Indra's Drishtikona (Viewpoint) http://drishtikona.com My online journal with thoughts, opinions, comments and more.. Thu, 17 May 2012 09:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 Indra's Drishtikona (Viewpoint) http://drishtikona.com/images/favicon.gif http://drishtikona.com en Do Bigha Jameen and Still http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002982.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002982.php#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:35:58 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002982.php Do Bigha Jameen earning good living seems to achievable. The lucky ones with bigger land holding may live better life. But the very first requirement must be the interest of the farmers to go for farming seriously both as a commercial profession requiring experimentation with proven methods and with focus to improve every aspect of it through intensive farming. Every individual farmer must target to first reach the productivity of the best farmer in the village, then to the best of the larger geographical region such as district and the state. Ultimately, the target yield must be one by the best in the world. If Israel and China can achieve multifold of India’s yield, why should not the government facilitate Indian farmers to attain that? Is it not somewhat strange that a farmer in Israel harvests 7 tons of corn and his counterpart in India produces only one ton, harvests up to 200 tons of tomatoes whereas Indian produces only 6 tons on the same area of land? In intensive farming each plant is to be treated as a machine with a potential capacity. Why can’t Indian farmers switch over to drip irrigation if it helps? If R Madhavan, an alumnus of IIT-Madras who has taken up farming as profession rotate crop to get the most from the unit land, why can’t other farmer do that? As narrated by him, ‘In August, I start with paddy and harvest in December, plant vegetables in December itself and get the crops in February and after that, he goes for drought-resistant oil seeds like sesame and groundnut till May. My target is a net income of Rs 100,000 per annum per acre. I have achieved up to Rs 50,000.’ IIT graduates from Bihar itself have taken up to enhance the earning of the farmers. By cultivating rajma instead of wheat, the farmers earned Rs 1000 per kattha with an investment of Rs 400 for rajma. For wheat, they used to invest Rs 350 and reap 50kg produce per kattha, earning Rs 400 to 500.” The farmers must aim at maximizing the return from the available land and that can come through switching over to different crops, be it baby corn, or medicinal plants in water scarce region in off season. All over India, many young educated entrepreneurs are going for innovating ways and means to increase the returns from the farm with progressive cultivation. But naturally, one will have to give up some old taboo still entrenched in many traditional families. It was the reason that my family never handed over the extra milk of the cows and buffalos for sale, nor did it sell vegetables produced that were excess than the family needed. All the produce had to be distributed in neighbourhood free. Farmer families must take up the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, growing cattle and fishery and even food processing to add value to their produce if they want a life of good quality and shake off all the myths and taboos. However, today one can’t get into agriculture without the basic scientific knowledge of it. And for that reason, basic farming as a subject must be part of curricula in secondary education, at least in rural schools, as more than 50% of their populations are to earn their living some way or other from the farming. It will be essential for intensive farming. ========== फिलहाल एक किसान परिवार की औसत आय 2400 रुपये मासिक है। एक सरकारी चपरासी की आय भी कम-से-कम 15 हजार रुपये है। ]]> Do Bigha Jameen earning good living seems to achievable. The lucky ones with bigger land holding may live better life. But the very first requirement must be the interest of the farmers to go for farming seriously both as a commercial profession requiring experimentation with proven methods and with focus to improve every aspect of it through intensive farming. Every individual farmer must target to first reach the productivity of the best farmer in the village, then to the best of the larger geographical region such as district and the state. Ultimately, the target yield must be one by the best in the world. If Israel and China can achieve multifold of India’s yield, why should not the government facilitate Indian farmers to attain that? Is it not somewhat strange that a farmer in Israel harvests 7 tons of corn and his counterpart in India produces only one ton, harvests up to 200 tons of tomatoes whereas Indian produces only 6 tons on the same area of land? In intensive farming each plant is to be treated as a machine with a potential capacity. Why can’t Indian farmers switch over to drip irrigation if it helps? If R Madhavan, an alumnus of IIT-Madras who has taken up farming as profession rotate crop to get the most from the unit land, why can’t other farmer do that? As narrated by him, ‘In August, I start with paddy and harvest in December, plant vegetables in December itself and get the crops in February and after that, he goes for drought-resistant oil seeds like sesame and groundnut till May. My target is a net income of Rs 100,000 per annum per acre. I have achieved up to Rs 50,000.’ IIT graduates from Bihar itself have taken up to enhance the earning of the farmers. By cultivating rajma instead of wheat, the farmers earned Rs 1000 per kattha with an investment of Rs 400 for rajma. For wheat, they used to invest Rs 350 and reap 50kg produce per kattha, earning Rs 400 to 500.” The farmers must aim at maximizing the return from the available land and that can come through switching over to different crops, be it baby corn, or medicinal plants in water scarce region in off season. All over India, many young educated entrepreneurs are going for innovating ways and means to increase the returns from the farm with progressive cultivation. But naturally, one will have to give up some old taboo still entrenched in many traditional families. It was the reason that my family never handed over the extra milk of the cows and buffalos for sale, nor did it sell vegetables produced that were excess than the family needed. All the produce had to be distributed in neighbourhood free. Farmer families must take up the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, growing cattle and fishery and even food processing to add value to their produce if they want a life of good quality and shake off all the myths and taboos. However, today one can’t get into agriculture without the basic scientific knowledge of it. And for that reason, basic farming as a subject must be part of curricula in secondary education, at least in rural schools, as more than 50% of their populations are to earn their living some way or other from the farming. It will be essential for intensive farming. ========== फिलहाल एक किसान परिवार की औसत आय 2400 रुपये मासिक है। एक सरकारी चपरासी की आय भी कम-से-कम 15 हजार रुपये है। ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002982.php/feed/ Do Bigha Jameen http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002980.