LOST IN TRANSLATION: A PORTRAIT OF BIHAR CM NITISH KUMAR

 There was a time, precisely in the second half of the first decade of this century, Nitish Kumar exuded a different streak of change and vision that were so loudly absent in a majority of Indian Politicians. He worked and worked tirelessly to transform or at least develop Bihar - a state that symbolised (and still so) all which can be described as pathetic. Nitish Kumar developed infrastructure and established law and order in Bihar after more than a decade. It was appreciated by all and he became a towering figure of hope and change. Schools, Hospitals & roads were put on track. Police had started to understand  their duties and acted accordingly. During that time he chose good advisers full of administrative acumen. And, he had an ideology that gave primacy to development. Political nonsense, something which is the mainstay of Indian Politics, was visibly absent in him. He was an ideal person.

Sadly, Nitish Kumar too became a victim of common human frailties. Ambition without care for values was one of them. He became lost on things that made him endearing to all earlier. He kept switching sides in politics in order to remain on the seat of chief minister . And, that was his fall from grace. Development meant little to him. Healthcare and Education are in shambles. He fancied himself as an apostle of prohibition and made selling and drinking alcohol banned in the state. It resulted in illigal production and consumption of alcohol that caused countless deaths. And, he has no remorse for this. Teachers are paid abysmally low and are hired on contract . He has no money to offer a respectable salary to teachers . No investments came. People continue to migrate to other states for employment. And, he has no remorse for this too.

Now he is busy in consolidating opposition parties of the country in order to amass support for, maybe, becoming the Prime Minister of India - the culmination of ambition for every politician in India . 

Nitish Kumar is in existential crisis and a classic case of a man who is Lost In Translation who is suffering loneliness and desperately trying to find meaning of his life political and otherwise. Political obituary nears towards him. Like everbody else, Time will show him the mirror cut especially for himself.

As a citizen I am personally sad to notice his fall as I like many adored him earlier.

A CHAT WITH A DUTCH RESEARCH SCHOLAR ON URBANIZATION IN SMALL TOWNS IN INDIA.

 Steven De Jongh, A Research Scholar from University of Amsterdam came to SAMASTIPUR - a town in the Indian province of Bihar. I met him and assisted him in his research work on the topic of Urbanisation in Small Towns in India. We visited many places and met people of all walks to gather information about the economic activities and growth.

SHASHI THAROOR AND THE PROSPECTS OF CONGRESS PARTY

 A day after tomorrow there is an election in the All India National Congress Party for the post of its President. The contenders for the post are not from the Gandhi family . This is something celebratory for the party after a long time. The two contenders are senior leaders : Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. Both are from the south. Both have a vision of uniting the party, the nation and the democratic forces. They have been on the campaign trail tirelessly putting across their viewpoints to congress workers and office bearers. Both keep emphasizing the urgent need to save the constitution and the democratic set-up of India by hitting hard on the ruling party.

Shashi Tharoor is in his 60s whereas Kharge is in his 80s. The party has constantly been on the decline and much of the credit of its debacle goes to the Gandhis - Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The party needs fresh blood in its political vein and this can only be possible by an outsider donar.

The moot question remains about the leadership post election : whether the elected president will have real powers or  he be just an extension of the Gandhis . The history of the party smells of the Gandhis' exorbitant hold and this is precisely one of the major reasons of party's present plight. The revival is possible only in freeing the party from the family and that is not in sight.

Shashi Tharoor is dynamic in every way and possesses tremendous capacity to make a turn around. His catchy slogan is appealing : Think Tomorrow Think Tharoor !

Tharoor's entry into Indian Politics has been less older than that of Kharge. The remarkable thing in him however is his transformation from a breezy bureaucratic man to someone who knows how to engage with common people. He spends time in his constituency of Thiruvananthapuram now and then is a testimony to his realization that Indian Politics is not about erudition and attending seminars rather it is based upon your hold upon the masses. He has moved from his earlier Cattle Class view of commoners and this is what will make him likeable in the electoral fray. On the other hand Gandhis won't like some strong individual to become Congress President who might not listen to them all the time. Shashi Tharoor will not fall in line every time. Kharge will always be pliable. The influence of Sonia will loom large and Shashi won't be a likely receiver of her blessings. 

Tomorrow might open a new chapter for the grand old party that always keep harping on Nehru, Indira and Rajiv and to some extent rightly so. If Shashi Tharoor wins, things will be better and the party will receive a much needed facelift. If Kharge wins (which is more likely) , things will be the same and the Gandhis will be busy pushing the party towards its death bed.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA