M A I L B A G

Making Bihar a prosperous state

The editorial “Rebuilding Bihar: The task ahead for Nitish Kumar” (Nov 25) gives a pertinent account of Bihar’s potential to become a prosperous state. The large untapped hydro potential coupled with fertile land can successfully be exploited to enhance the agricultural productivity which is further linked with the generation of employment opportunities.

A large chunk of unskilled labour has been migrating to agriculturally sound states like Punjab. The industry has also absorbed a sizeable number of Biharis. Though this migration has helped both — the cheap migratory labour and the local industry — this has resulted in dearth of jobs for the youth of the state who find it hard to compromise on meagre wages despite their hardworking disposition.

Consequently, the youth are forced to search for greener pastures overseas, no matter how. Bihar’s growth will not only benefit its people but indirectly affect the other states too on which the pressure would likely to decline and the local youth, who are going astray, shall find employment.

Dr GULSHAN SINGH BAHL, Ludhiana

II

The Lalu-Rabri misrule brought the state to near anarchy, daily abductions, murders and caste conflicts. Bihar has the lowest literacy and the highest poverty levels. A non-performing, corrupt and family-centric regime has gone. The electorate has also rejected caste politics.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should restore law and order. He must provide good governance and rapid development with transparency and accountability at all levels of the government. For this, he must weed out the caste-based, corrupt bureaucrats and the deadwood. The whole nation will closely watch his government’s performance.

Brig H.S. SANDHU (retd), Panchkula

III

Lalu Prasad Yadav, “a fodder eater, a village joker, a rank casteist” has got 200 cows, two horses, many pets and other paraphernalia, besides nine children to feed them, according to a report. A few years back, Lalu had said that he was a poor man, having no money to pay the school fees of his children.

I wish our country was saved from such politicians who usurp the wealth of the nation and flourish at the cost of the poor and downtrodden sections.

D.R. SHARDA, Chandigarh

IV

We are very happy to hear about the rout of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the Bihar elections. The people have got rid of the 15 years of lawlessness of Lalu Prasad Yadav-Rabri Devi combine.

When the Congress was defeated in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, BBC commented that “the Indian voter, though hungry and poor, gives the right decision at the right time”. The voters of Bihar have certainly proved this in the Assembly elections this time.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith NSW (Australia)

V

Admittedly, the Election Commission successfully checked rigging, booth capturing and consequent election-related violence in the Bihar elections with the help of paramilitary forces. The voter turn out was good and people voted without fear or favour.

I would also maintain that poll-related violence in any state could be checked if the state is kept under President’s rule during the elections. The Bihar government staff too, who were on election duty, deserve compliments for having ensured a free and fair election in the state.

N.M. HANSI, Ludhiana

Turning impossible into possible Napoleon Bonaparte once said that the word “impossible” is found in the fools’ dictionary. When ordinary mortals like us turn the impossible into possible, it is considered a miracle. Some people believe that miracles happen only for those who believe in them. So Napoleon might have believed that he had some uncanny gift from God to make miracles. But what happened at Waterloo? Clearly, no visionary or great man, even with the military genius of Napoleon, the patience of Abraham Lincoln, the wisdom of King Solomon or the philosophical insight of Socrates could turn the impossible into possible. Napoleon as such had only some misconceived notions about the human prowess. The mysterious syndrome or riddle has best been explained by Mirza Galib in a couplet where sometimes even the most simple and ordinary divine proposition is too difficult to resolve: Baske dushwaar hai har kaam ka asaan hona, Aadmi ko bhi muassar nahin insaan hona. S.P. SINGH, Chandigarh

Devoid of humanity

Old age is pathetic and the act of leaving the old people to die on the roadside is an act devoid of humanity. There was an old comedy called ‘Arsenic and old lace’ in which this person helps unwanted old people to the other side. It seemed so funny then, but now it seems may be there was some merit in it.

Being old a prayer goes up to the almighty to help us all to have an old age with dignity till death.

PREMUNDER KAUR, Faridabad