation (UNIDO) out of which
opportunities, potential of small only three are located in Bihar i.e. There is a new interest being
industries is yet to be assessed and Barauni for Engineering and shown by most of the big retailers
tapped properly. The small scale Fabrication, Muzzafarpur for Food in resurgent Bihar recently. Apart
industries (SSI) and also small and products and Patna for Brass and from the above, opening up of FDI
medium enterprises (SME) have German Silver utensils. It can be in retail is also on the cards which
huge potential to tap local seen that cluster development has will ensure availability of high end
entrepreneurial skills of remained largely underdeveloped marketing acumen and significant
enterprising people. These sectors in Bihar and many traditional growth in the consumer spending.
are labour intensive with high ratio business activities like Lac industry, State Government will do well to
of labour to capital employed. Sericulture, leather, art develop the clusters of SSI/ SME
Since they require a certain (Madhubani Painting), dairy etc. sectors that can be positioned in
desired skill level, this results in have remained untapped. One can the supply chain of these big global
better wages to the poor also add Cinema, Education/ marketers. The preparedness in
population. In Bihar, 90% of GDP coaching, Textile, Fruits and this regard will help automatic
comes from agriculture and service Fisheries etc. in the potential list. linkage of these retail chains with
sectors; therefore, the potential of The UNIDO Focal Point is currently the artisans/source and will
manufacturing sector remains based in New Delhi and is provide the SSI/ SME sectors a
unutilised. There is a need to responsible for interacting with worldwide market and great
identify local level initiatives and each cluster, assist the local actors employment opportunities.
reaching out to them by providing in preparing and implementing Though the clusters may not have
all possible assistance with regard their action plans and linking them specific registered brands of their
to finance, marketing, with relevant institutions at the own, they can have huge
infrastructure etc. regional, national and recognition value informally in the
international level, monitoring wholesale market. We have
It has been acknowledged by many local initiatives, and encouraging examples of hosiery of Ludhiana,
expert groups/ committees that to exchange of experiences among
ensure proper growth of SSI/ SME Sports goods of Jalandhar,
different clusters. State matchsticks/ crackers of Shivkasi,
sectors, a cluster based approach
Government needs to work in co- locks of Aligarh, diamond
is the most convenient and ordination with the UNIDO for
practical approach. A cluster is a processing of Surat etc. With
identification and development of specific efforts by State
group of related manufacturing/ new clusters in various other
service units located in a common Government and other agencies,
geographical areas. One good our clusters can also make their
geographical area. Identification of development in this regard is that
such clusters would result in better presence felt nationally and even
recently the Associated Chambers internationally. NABARD and SIDBI
bank-industry linkage as well as of Commerce and Industry in India
better market access. If the have scope for providing market
(Assocham) has proposed to exposure to artisans and their
clusters are provided appropriate partner Bihar government to
improvement in infrastructure, for develop 14 industrial clusters for


THE BIHAR

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