Editorials by Haimanti

Time is ripe again for the ‘homecoming’ of the Indian Diaspora: and also for celebrating their achievements. Twenty-five million plus people of Indian origin, whether or not born in India and living outside of India in over 100 countries, are drawn towards their motherland that is variously referred to as Bharat, Hindustan or simply India – a land of dreams. Yes, India is far from perfect. The mother, once richest in the world, is unable to fulfill the basic needs of its people such as food, education and healthcare today. But a mother is always a mother.

Today, India stands out not only because of its economic progress but also due to the fact that it has the world’s second largest population. Most of them are poor. The largest number of illiterate and poor people live in India. While the Government cannot do everything, it has certain responsibilities nonetheless. It is a shame that while people view India as a super power, the ground reality is that a very small percentage of its population reaps the benefits of progress. The so-called ‘trickle down’ effect is non-existent. The bottom of the pyramid continues to be huge.

The powerful and rich rule. Corruption is there in every part of the society, religious fanaticism is worrisome, gun-culture and separatism in the name of Jihad and Naxalism is threatening the very foundation of the nation.

No matter how disappointing the situation is, hope remains eternal because a glorious past is an impetus for a better future. Mark Twain, the celebrated creator of Tom Sawyer, had once said: “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!” India still remains that land of treasure and the responsibility to safeguard it rests with the current leadership and people alike. Indians living across the globe also have a responsibility as well. When people in India tend to slacken, the global Indians have been and can be great catalysts for change.

Will, determination and a great ethical and moral turn of the masses in the society can change the scenario any time. A huge population is a challenge for any progress, yet there lies opportunities – plenty of scope to undertake, both by people living in India and those living outside. India needs herculean efforts in many fields such as energy, education, water, environment, skill training and technology. The sky is the limit to pick from.

The Pravashi Bharatiya Divas, and other such events are great occasions to be part of. Hence, the homecoming becomes more relevant, not only for a feeling of the mother’s lap and her blessings and the reunion, but also for seeing what one can do to make India and the world at large, wherever one’s birthplace or workplace is, a better place to live in. That is the real treasure one can leave for the future generations.

I would like to thank our readers, subscribers, well-wishers and sponsors for all the support we have received for helping the NGI platform touch a new height. We wish you all a great and prosperous New Year 2014.

...

Bihar is close to my heart. Whenever I think about its legacy I get emotional not only because I was born in undivided Bihar, but of its glorious history and great contribution to Indian and world civilization at large. In 2000, when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar the feeling of oneness among Biharis was hurt and a lot of commotion took place in the region. Still, Bihar is the largest state as far as population is concerned, though 12th in size.

The name Bihar was derived from the Sanskrit and Pali word vihara, which means ‘abode’ and also centre of learning. Two of the greatest ancient learning centres, Nalanda and Vikarshila, were established in Bihar several centuries ago. The state’s contribution in the fields of education, arts, literature and spirituality has all along been immense.

However, let’s look at modern Bihar. Bihar has seen continuous decline in most areas in the recent past. Around 15 years of RJD misrule, which became synonymous with underdevelopment, ended in after the 2005 election, making for way for Nitish Kumar-led NDA. Kumar, known as the miracle man of Bihar, along with Deputy Chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, has transformed the state for the better since he took charge. His simple administrative formula helped restore law and order as he immersed himself in focusing on upgrading the state’s infrastructure that was neglected for decades.

Bihar’s glorious history dates back to India’s first politically unified nation in recorded history, the Mauryan empire, which was founded by Chandragupta Maurya around 300 BC. During that period Buddhism flourished in the region in what’s known as Bihar’s capital Patna.

Modern era started with the advent of Pathan of Bihar, Sher Shah who took over the reins of Bihar after the mass destruction and killing of Buddhist monks and educational institutions by invading Mughals. Sher Shah brought significant changes in infrastructure, administrative reforms, highways and several other initiatives.

Bihar was the hub of education and educational institutions for several centuries. But unfortunately Bihar lost the glory over time. However it is catching up again, thanks to establishments of new institutions to bridge the gap of inadequate educational infrastructure which created a huge gap for needs of people. Bihar established several new education institutes between 2006 and 2008, including BIT Mesra, Patna extension, IIT and NSIT. For long the craving for higher education among the state’s general population of Bihar had led to a massive migration of the student community from the state but now it is slowly recovering from the loss from the brain drain. In 2011, literacy rate went up to 64% from 47% in 2001.