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002980.php#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:51:29 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002980.php suggest that the average wheat productivity surged perceptibly to 2.94 tonnes a hectare, from 2.83 tonnes in 2009-10. At this level, India’s average wheat productivity is comparable with that of the US’ at 2.6 tonnes, though it is far below China’s at 4.7 tonnes. The farmers and also the concerned government agencies in other state such as Bihar must at first try to achieve the productivity in wheat production to the level of Punjab removing all the constraints and then draw a roadmap to reach the productivity of the farmers in China. The government must facilitate and motivate the farmers to enhance the productivity levels of the production of various grains, be it paddy, pulses or oilseed. Many are exploring to improve upon the productivity and earning through various means. Farming needs the knowledge of its science, management and business approach. The farmers today can’t compete or grow without a new approach. As reported, Anju Srivastava has been able to explode productivity by introducing high-value, low-water use crops and modern farming techniques. When Srivastava tweaks traditional cropping pattern, swapping jowar and bajra for herbs and salads, converting to drip irrigation to save gallons of water and bring down electricity bills, using composting and other sustainable farming techniques to conserve and improve soil, she gets exponentially higher output of already high-value produce. Srivastava, through these techniques, has managed to get '12 lakh per acre per annum, thus creating wealth. “My farmer’s family incomes have gone up from '20,000 to '3 lakh per annum,” for every acre of land they continue to own. Fortunately, many are trying to experiment on the ways and means to make farming as professional interesting and profitable. Contract farming, improved irrigation facilities, progressive farming practices besides the better seeds from right sources do bring many miracles that were not known earlier. The state agriculture universities must shake off their laboratories-centric mentality and take their innovations to the farmers. The state government must make it happen. Nitish Kumar wishes to send the farmers to China. I wish the farmers from all over the country must start learning from the best achieved in the country. There must be extensive exchange visits among the farming community. The scientists must go for intensive research to make ‘do bigha jameen’ productive enough to sustain a small family. ]]> suggest that the average wheat productivity surged perceptibly to 2.94 tonnes a hectare, from 2.83 tonnes in 2009-10. At this level, India’s average wheat productivity is comparable with that of the US’ at 2.6 tonnes, though it is far below China’s at 4.7 tonnes. The farmers and also the concerned government agencies in other state such as Bihar must at first try to achieve the productivity in wheat production to the level of Punjab removing all the constraints and then draw a roadmap to reach the productivity of the farmers in China. The government must facilitate and motivate the farmers to enhance the productivity levels of the production of various grains, be it paddy, pulses or oilseed. Many are exploring to improve upon the productivity and earning through various means. Farming needs the knowledge of its science, management and business approach. The farmers today can’t compete or grow without a new approach. As reported, Anju Srivastava has been able to explode productivity by introducing high-value, low-water use crops and modern farming techniques. When Srivastava tweaks traditional cropping pattern, swapping jowar and bajra for herbs and salads, converting to drip irrigation to save gallons of water and bring down electricity bills, using composting and other sustainable farming techniques to conserve and improve soil, she gets exponentially higher output of already high-value produce. Srivastava, through these techniques, has managed to get '12 lakh per acre per annum, thus creating wealth. “My farmer’s family incomes have gone up from '20,000 to '3 lakh per annum,” for every acre of land they continue to own. Fortunately, many are trying to experiment on the ways and means to make farming as professional interesting and profitable. Contract farming, improved irrigation facilities, progressive farming practices besides the better seeds from right sources do bring many miracles that were not known earlier. The state agriculture universities must shake off their laboratories-centric mentality and take their innovations to the farmers. The state government must make it happen. Nitish Kumar wishes to send the farmers to China. I wish the farmers from all over the country must start learning from the best achieved in the country. There must be extensive exchange visits among the farming community. The scientists must go for intensive research to make ‘do bigha jameen’ productive enough to sustain a small family. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002980.php/feed/ Bihar: Need of Water Conservation http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002916.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002916.php#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 08:17:13 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002916.php I get amazed when I hear the news of water level in various parts of Bihar going down and wells for drinking water getting dried. It is happening in a state with large number of famous rivers flowing through it. Simultaneously it’s shocking that neither the government nor the people at village level are doing anything to understand the reasons of this malady in our own callous approaches in recent past. One can find misuse and wastage of water everywhere, irrigation water flowing out of canal going to waste land or in other rivulets to reach finally the main river. Over irrigation is also another factor. There is hardly any endeavour for preservation of water or water harvesting, leave aside the innovative methods of effective water requirements for farming through drip irrigation or other advanced methods. I go down the memory lane, and find gradually the large number of water bodies, ponds, ahar etc disappearing in almost every village. Diesel or electric run water pumps were not there, but industrious farmers used to toil hard with the primitive means of irrigation for transferring water from the water bodies for cultivating the fields. Wells were dug even inside the farm to use for irrigation by Persian wheel that was perhaps the best mechanical equipment in use for irrigation. My mother got a well dug by me in one summer holiday to irrigate a plot of land that didn’t have facility to get canal water. One of my uncles got a pond dug in our village. It is unfortunate that most of the water bodies of the villages have been filled up to create farmland or encroached for building habitation. It has happened because of lack of education and appreciation about the need of the water-bodies and short sightedness. Some bigger water-bodies have got silted over the years and hardly even with schemes like NREGA, some effective programmes have been undertaken to refurbish those water-bodies. Though years after years, the finance minister of India talked of renovating the hundreds of thousands of water-bodies of the countries in his budget speech budgets, nothing concrete happened on the ground. Death of natural water bodies must have been causing the fall of the water levels. Even the government grazing areas and extra land used as road by bullock carts have not been spared and forcibly and illegally occupied. I am not against providing government land to the landless families for building their houses if required, but it must be done following some rules and recorded. It should not be free for all under particular scheduled categories. The mad rush to increase the land for paddy and wheat must stop. 1.As the most urgent step, the various types of water-bodies must be defined, recorded and mapped through a detail survey. And every panchayat must take the responsibility of maintaining the same through NREGA or other schemes and saving them. 2.Every possibilities of creating water-bodies with huge projects of road building requiring a lot of earth digging must be explored and executed. Any new road project may create a large number of water-bodies too. 3.Every village and town, small and big, must undertake the schemes for conserving the rain water. 