THE MIRACLE STORY OF BIHAR

Nitish Kumar is been described by many as the ‘miracle man’ of Bihar. The progress which Bihar has made in the last four years is nothing short of a miracle considering that the state was witnessing de-growth only half a decade back. The latest data released by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) shows that Bihar has grown at a stunning rate of 11.03% in the last five years. The most startling aspect is that, it is the second fastest growing state in India, just a shade behind Gujarat. Not surprisingly, it was only five years back that Nitish Kumar took over as the chief minister of Bihar after fifteen years of Lalu-Rabri jungle raja. So, what was the secret formula of Nitish Kumar that turned the Bihar story dramatically? The formula was simple- he worked on the basics. He focussed on two key areas- the law & order situation & infrastructure. The first and foremost challenge for Nitish was to restore the law of the land. During the Lalu-Rabri rule Bihar had become synonymous with kidnappings & killings. Eradicating this disease was not an easy task for Kumar. But his tight grip on the police departement ensured that the law of the land was gradually implemented. Speedy trial of criminal cases along with selection of police officers on merit instilled confidence in the public. The government also recruited 10,000 constables to bolster the security situation. And Kumar is confident that the perception of Bihar is finally changing with people recognizing that Bihar is a safe place to visit and do business. Many students and businessmen had left the state during the Lalu & Rabri’s tenure. Infrastructure was the other key area which saw a drastic expedition in the last five years. If the year 2004-05, saw the construction of a merly 318 kilometers of road, in 2008-09 nearly 2500 kilometers of road was constructed. The state saw construction on 316 flyovers between 1975 and 2004 but from the time Nitish took over, 400 flyovers have been constructed. The biggest testimony of these developments is the fact that the number of foreign tourists visiting the state has shot up from 95,000 in 2006 to 3.56 lakh in 2008. The other major achievement of Kumar was embarking on the mission to empower the women of the state. One of the first moves after the government took over was to reserve 50 per cent seats for women in urban local bodies and panchayats across the state. The government also started programs to encourage the girl students to go to school. One such scheme started by the government provides free uniform and cycle to girl students above class 8th. The drop out rate of girl students has come down from 25 lakh to 10 lakh. Kumar is now planning to extend the same scheme for boys. The leading business financial daily,‘The Economic Times’ awarded Kumar the prestigious ‘reformer of the year’ award recognizing his good work that is changing the fortunes of Bihar. After receiving the award, Kumar, in all his humility appealed to the top CEOs of India present there to invest in Bihar, which would help the state in moving forward. In his candid remark much to the audience delight he also added that ‘what is the use of a business award if companies don’t come to Bihar’. It was an honest plea by an honest chief minister. Maybe it may take bit more time before companies start heading towards Bihar. But one fact that Kumar has underlined by his performance is that –good governance & inclusive growth not only wins you elections & awards but also people’s heart & respect across the board.

Bihar's Satyam Kumar cracks IIT entrance test at 12

A child prodigy from Bhojpur district in Bihar has created history by cracking the IIT-JEE 2012 at the age of 12 years and nine months.

Even the most prodigious kids his age seldom aim beyond scoring the highest in their school exams, while most of them generally spend their time playing videogames, watching television and making the most of the rebellion that comes with adolescence. But at 12 years, Satyam Kumar, a farmer's son from Bihar, is a born achiever. After all, he cracked the immensely competitive and prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) this year. Nevertheless, dissatisfied with his performance - he has secured an all-India rank of 8,137 - Satyam plans to take the exam again next year. "I will appear again. I wish to score a better rank," he said. But the diligent boy's performance this year is hardly a mean feat considering nearly 5.07 lakh students appeared for the exam altogether. Born on July 20, 1999, Satyam is believed to be the youngest to crack the exam ever. IIT sources said the record was previously held by Delhi boy Sahal Kaushik, who made it to the Mecca of engineering aspirants at the age of 14 in 2010. Satyam gives the credit of his success to his parents, uncle and the teachers who "always motivated" him to focus on his goal. So how did he go about his preparation for the IIT-JEE? Satyam, who is currently taking coaching classes at the hub of engineering training, Kota, says he used to study for five hours in addition to the time spent at the tutorial classes. He added that apart from the course books, NCERT books on different subjects, too, helped him a lot. IIT, however, is only a stepping stone to a bigger dream Satyam harbours - he wants to become an IAS officer in the future. But not before he makes a mark in the field of information technology and develops a website such as Facebook. Satyam appeared in the IIT-JEE even before his class XII results were announced. But his talent in studies was there for all to see since his early childhood. He was first brought to Patna for his studies at the age of six but was later taken to Kota by one of his uncles. He took admission in Modern School, where he passed Classes VIII, X and XII with flying colours. "Initially, there were some problems in his admission when he went to Rajasthan because of his age. But his natural talent surprised everybody," one of his relatives said. "He has always been able to solve even the most difficult of mathematics problems with great ease. Not only this, as a child, he actually memorised some of the epics," he added. Though the prodigy will take another shot at IIT next year, his village has already begun celebrating his feat. After all, it doesn't happen every day that your neighbourhood genius becomes a national hero of sorts.

