For all his shortcomings, Nitish Kumar has emerged as the great hope for Bihar, with a certain sincerity and earnestness in his style of functioning (How to Build a Reputation, Jun 18). It would be sad if the aam Bihari sinks back into the cynicism and despair that was the staple of Laloo raj.
Ebad, Bangalore Last month, I attended a national seminar on the Dynamics of Dalit Exclusion in Contemporary India held by the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at the Patna University. All three days of the seminar, there was no electricity for the ACs in the auditorium to work. There were participants from across the country. Nothing demonstrated before them the story of Bihar’s growth better. As for education, especially primary, it’s in bad shape. The large teaching army recruited by the government will ensure the future of students is doomed. The quality of teachers is pathetic, a majority of them recruited via the strenuous efforts of a former advocate-general for vested interests. The much-touted development is nowhere to be seen in the villages or in people’s conversations. They say the government’s efforts have only been for the haves. It explains the euphoria from the media and a tiny section of influential people. Why doesn’t the government fast-track the cases of Dalit atrocities? The Bathanitola verdict is a slur on the Patna HC. The government’s not yet challenged the perverse order. It just shows who’s in the driver’s seat.
A Dalit Speaks, Noida, UP
Nitish is our own Obama. His biggest asset is, he is not Laloo. His image might be bigger than his achievements, but then he’s building on ruins. Give him more time, I say.
Santosh Gairola, Hsinchu
The expectations from Bihar have increased after the new government came into power. We seem to think that Nitish has a magic wand that can eliminate all problems in the state within no time. We should be realistic and not expect a state grappling with 15 years of misrule to be resurrected in five minutes.
M. Shekhar, New Delhi
The Outlook cover along with another newspaper’s attempts to tarnish Nitish and his government points to a sinister campaign by the RJD-Congress combine. What makes these stories less credible is the fact that the ground opinion is solidly in favour of the JD(U)-BJP government. They are relieved to be rid of Laloo’s jungle raj. If they started believing these planted stories, they’d have to return to the dark ages.
Srinivas, Lucknow
Outlook’s audacity is amazing.
Kumar Virochit, on e-mail
Nitish had won by a landslide, mustering unprecedented electoral support from all—upper castes, minorities, OBCs, Dalits, including most backward castes and Mahadalits. However, for his schemes to succeed, he needs a trusted and honest team of bureaucrats in key positions. He also needs to attract industrial investments in Bihar and convince potential entrepreneurs that the state is now free from lawlessness.
Pramod Srivastava, Delhi
You can debate the quantum and pace of change. But change there is. Visibly so.
Pradip Singh, Stafford, UK
So, Nitish got an overwhelming mandate in 2010 on just a souped up reputation? I’m glad the majority of the people in my state read newspapers where Nitish’s message is relayed and his faux achievements lauded. People who have no idea of how Bihar had become a byword for utter lawlessness and helplessness can scarcely perceive our comfort at such scant improvement.
Amit, Tucson
This is an extremely irritating article. Nitpicking, unrealistic, illogical. Nitish may not be perfect, nobody is, but this article is clearly motivated.
Zafar, Sydney
The poverty rate has not budged an inch during Nitish’s rule. Poverty and malnutrition actually had come down in the 15 years of Laloo’s rule.
Rajesh Chandra, Phoenix
As far as I know, it was the famous historian from Patna, Arvind N. Das, who coined the phrase, The Republic of Bihar. Arvind ardently loved his dear, dear Bihar. How I wish he was around now to contribute to this interesting debate.
G. Niranjan Rao, Hyderabad
Contrary to what you think, Bihar ceased to be India’s second-most populous state after the formation of Jharkhand. Now, Maharashtra comes next to Uttar Pradesh in population.
Ravi Metre, San Francisco