4.Possibilities of storing water in every river and water streams, even the seasonal ones such as Thora Baba in my district Rohtas or several rivers feeding Kosi through suitable barrages as executed in Gujarat for Village Pond, Check Dam, Boribandh dams (sand bag dams), must be explored. 5.It will not be a bad idea to encourage the old practices of creating water ponds by rich people in villages or by a community through donations. 6.Bihar government must invite and allure companies such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd with a plan of the setting up of the ‘India Water Body' (IWB) to address water scarcity in India. 7.Agriculture and engineering universities must take innovation projects for water conservation related products and projects. Farmers need to be educated about farming system such as the rice intensification system that requires less water. A lot of education is required to save water in rural Bihar. It can bring manifold improvement in the prosperity of the region. In absence of that, all dreams will remain on paper. Use effectively every drop of water that comes from the sky, and all the water that flows through our rivers. PS: Rohini Nilekani, the wife of Nandan Nilejani, had written an article, ‘How Not To Stop The Flow’ about the need for a water policy and water conservation in Times of India, May 28, 2011.]]> I get amazed when I hear the news of water level in various parts of Bihar going down and wells for drinking water getting dried. It is happening in a state with large number of famous rivers flowing through it. Simultaneously it’s shocking that neither the government nor the people at village level are doing anything to understand the reasons of this malady in our own callous approaches in recent past. One can find misuse and wastage of water everywhere, irrigation water flowing out of canal going to waste land or in other rivulets to reach finally the main river. Over irrigation is also another factor. There is hardly any endeavour for preservation of water or water harvesting, leave aside the innovative methods of effective water requirements for farming through drip irrigation or other advanced methods. I go down the memory lane, and find gradually the large number of water bodies, ponds, ahar etc disappearing in almost every village. Diesel or electric run water pumps were not there, but industrious farmers used to toil hard with the primitive means of irrigation for transferring water from the water bodies for cultivating the fields. Wells were dug even inside the farm to use for irrigation by Persian wheel that was perhaps the best mechanical equipment in use for irrigation. My mother got a well dug by me in one summer holiday to irrigate a plot of land that didn’t have facility to get canal water. One of my uncles got a pond dug in our village. It is unfortunate that most of the water bodies of the villages have been filled up to create farmland or encroached for building habitation. It has happened because of lack of education and appreciation about the need of the water-bodies and short sightedness. Some bigger water-bodies have got silted over the years and hardly even with schemes like NREGA, some effective programmes have been undertaken to refurbish those water-bodies. Though years after years, the finance minister of India talked of renovating the hundreds of thousands of water-bodies of the countries in his budget speech budgets, nothing concrete happened on the ground. Death of natural water bodies must have been causing the fall of the water levels. Even the government grazing areas and extra land used as road by bullock carts have not been spared and forcibly and illegally occupied. I am not against providing government land to the landless families for building their houses if required, but it must be done following some rules and recorded. It should not be free for all under particular scheduled categories. The mad rush to increase the land for paddy and wheat must stop. 1.As the most urgent step, the various types of water-bodies must be defined, recorded and mapped through a detail survey. And every panchayat must take the responsibility of maintaining the same through NREGA or other schemes and saving them. 2.Every possibilities of creating water-bodies with huge projects of road building requiring a lot of earth digging must be explored and executed. Any new road project may create a large number of water-bodies too. 3.Every village and town, small and big, must undertake the schemes for conserving the rain water. 4.Possibilities of storing water in every river and water streams, even the seasonal ones such as Thora Baba in my district Rohtas or several rivers feeding Kosi through suitable barrages as executed in Gujarat for Village Pond, Check Dam, Boribandh dams (sand bag dams), must be explored. 5.It will not be a bad idea to encourage the old practices of creating water ponds by rich people in villages or by a community through donations. 6.Bihar government must invite and allure companies such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd with a plan of the setting up of the ‘India Water Body' (IWB) to address water scarcity in India. 7.Agriculture and engineering universities must take innovation projects for water conservation related products and projects. Farmers need to be educated about farming system such as the rice intensification system that requires less water. A lot of education is required to save water in rural Bihar. It can bring manifold improvement in the prosperity of the region. In absence of that, all dreams will remain on paper. Use effectively every drop of water that comes from the sky, and all the water that flows through our rivers. PS: Rohini Nilekani, the wife of Nandan Nilejani, had written an article, ‘How Not To Stop The Flow’ about the need for a water policy and water conservation in Times of India, May 28, 2011.]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002916.php/feed/ Halloween: Some lessons for Indian Farmers http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002829.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002829.php#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:28:49 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002829.php Halloween all the day. Halloween means pumpkin. One can find all regions dotted with pumpkin patches. Yamuna had a query. Has it got something to do with farmer? She says she smells of a pre-diwali ritual in rural Bihar in Halloween. I can't say anything affirmatively. Here is a statement from web.