Reliving the glorious history of Bihar

If six hundred years before the Christian era is the germinal period of India's history, it was the fertility and the fecundity of the soil of Bihar wherein the seeds sprouted into trees with overarching branches. While lot of emphasis is laid on imperial contributions, the popular culture of Bihar has been just as significant. Exemplary pottery traditions developed in this region, one of the finest being the Northern Black Polished Ware or the NBP. The terracottas of Bihar bring out the vitality and richness in the life of the people adding colour to that which is mundane. Artists of the Mauryan period began to experiment in stone and sculpted the fine yaksha and the yakshini pieces and nowhere can one get a better example than the Didarganj yakshi. The rich polish imparted to the yakshi, her ornamentation, hair style and expression make it one of the finest pieces of sculpture in the country. Equally significant is the development of the economy of ancient Bihar which received an additional boost as the first metallic coins came into use in the lower Gangetic plains. These are the first of the un-inscribed coin series, made of copper and silver, the very unique punch-marked coins, whose appearance coincides with the phenomenal development of trade described in the Buddhist Jatakas. Two of the greatest political experiments began in Bihar. Vaishali became the seat of a powerful republic/oligarchy. In Rajagriha, the foundation of a monarchy was being laid, which would eventually develop into the most powerful empire that the country was to witness, as the wheels of the chariots of the Magadhan rulers traversed in different directions and created from a loose configuration of 'janapadas' and 'mahajanapadas' a powerful empire. But 'samratism' is not built on sword alone and lot of emphasis was being laid on the development of human resource. Well-being of the subject is a principle oftstated in the writings of Kautilya and finds echo in the edicts of Ashoka. The king's inscriptions are first evidence of a deciphered script which is Brahmi. Across the centuries the man gives a message which is the crux of good governance. Apart from giving the country a script, Bihar also developed as a hub of educational activities. The tradition of philosophical debates in the quest of knowledge goes back to an even earlier time. The early Upanishads were probably compiled in north Bihar and Raja Janaka's 'sabha' was the centre of debates and deliberations. The tradition continued and the monasteries of the Buddhists and Jains became centres of learning which reached great heights in the later period when Nalanda, Vikramashila and Odantapuri developed as universities. I F Bihar was writing the history of ancient India, the openness of the mind of the people made it the centre of religious experimentation. The Buddha stands out as a colossal figure, giving to the world the message of peace, brotherhood and nonviolence and, above all, the belief in the power of reasoning and individual effort. His contemporary Mahavira was preaching the tenets of Jainism and the two heterodox faiths impacted every aspect of Indian psyche. But other than the two great Teachers, there were numerous other sects preaching their respective worldviews, often very materialistic in their approach. The Ajivikas, to name one, contributed towards enrichment of philosophical debates. Bihar's contribution to the realm of art is closely linked to these traditions.The magnificent pillars of Ashoka, the great 'stupas', especially the ones at Nandangarh and Kesariya, and the caves at Barabar and Nagarjuni are splendid examples and leads one to speculate on the skill training that was being provided for. What is great about the greatness of ancient Bihar is the holistic development of the region without which masterpieces are not crafted. The writer teaches history at Patna University.

New Patna world City

Hafeez Contractor, one of India’s best known architects, plans to develop a world city alongside the river Ganges here – on the lines of Dubai – that will boast of eco-friendly buildings and water sports facilities, officials here say. “Contractor submitted his proposed plans to the state government during his visit here Tuesday,” an official said referring to the proposed New Patna World City. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reportedly impressed by Contractor’s plans to develop a future city in Patna.

“After Contractor met him in this connection, Kumar has asked development commissioner A.K. Sinha and top officials of the urban development department to have a meeting with Contractor to discuss it,” officials said. “All the high-rise buildings and apartments will be constructed on eco-friendly lines with water sports facilities on the river side,” the official said. An official of the urban development department told IANS that Contractor’s plans are to develop a new city spread over an area of 1,700 acres. This would include residential, commercial and entertainment centres on 300 acres while 350 acres would be developed as green fields. “He plans to develop a park on 600 acres on the lines of the New York park which is spread over 800 acres,” officials said. Other facilities like seven-star hotels, malls and shopping centres, schools, hospitals, health clubs, meditation centres, art galleries, convention centres and sports centres would be created in the planned city. Kumar Wednesday laid the foundation for Bihar’s first multi-storeyed industrial complex at the Fatuha industrial area near Patna. At a function on the occasion, he said Contractor had come up with a layout to develop land full of sand near the Ganges. Contractor said Patna has the potential to become a city like Delhi or Dubai. “Patna has a lot of potential with regard to infrastructure development, especially with the positive leadership in the state,” he said.