Editorial

Of Toppers, Education and Politics

By the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

Jitan Ram Manjhi was eerily prophetic when he compared Nitish Kumar to Bhishma, the celibate warrior who had to fight for the wrong side, the only difference here is that Bhishma was tied to the throne out of his vow and Nitish Kumar’s hands are tied because of his attachment to the throne. It’s sort of a Greek tragedy that is playing out in Bihar with rippling effects in every aspect of governance and public life.

 For those who don’t remember earlier term, Nitish was elected in after public of Bihar saw a hope in him, an alternate of RJD who will change the situation for good and in his earlier term he did try to make a difference. One case I remember reading in newspapers where the black money recovered from corrupt officials went to improve derelict government schools in urban and rural areas. Now the situation has changed, Nitish had decided to side with Lalu Yadav and his state’s education system is making headlines all over the world. Not too long ago CNN ran a news story of the prevalent cheating that goes on in state board exams. The man once known for his reforms is now a hapless puppet. May be this is what happens when good people stand with the wrong side.

 Bihar has given leaders like Jai Prakash Narayan, it has institutions like super 30 where every year students from under privileged backgrounds are making it premier schools such as IIT, the state has given numerous IAS, IPS, engineers or doctors but recent scandal in education not only sends out the wrong message about the many hardworking students and teachers but it also fosters the discouraging fact that Bihar will remain a backward state. State government is only making its position weaker by not presenting its position. Was this the Bihar Nitish Kumar promised to deliver?

 Not only  education, the law and order situation in the state is also a cause of concern, attacks on doctors and surgeons for ransom just shows the grip Nitish Kumar has on state. If people loose hope, if they give up on their own government, they will leave and this is why Biharis migrate in large numbers to the other parts of the country. The fabled jungle raj under Lalu Yadav came back under the very nose of the man in Patna who claimed to do away with it.

 

One Comment

  1. good governance and good state government are poles apart
    everywhere it is ‘make hay while the sun shines’
    this happens only in India???
    education has gone to dogs … everyone wants a degree and a high school certificate to reap the corn of reservation and its benefits