"Long ago, the Celts of the British Isles used cross-quarter days to mark the beginnings of seasons. Winter began with Halloween, or as they called it, Samhain." "Halloween marked the transition between summer and winter, light and dark -- and life and death. On that one night, according to folklore, those who had died during the previous year returned for a final visit to their former homes. People set out food and lit fires to aid them on their journey -- but remained on guard for mischief the spirits might do."
I started the day with putting a note in face book. It remembered my mother and her liking of pumpkin, Kumhra. She used to grow one or two plants in her courtyard using the roof for its growing. Output was so huge that she could go on giving them to all whom she liked or who asked for it. Some were sent to even relatives in other villages to serve the marriage party. There are many such plants that can sustain a small family. I don't know why it is not grown and marketed in our poor country.
On Saturday, we visited a pumpkin patch and bought three pumpkins for $16. One can notice the ad in the photograph. A day before, Shannon had gone along with Emma to a farm. KID r Kid, the daycare school of Emma and Zach organized it. As I could understand, the farmer got paid $10 for each visiting person. Shannon was complaining that the farmer would have at least arranged for toilet facilities for those kids. With bus load of kids coming from three different schools, the farmer made good money may be up to $500-600, and the kids got firsthand knowledge of the farm, cattle, and perhaps farm equipment such as tractors. It is win-win for everyone. I am sure the farmer could have marketed some product of daily domestic use.
Farmers in India must also emulate and innovate on the potential for rural tourism and look for the guests who can add to their earning. It can create some employment too. The villages near the metros and other bigger cities with large number of rich private schools have this opportunity. There can be hundred and one ways to create some business activities in rural India that improves the engagements of the people there. Someone can pioneer and create a museum of the evolution of the farming over the years in his plot of land with exhibits of say, various ways followed over years for irrigating the land. Petty farmers in US as in India or for that matter of any country are poor. They look for adding to their earning. Here is a story.
Lafranchi runs a dairy in the tiny western Marin County hamlet, and fluctuating milk prices had put his livelihood at risk. So a little more than 10 years ago, he turned to an organic farmer to help convert a flat parcel of land into a field of pumpkins and other vegetables. Every autumn, Lafranchi's land bursts with the colors of the harvest and the sounds of happy children picking pumpkins, going on hayrides, getting lost in mazes and bouncing in an inflatable jumper.
And in afternoon, the Harmony community had organized a Halloween Parade. I joined it with Emma and Shannon. Anand couldn't as Zach was asleep at home. There was a good gathering, but unfortunately the function lacked organization. Someone would have taken lead and planned the function. Surprisingly, a large number of those attending the function were from India. I met with few. But I don't know why the Indian youths are hesitant to have social contacts. This was a good opportunity to have it, but I didn't see anyone trying for it. Everyone was just mute spectator. ]]> Halloween all the day. Halloween means pumpkin. One can find all regions dotted with pumpkin patches. Yamuna had a query. Has it got something to do with farmer? She says she smells of a pre-diwali ritual in rural Bihar in Halloween. I can't say anything affirmatively. Here is a statement from web.
"Long ago, the Celts of the British Isles used cross-quarter days to mark the beginnings of seasons. Winter began with Halloween, or as they called it, Samhain." "Halloween marked the transition between summer and winter, light and dark -- and life and death. On that one night, according to folklore, those who had died during the previous year returned for a final visit to their former homes. People set out food and lit fires to aid them on their journey -- but remained on guard for mischief the spirits might do."
I started the day with putting a note in face book. It remembered my mother and her liking of pumpkin, Kumhra. She used to grow one or two plants in her courtyard using the roof for its growing. Output was so huge that she could go on giving them to all whom she liked or who asked for it. Some were sent to even relatives in other villages to serve the marriage party. There are many such plants that can sustain a small family. I don't know why it is not grown and marketed in our poor country.
On Saturday, we visited a pumpkin patch and bought three pumpkins for $16. One can notice the ad in the photograph. A day before, Shannon had gone along with Emma to a farm. KID r Kid, the daycare school of Emma and Zach organized it. As I could understand, the farmer got paid $10 for each visiting person. Shannon was complaining that the farmer would have at least arranged for toilet facilities for those kids. With bus load of kids coming from three different schools, the farmer made good money may be up to $500-600, and the kids got firsthand knowledge of the farm, cattle, and perhaps farm equipment such as tractors. It is win-win for everyone. I am sure the farmer could have marketed some product of daily domestic use.
