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.

Film city in Bihar

The rise of Bhojpuri cinema and Bihari film makers in India have generated a new need: to have our own film industry in Bihar. With anti UP and Bihar slur by MNS and Shiv Sena, it is high time that we have our own film city on the line of Mumbai's film city or Ramoji Film city. That way we shall generate million of rupees in revenue and also give meaningful employments to many and also save ourselves from Raj and Uddhav types.
seeing the number of Bhojpuri film made, the project will be instant success. We need to help where others refuse to. For our nuclear programme we did that. Again Nitish's government ha hown that to develop the state we can tap our own accruals without crying hoarse for central funds. Similarly when MNS and SS has tried to boo u out of Mumbai, we must show them that we can do it.
Moreover such a high end film studio will be able to attract visitor, tourists and more investment and then make another success story. Bhojpuri cinema needs this and we can do it.

Patna Museum

The government of Bihar has granted a little over Rs. 2 crore for renovation of Patna museum. This is too little and too late. Bihar being the cradle of Indian civilsation fromearly centuries of Indian history, has lots of artefacts and evidences of early to imperial civilisation. Naturally Patna museum is a rich repository of the traces from the past. unfortunately the keepers of heritage and history have been callous i their bounden duty towards the nation and its people. the Museum is in real bad shape with creaking and leaking building, to poor display of objects, no organisation in display, no audio visual lectures, no trained guides, no proper drinking water and very inadequate and rude security. In a nutshell a visit to Patna museum is never pleasant. and it is always inconvenient. moreover since the general profile of the visitor is rural and uneducated, the museum authorities never bother to educate and entertain them. They think that if they have 'allowed' the visitors a peek into the bizarre history then that is sufficient. In fact the Hindi name of museum is ajayabghar (mysterious place) itself speaks volume of the expectations of people and authorities both.
And now the Bihar government has made a sanction of two crores of rupees for its renovation. This is a silly small amount and that too given without much planning. I am sure this would go in painting of the building and repair of the building. There would be nothing left. This is certainly not the way to put museum on the tourist map.
First the Bihar government and ASI needs to waken up to the need of very professional and world class museum management standards that includes world class exhibition and top class facilities to educate and entertain the visitors. Not all visitors are history experts and that's why an audio-visual lecture programme and also a demonstration on the process of excavation is called for.
More over there is an urgent need to reduce the rude and visible security in the form of untrained Bihar police/CISF to trained and educated police force to protect the artifacts and guide the visitors. At present they only intimidate.
The visitors must be able to enjoy the visit and all efforts must be made to make them comfortable and memorable. A cafeteria, book shop, a coffee shop, a curio shop, a photo studio with models of artifacts stored for backdrop and such things are needed to make them comfortable.
for this the government must need a world class architect and interior decorator with museology background. And a committee of historians/archaeologists should be formed(no IAS Please!!!) who can guide the restoration and renovation of the Patna museum. and the money must be in the level of 20 crores to achieve the goals. any thing less will make a mockery of the whole process.

Idea for a village school

Jaikishun Bigha. It is a village in troubled Jahanabad district of Bihar that you may not have heard about. It is sleepy village in Ghosi police station that has not been in news. It has no market, no medical help, no phone connections, no TV. Not even school. In fact children, and in good numbers even girls have been trekking to Okari for higher school which is miles away. This village of my ancestors needs many things to be able to keep pace with the world. It needs all that what a modern world needs. It needs to educate its children in peace and comfort. And help the children find a place under the sun.
I want to build a good, modern and well equipped high school till 12th in this village. To start with I don't know where the land and money and all other resources will come from. But then we must as education can not wait. I shall start by making myself available for the project. I am an academic, I can teach. So I shall start with that.
I have already thought of the name. All schools need a name. So it will be Rajendra Public School, named after my father who has done so much for people and the village. He will inaugurate the project and be the chairman and then it will work for no profit, no loss principle and be affiliated to CBSE.For rest suggestions are welcome