Nalanda Open University

this time in Patna I made an unplanned visit to Nalanda Open University located in BISCOMAUN building near Gandhi Maidan. It is an unique concept as the whole university, classes and examination halls are located in this one building. The Vice Chancellor is an ex-IAS officer V.S. Dubey, the legendary IAS officer of the state. I am opposed to IAS as VCs and told him in so many words. But he was very mild mannered, soft spoken and humble for the position he held. He is an apparent right winger, but very diligent administrator. Knowing fully well that I am looking at his university from Delhi university standards, he sent me with a man to have a look at ongoing examinations. And I returned fully impressed.
All rooms were spacious and airconditioned, invigilation staff was vigilant and strict, cameras were in all the rooms and was being monitored from a control room where magistrates and police officials were stationed, and VC was present to conduct the exams himself. I saw examinees of all age and sexes. There were even some in their 60s.
Then Dubey showed me the study material which were not as sophisticated as those of IGNOU, but then they were all written by local resource persons and were easy to understand. I met the man responsible for Political Science Professor Rahi who was my teacher too and was as sweet and amiable as he was then. I would say the university is in safer hands.
I feel that this well managed university needs to have a spacious campus and more of publicity. Good effort and full marks to Dubey, the VC. I wish other VCs were half as approachable.

Lower Bihari migrations outside Bihar

The Delhi newspapers have reported the drastic fall in arrival of Bihari students to Delhi University (DU). They are far below UP! And yet the general impression in Delhi is that Bihari students take admissions in roves and deprive Delhites of seats! In fact the same report suggested that some of the boards like Tamil Nadu give 90+ percentages easily and hey corner the best seats. Bihar board is very conservative in awarding marks.
Now that the general education and health situation in Bihar have improved, such migrations have stopped. So have the flight of capital to outside Bihar. And icing on the cake is the news that this year there has been 50% reduction in arrival of Bihari labour to Punjab and the crisis that Punjab is facing. Now in the beginning we must note that unlike Maharashtra, Punjab has always been very hospitable and caring towards Bihari labourers. but still massive construction works in Biahr, the political revival and better law and order in the state and above all NREGA have stemmed the tide and Biharis are finding well paid work nearer home where they can eat and live in familiar conditions. So they have stopped migrating.
Same for students and patients. The Nitish Government have taken many steps that has revolutionized the health care in the state. now nearer home they can get treatment and minor surgeries at village health centres or at least nearest medical colleges. many institutions of higher learning have been opened and many engineering colleges are coming up. So students have stopped going in droves. the best and affluent will always migrate but it the migration of poorest and lower middle class students that caused worries. that has stopped now.
so Mr Raj Thackeray take a back seat and relax. we don't need your Mumbai or Pune and fill the seats of otherwise bhaiji Fergusson College. eat your vada pavs and enjoy. If students
from Bihar do not come to your colleges yo will have to turn them into cold storage and store your vada pavs in them.

A new Central University is needed

The central government of India has proposed to set up a central University in Bihar and the Bihar government wants Patna University to be upgraded to central university. It may be good politics but in the end interests of Bihar would not be served. To change the work culture, infrastructure and syllabi etc is difficult as the experience of Allahabad University has amply shown. The old university refuses to improve and just enjoys the better benefits.
A completely new university would mean employment to thousands of people, lots of construction and a totally new work culture and younger man power translating into world standards of infrastructure and pedagogy. As it is it would start with a clean slate and would not be bogged down with older baggage.
Higher education is witnessing tremendous improvement under the Nitish Kumar's government. A new IIT, IIIT, Central University, A world class University, Chanakya Law University, Chandragupta Institute of Management and what not! never before Bihar had so many good institutions. Now it is imperative on the government to establish many engineering and medical colleges so that millions of Bihari students don't go out to vengeful places like Pune and suffer. Lets teach Pune a lesson in nationalism by boycotting Pune based colleges so that the capitalists who want our money but bad mouth us should be content with Marathi students.
Nitish Kumar is dutibound to do this to protect the self respect of Biharis.

TOURISM IN BIHAR: SUGGESTIONS

Tourism has the potentials to change the economic fate of Bihar. It has many very important religious sites of all religions, but for Hindus, Buddhists,Jains and Sikhs there is no escape. from Gaya to Bodh Gaya to Rajgir to Vaishali to Nalanda to Pawapuri to Patna Sahib it has all. the state needs to organise tourism to rake in biggest dollar intake, certainly bigger than the golden triangle of Delhi-Agra- Jaipur. It is an accepted fact that religious tourism ensures organised and greater flow of tourists. This has been the experience world over. the Bihar government is doing some thing but it has very huge task of over all economic regeneration before it self and naturally Tourism has not got the due it deserves.
The government must realise that tourism is a low investment, zero-gestation and high return industry. the main problem was bad reputation it had for law and order situation and that has improved dramatically. Now one can easily say that is is safer to be in Bihar than in Mumbai or Delhi. Kidnappings have completely stopped, police is active and criminals are on the run. At various tourist places like Nalanda and Rajgir I saw posse of police force to inspire confidence and have had no unpleasant experience.
The second requirement for tourism is infrastructure. Now that is complex as that would mean almost everything that would mean easy and comfortable stay. From Roads to quality buses and cars to easy long distance connectivity to more international standards rooms and food and of course better power situation. All this can be done by government and that can benefit the local population too.
But then this requires political will and fine expert planning and caring execution. It just cant be done by an IAS or any other government babu. It has to be done by a professional Bihar should hire them at all costs and then take two steps: constitute a Tourism Development Authority with enough teeth and financial powers. It should not be another government corporation but may be given on PPP model. Secondly, the Bihar government should appoint a TRAI style regulator to hear cases against agencies/individuals and make rules for all stake holders to follow. It can also compel Banks to offer loans to investors in tourism sector who can be offered a ten year tax holiday for Tourism projects.
Tourism can give employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly, bring investments and turn Bihar on global map. But all that can be done with lots of political courage and vision and guts to dream.