Farmers in India must also emulate and innovate on the potential for rural tourism and look for the guests who can add to their earning. It can create some employment too. The villages near the metros and other bigger cities with large number of rich private schools have this opportunity. There can be hundred and one ways to create some business activities in rural India that improves the engagements of the people there. Someone can pioneer and create a museum of the evolution of the farming over the years in his plot of land with exhibits of say, various ways followed over years for irrigating the land. Petty farmers in US as in India or for that matter of any country are poor. They look for adding to their earning. Here is a story.
Lafranchi runs a dairy in the tiny western Marin County hamlet, and fluctuating milk prices had put his livelihood at risk. So a little more than 10 years ago, he turned to an organic farmer to help convert a flat parcel of land into a field of pumpkins and other vegetables. Every autumn, Lafranchi's land bursts with the colors of the harvest and the sounds of happy children picking pumpkins, going on hayrides, getting lost in mazes and bouncing in an inflatable jumper.
And in afternoon, the Harmony community had organized a Halloween Parade. I joined it with Emma and Shannon. Anand couldn't as Zach was asleep at home. There was a good gathering, but unfortunately the function lacked organization. Someone would have taken lead and planned the function. Surprisingly, a large number of those attending the function were from India. I met with few. But I don't know why the Indian youths are hesitant to have social contacts. This was a good opportunity to have it, but I didn't see anyone trying for it. Everyone was just mute spectator. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002829.php/feed/ Bihar Visit: Some Whom I Met http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002806.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002806.php#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:15:36 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002806.php My conversation with my maternal uncle Chandra Mani Tiwari at Sasaram during my short stay revealed some value issues. We are getting miser on love, affection, respect, and sacrifice. Usually Mamaji earlier never got tired of talking very high of his grandson Golu, who got a very good rank in IIT-JEE and is now in IIT, Delhi. I did also write about Golu's excellent performance. However, Mamaji this time was very shore about Golu's detached behavior with family members. With success in life, a person must remain humble and respect the family bond. 'Vidya Dadati Vinatyam'. And I find him unhappy and dissatisfied even in a family of four grown sons to take care of him. Somehow, the children these days are getting less sensitive about the elders. Perhaps the main reason also may be unexpected sensitivity with increasing helplessness with age. With daughters-in-law in Sasaram as well as Ramnagar working as teachers, Mamaji finds himself alone with none to attend to him. While at Pipra I distinctly noticed an unusual and disturbing change. Hardly anyone goes and spends time with others that was very common earlier. It's not that people are busier these days. The disease of egomania is spreading fast. Why should we go to others if they don't come? I used to see many visiting us at our home but hardly few did this time. Is Pipra becoming Pleasanton and Noida? Is it because of tremendous rise in the prices of land and also yields and MSP of rice paddy and wheat? I wish younger generation don't copy wrong examples.
One day when I returned after visiting the school, I found Basdeo baba waiting for me. I was pained to see the wrestler of yester years as a helpless person. Years ago Basdeo baba suffered a paralysis attack. He couldn't get the right treatment. His hand fingers can't hold anything. It's difficult for him to take food. He somehow holds a spoon and eats. I found him fighting to take the sweets that my aunty had sent for him. Veeru, our house assistant helped him. I really got a shock. Old age and decease makes life miserable. His eldest son is an M.Tech in metallurgy from Institute of Technology, BHU. He is in good position in SAIL. Unfortunately, he has hardly anything to do with his family here in village. Basdeo baba kept on talking about him; how he carried rice on his head in rainy seasons to sell in Sasaram and take the money to pay his son's dues in Varanasi. Basdeo baba also expressed concern about the marriage of his son's daughter and his eldest son's inability to arrange that. I liked Basdeo baba since my childhood for different reasons. One was certainly his inquisitiveness. It was very difficult to convince him that the earth rotates. Even this time he enquired if I know why the vultures are getting extinct. I told him, "May be because of the gradual reduction of the number of cattle, as tractors have replaced bullocks totally in the village." I don't know if my answer satisfied him. But he didn;t expressed himself.
Chandi Chacha is younger to me in age and perhaps the nearest in the extended family at Pipra. He did his schooling from nearby Samahuta High School. I remember him as one with very bad handwriting in his childhood. One day I got the surprise of my life when I came to know that he has completed M.A in English and after training become a teacher of English. I still can't imagine how he would have been doing a justice in teaching the language to his students. He has retired but like many in Bihar is still working with the school on contract, as the teacher for English are in short supply in Bihar. He is very sweet to talk with. Unfortunately unlike his cousin who studied with him and got a job with Indian Railways, Chandi chacha's sons have not done well and fighting to establish themselves still. I tried to convince Chandi chacha to work for improving the condition of the village school, but somehow because of the village politics or personal reason he didn't commit.