Bihar is also a pioneer in the field of yoga with its internationally renowned institute Bihar School of Yoga in Munger. Ayurveda and yoga are inseparable and both originated as part of a greater system of Vedic knowledge. Ayurveda and yoga promote holistic health whose popularity is increasing every day globally. It is expected that the government should focus on establishing more schools for learning ayurveda and yoga to make them a money-spinner for the state.

Arts and crafts are the treasures of Bihar. Mithila painting originated at the time of the Ramayana, when King Janak commissioned artists to do paintings during the marriage of his daughter, Sita, to Lord Ram. Mithila painting is a unique style of Indian art practiced in the Mithila, Darbhanga, Madhubani region of Bihar. It is also known as Madhubani art, or Madhubani painting. The painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud wall of huts, but now it is also done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Mithila painting mostly depict men and its association with nature and scenes from ancient epics and divine representation of Krishna, Ram, Shiva, and Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and religious plants like tulsi are also widely painted, along with scenes from the royal court and social events like weddings. Art is the real reflection and depiction of human civilization and culture. Hectic lifestyle and technology intrusion fades away the interest of learning or nurturing these ancient art forms along with other art forms. One hopes that the government would take initiatives to showcase the art forms in the country and across the world by hosting exhibitions, conferences and by opening a few art schools.

And finally, as many great people said every dust of India is sacred; the same holds good for Bihar. It is fascinating to even think that Lord Buddha walked on this land. The land became pious when the last Jain Tirthankar Bardhaman Mahavir was born here. This land also has the honour of giving birth to the last Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. The state is full of ancient and modern monuments and pilgrimages. Bodhgaya, Vaishali and Patna are the holiest places in the state. Bodh Gaya, Gaya, Nalanda, Vikramshila Patliputra Rajgir Kesariya Pawapuri Sitamarhi Madhubani and many more a must-see as tourist destinations.

Some other greatest names in Indian and world history were also from Bihar which includes mathematician-scientist Aryabhata, economist --political guru Chanakya, emperors Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya and Samudragupta, poet Vidyapati and sage author Vatsyanana.

Nature has also given Bihar with abundance of charm and beauty. Bihar is a beauty queen with its flora and fauna and a very diverse climate. Its temperature is subtropical in general; it is a vast stretch of fertile plain drained by the Ganges. With numerous national parks and sanctuaries, it, indeed, is a tourist haven.

New Global Indian invites all to come and explore Bihar to experience the development, business, spirituality and tourism potential of the eastern Indian state.

...

Time is ripe again for the ‘homecoming’ of the Indian Diaspora: and also for celebrating their achievements. Twenty ive million plus people of Indian origin, whether or not born in India and living outside of India in over 100 countries, are drawn towards their motherland that is variously referred to as Bharat, Hindustan or simply India – a land of dreams. Yes, India is far from perfect. The mother, once richest in the world, is unable to fulill the basic needs of its people such as food, education and healthcare today. But a mother is always a mother. Today, India ...

Nobel laureate and doyen of Bengali literature Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Amar Sonar bangla, aami tomay bhalobashi’ (Oh! my golden Bengal, I love you) almost a century ago. As we celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the litterateur per excellence, we’re confronted with a pertinent question: has Gurudev’s dream of a golden Bengal is in Utopia? He did not live to see a free India, but he had great hopes and expectations from the people Bengal, who could contribute handsomely to a resurgent India. Has Bengal fulfilled his wish? A trip down memory lane illustrates a job well begun is only ...

Perhaps, it has been consigned to oblivion that Indian merchants roamed the world, and were, inarguably, the best for many centuries. Prior to the advent of the East India Company, India had the best ships in the world. But, as history reveals much of the entrepreneurial activities were first stolen, and later destroyed by the British. After Independence there was tardy progress, thanks to the government policies to empower this key sector. The only silver ray of hope, however, has been the emergence of successful entrepreneurs powered by the economic liberlisation in the early 1990s. India has a potential to ...