I could not find a single soul that is ready to take some interest in any project related to the improvement of village. It's all due to the present Mukhia. Unfortunately, no one speaks against him openly. And I found myself helpless. The rural India still lacks good education, as Maithili Saran Gupta, the famous Hindi poet has written and so remains short of happiness and peace. Today I did a search for Pipra on Google and surprisingly got a shock of life with the result. ]]> My conversation with my maternal uncle Chandra Mani Tiwari at Sasaram during my short stay revealed some value issues. We are getting miser on love, affection, respect, and sacrifice. Usually Mamaji earlier never got tired of talking very high of his grandson Golu, who got a very good rank in IIT-JEE and is now in IIT, Delhi. I did also write about Golu's excellent performance. However, Mamaji this time was very shore about Golu's detached behavior with family members. With success in life, a person must remain humble and respect the family bond. 'Vidya Dadati Vinatyam'. And I find him unhappy and dissatisfied even in a family of four grown sons to take care of him. Somehow, the children these days are getting less sensitive about the elders. Perhaps the main reason also may be unexpected sensitivity with increasing helplessness with age. With daughters-in-law in Sasaram as well as Ramnagar working as teachers, Mamaji finds himself alone with none to attend to him. While at Pipra I distinctly noticed an unusual and disturbing change. Hardly anyone goes and spends time with others that was very common earlier. It's not that people are busier these days. The disease of egomania is spreading fast. Why should we go to others if they don't come? I used to see many visiting us at our home but hardly few did this time. Is Pipra becoming Pleasanton and Noida? Is it because of tremendous rise in the prices of land and also yields and MSP of rice paddy and wheat? I wish younger generation don't copy wrong examples.
One day when I returned after visiting the school, I found Basdeo baba waiting for me. I was pained to see the wrestler of yester years as a helpless person. Years ago Basdeo baba suffered a paralysis attack. He couldn't get the right treatment. His hand fingers can't hold anything. It's difficult for him to take food. He somehow holds a spoon and eats. I found him fighting to take the sweets that my aunty had sent for him. Veeru, our house assistant helped him. I really got a shock. Old age and decease makes life miserable. His eldest son is an M.Tech in metallurgy from Institute of Technology, BHU. He is in good position in SAIL. Unfortunately, he has hardly anything to do with his family here in village. Basdeo baba kept on talking about him; how he carried rice on his head in rainy seasons to sell in Sasaram and take the money to pay his son's dues in Varanasi. Basdeo baba also expressed concern about the marriage of his son's daughter and his eldest son's inability to arrange that. I liked Basdeo baba since my childhood for different reasons. One was certainly his inquisitiveness. It was very difficult to convince him that the earth rotates. Even this time he enquired if I know why the vultures are getting extinct. I told him, "May be because of the gradual reduction of the number of cattle, as tractors have replaced bullocks totally in the village." I don't know if my answer satisfied him. But he didn;t expressed himself.
Chandi Chacha is younger to me in age and perhaps the nearest in the extended family at Pipra. He did his schooling from nearby Samahuta High School. I remember him as one with very bad handwriting in his childhood. One day I got the surprise of my life when I came to know that he has completed M.A in English and after training become a teacher of English. I still can't imagine how he would have been doing a justice in teaching the language to his students. He has retired but like many in Bihar is still working with the school on contract, as the teacher for English are in short supply in Bihar. He is very sweet to talk with. Unfortunately unlike his cousin who studied with him and got a job with Indian Railways, Chandi chacha's sons have not done well and fighting to establish themselves still. I tried to convince Chandi chacha to work for improving the condition of the village school, but somehow because of the village politics or personal reason he didn't commit.
I could not find a single soul that is ready to take some interest in any project related to the improvement of village. It's all due to the present Mukhia. Unfortunately, no one speaks against him openly. And I found myself helpless. The rural India still lacks good education, as Maithili Saran Gupta, the famous Hindi poet has written and so remains short of happiness and peace. Today I did a search for Pipra on Google and surprisingly got a shock of life with the result. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002806.php/feed/ Pipra, My Village: Some Landmarks http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002804.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002804.php#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:07:36 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002804.php Paddy Transplanter too.
Oldest Temple in Pipra
While the oldest temple in the centre of the village survives, it certainly requires renovation and an overall make up all around. Particularly, the drainage needs improvement. The lane to the Kali temple starts from near the temple and that is really shabby with water logging.
Kali-sthan
Kali-sthan remains the most popular place of worship that is most visited by the women of all community for various family functions as well as during festivals. On Rakshabandhan this year, there was a big function with havan costing thousands of rupees. I came to know of it as my uncle took a lead in organizing it. I visited Kali-sthan with uncle and discussed certain additional construction to make it more comfortable for those who come to worship. I consider it important, as Kali-sthan is almost the door to the part of village that is inhabited by the so-called Harijans (word coined by Mahatama) or Dalits (word more fashionable these days).
Covered hravester between two temples. Front one built by Lakshman and the at the rear one by Basdeo baba
Over the years some other temples also have come up. Lakshman was a barber who has got constructed a temple in north of the village. He was one of the most visible persons of his time. It took long time as it was through small donations from small people. But I consider that as an example of the success of will power of even a small man.
Statue of Hanumanji and Basdeo baba's Temple
And very near to this, another temple of Hanumanji has come up. Basdeo Baba has been behind its construction. Basdeo Baba was a wrestler in his youth and he had his 'akhara' nearby. I did contribute to this temple Rs 20,000 for the statue when he asked me once during my visit to the village. According to my uncle there is one more temple of Shiva in north outside the village. There is a plan to renovate it. I could not vast that. I still pity that the major community of the village and particularly the educated lot including former headmasters and teachers don't take interest in the school and do something collectively or individually to make it the most important landmark of the village. I have talked vociferously to get the school upgraded up to class XII. I am ready to help to any extent. A school up to class XII and Trade school must remain the focus of the well-wishers of the village. Interestingly, some who came to meet me including Basdeo Baba suggested that I must build something in the village to perpetuate the memory of my ancestors and mine. I tried to ask them what I should do. None provided any specific answer. They left it to me. Should I go for building another small temple as someone as I can't finance something like Akhardham? Unfortunately, I can only provide some finance but can't remain there to execute. I am still in search of a good thing to be done by me in my village and its executer. I wish it would have been for education. I wish to happen soon. I am sure many villages in Bihar and other states must be having similar landmarks and men like me in dilemma of doing something but not knowing what. ]]> Paddy Transplanter too.
Oldest Temple in Pipra
While the oldest temple in the centre of the village survives, it certainly requires renovation and an overall make up all around. Particularly, the drainage needs improvement. The lane to the Kali temple starts from near the temple and that is really shabby with water logging.
Kali-sthan
Kali-sthan remains the most popular place of worship that is most visited by the women of all community for various family functions as well as during festivals. On Rakshabandhan this year, there was a big function with havan costing thousands of rupees. I came to know of it as my uncle took a lead in organizing it. I visited Kali-sthan with uncle and discussed certain additional construction to make it more comfortable for those who come to worship. I consider it important, as Kali-sthan is almost the door to the part of village that is inhabited by the so-called Harijans (word coined by Mahatama) or Dalits (word more fashionable these days).
Covered hravester between two temples. Front one built by Lakshman and the at the rear one by Basdeo baba
Over the years some other temples also have come up. Lakshman was a barber who has got constructed a temple in north of the village. He was one of the most visible persons of his time. It took long time as it was through small donations from small people. But I consider that as an example of the success of will power of even a small man.
Statue of Hanumanji and Basdeo baba's Temple
And very near to this, another temple of Hanumanji has come up. Basdeo Baba has been behind its construction. Basdeo Baba was a wrestler in his youth and he had his 'akhara' nearby. I did contribute to this temple Rs 20,000 for the statue when he asked me once during my visit to the village. According to my uncle there is one more temple of Shiva in north outside the village. There is a plan to renovate it. I could not vast that. I still pity that the major community of the village and particularly the educated lot including former headmasters and teachers don't take interest in the school and do something collectively or individually to make it the most important landmark of the village. I have talked vociferously to get the school upgraded up to class XII. I am ready to help to any extent. A school up to class XII and Trade school must remain the focus of the well-wishers of the village. Interestingly, some who came to meet me including Basdeo Baba suggested that I must build something in the village to perpetuate the memory of my ancestors and mine. I tried to ask them what I should do. None provided any specific answer. They left it to me. Should I go for building another small temple as someone as I can't finance something like Akhardham? Unfortunately, I can only provide some finance but can't remain there to execute. I am still in search of a good thing to be done by me in my village and its executer. I wish it would have been for education. I wish to happen soon. I am sure many villages in Bihar and other states must be having similar landmarks and men like me in dilemma of doing something but not knowing what. ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002804.php/feed/ Visiting Bihar: My Village, Your Village, and the Paradise http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002801.php http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002801.php#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:18:57 +0000 Indra http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002801.php Roads: Roads linking Pipra, my home village today are good enough to showcase the excellent work done by Nitish government for linking the rural Bihar. Our Alto could reach right up to the garage in our house at Pipra. Highways between Sasaram and Kochas that is on the highway connecting Mohania and Patna are in very good condition except for small stretches at Karaghar, Kochas, and Dinara. Unfortunately, the internal roads connecting the highway to Madhukarpur, Yamuna's village are still not metalled and so I had to leave my car Alto a little short of my destination. As many told me, it was only because the contractors left the work without completing it. And all hoped that by the next season, the roads to be as good as I found around Pipra. Lanes inside the villages also have improved with bricks laid suitable all over. Some stretches need redesign and reconstruction. Photographs clearly show these successes and shortcomings.
Raod to Pipra
Road to Madhukarpur
Bad inner lanes in Pipra
We returned from Madhukarpur after the function of Brahmbhoj got over, though my brother-in-law and the main host of the day (who lost his wife) was insisting us to stay back. Yamuna was in double mind. But with the heavy rain in the afternoon, I was afraid if we could get out of the village. Yamuna was really morose. They arranged a Zeep of the village to take us up to the highway. Alok had already sent the driver to take our car to the highway as soon as he had finished his lunch. Most of the guests had come on their motorcycles that are as popular as the cell phone in Bihar. Bihar has prospered over the years. One can see harvesters, tractors, motorcycles all around. Some including my brother-in-law owns utility vehicles too. And very soon one will see many cars also. Even today one can get a rental car very easily using your cell phone. Rural Electrification: It appeared that Madhukarpur gets electricity from the grid a little more than what Pipra gets. But Bihar lacks badly in electricity supply. Alok could barely provide the comfort of fan with his inverter and household solar system that he has installed. In Pipra they get power very much sparingly. May be that by the next time I visit it will be better. The central government will have to help Bihar and provide electricity otherwise Bihar's development will remain a dream only. Education is undergoing a turbulent change. I got the chance of talking with a number of Sulekha's girls students of class X. They go to the only private girls' high school in the panchayat and come to Sulekha for tuition. Interestingly, almost all the students that I met were from the backward castes. I got a shock to know that forward castes of the village hardly show the required interest in education of the girls in their families. As it appeared, hardly few would continue their education after class X. For that they will have to move to the town. I suggested them to group together and go ahead. I wanted to help them but they hardly knew the help they require.
Pipra's new Elementary School
Pipra Middle School under construction
Pipra has a government school now and so also almost majority of the villages in the panchayat or the state. It has a boundary wall. All rooms are plastered and have good doors too. A separate middle school building is under construction. I visited the school and was there for almost an hour and a half talking about many education related things with the teachers, what they can and should do. The student strength (boys and girls) is around 450. I met six teachers including three women. I did also see the textbooks prepared by the Bihar school board that are distributed free to the students. The quality of the books appeared to be excellent. However, I doubt if the teachers are good enough to use the text books effectively and to make the students learn properly. The output and its quality of the investment on the school appear to be dismal. Teachers didn't appear to be an inspired lot. Surprisingly, the mukhia of the panchayat is the boss who appoints teachers. The education system can hardly ensure entry of good teachers and I doubt if they can teach well. Parents and none of the even educated villagers take any interest in the functioning of the school. The road leading to the beautiful school is just very bad and filthy making it difficult for the students to reach the school. The village is pretty away. I don't know why the rural schools everywhere in the region have been built away from the village. May be with physical infrastructure in place the quality of teaching will improve and soon the parents will get involved in seeing their wards getting better education. Teachers in Pipra's school have promised a better show when I visit next time. I wish the school could grow up to class XII. The rural Bihar is certainly changing for better. But many bad things of urban living style and culture are getting into the villages. One of them is 'pouch' culture and another is the deteriorating fellowship among the villagers ]]> Roads: Roads linking Pipra, my home village today are good enough to showcase the excellent work done by Nitish government for linking the rural Bihar. Our Alto could reach right up to the garage in our house at Pipra. Highways between Sasaram and Kochas that is on the highway connecting Mohania and Patna are in very good condition except for small stretches at Karaghar, Kochas, and Dinara. Unfortunately, the internal roads connecting the highway to Madhukarpur, Yamuna's village are still not metalled and so I had to leave my car Alto a little short of my destination. As many told me, it was only because the contractors left the work without completing it. And all hoped that by the next season, the roads to be as good as I found around Pipra. Lanes inside the villages also have improved with bricks laid suitable all over. Some stretches need redesign and reconstruction. Photographs clearly show these successes and shortcomings.
Raod to Pipra
Road to Madhukarpur
Bad inner lanes in Pipra
We returned from Madhukarpur after the function of Brahmbhoj got over, though my brother-in-law and the main host of the day (who lost his wife) was insisting us to stay back. Yamuna was in double mind. But with the heavy rain in the afternoon, I was afraid if we could get out of the village. Yamuna was really morose. They arranged a Zeep of the village to take us up to the highway. Alok had already sent the driver to take our car to the highway as soon as he had finished his lunch. Most of the guests had come on their motorcycles that are as popular as the cell phone in Bihar. Bihar has prospered over the years. One can see harvesters, tractors, motorcycles all around. Some including my brother-in-law owns utility vehicles too. And very soon one will see many cars also. Even today one can get a rental car very easily using your cell phone. Rural Electrification: It appeared that Madhukarpur gets electricity from the grid a little more than what Pipra gets. But Bihar lacks badly in electricity supply. Alok could barely provide the comfort of fan with his inverter and household solar system that he has installed. In Pipra they get power very much sparingly. May be that by the next time I visit it will be better. The central government will have to help Bihar and provide electricity otherwise Bihar's development will remain a dream only. Education is undergoing a turbulent change. I got the chance of talking with a number of Sulekha's girls students of class X. They go to the only private girls' high school in the panchayat and come to Sulekha for tuition. Interestingly, almost all the students that I met were from the backward castes. I got a shock to know that forward castes of the village hardly show the required interest in education of the girls in their families. As it appeared, hardly few would continue their education after class X. For that they will have to move to the town. I suggested them to group together and go ahead. I wanted to help them but they hardly knew the help they require.
Pipra's new Elementary School
Pipra Middle School under construction
Pipra has a government school now and so also almost majority of the villages in the panchayat or the state. It has a boundary wall. All rooms are plastered and have good doors too. A separate middle school building is under construction. I visited the school and was there for almost an hour and a half talking about many education related things with the teachers, what they can and should do. The student strength (boys and girls) is around 450. I met six teachers including three women. I did also see the textbooks prepared by the Bihar school board that are distributed free to the students. The quality of the books appeared to be excellent. However, I doubt if the teachers are good enough to use the text books effectively and to make the students learn properly. The output and its quality of the investment on the school appear to be dismal. Teachers didn't appear to be an inspired lot. Surprisingly, the mukhia of the panchayat is the boss who appoints teachers. The education system can hardly ensure entry of good teachers and I doubt if they can teach well. Parents and none of the even educated villagers take any interest in the functioning of the school. The road leading to the beautiful school is just very bad and filthy making it difficult for the students to reach the school. The village is pretty away. I don't know why the rural schools everywhere in the region have been built away from the village. May be with physical infrastructure in place the quality of teaching will improve and soon the parents will get involved in seeing their wards getting better education. Teachers in Pipra's school have promised a better show when I visit next time. I wish the school could grow up to class XII. The rural Bihar is certainly changing for better. But many bad things of urban living style and culture are getting into the villages. One of them is 'pouch' culture and another is the deteriorating fellowship among the villagers ]]> http://drishtikona.com/archives/rural_development/002801.php/feed/