Views of Omer Hejazeen, Chairman, UAE Chapter of Bihar Foundation

Views of M.J. Warsi, NRB at Washington, USA

Good Wishes for Banglore Chapter : TATHAGAT TULSI

Dear Satyajit Sir,

Thank you very much for your message. I am very much aware of the initiatives and good work of Bihar foundation and I feel proud of it. I am very happy to note the inauguration of Bangalore chapter by respected Shri Modi ji. It would have been my honor to attend the function. But I won't be in Bangalore on 17 th January. I will be back here on 23rd Jan. So, unfortunately, I cannot participate.

My best wishes to the Bangalore chapter of our foundation. Though I am leaving Bangalore now, I really hope to be an active member of Bihar foundation to contribute to the development of our state.

With best regards,

Avatar Tulsi

www.physics.iisc.ernet.in/~tathagat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tathagat_Avatar_Tulsi

Doha Chapter of Bihar Foundation

A team of five delegates from Doha, Qatar met Mr.Vivek Kumar Singh, CEO, Bihar Foundation and Mr. Satyajit Narayan Singh, Manager Public Relations to discuss the possibility of opening a chapter of Bihar Foundation at Doha, Qatar on monday. The team was headed by Mr. Shakil Ahmad Kakvi, President, ‘Indian Association for Bihar & Jharkhand (IABJ). The Indian Association for Bihar & Jharkhand has been serving to the needs of people of Bihar & Jharkhand at Qatar, for several years. Mr. Bilal working in Qatar Petroleum shared some of the problems they resolve–’Non payment or less payment to migrant Bihari laborers, improper visa issue etc. are the frequent problems we face.’

Mr. Shakil also informed about his ‘Kainat Foundation’ under whose aegis he has opened a school at his village Kako, Jehanabad to uplift the education system of his native people. The school is seven kilometers from the town but fortunate to get the CBSE affiliation. “I live in Qatar but my heart beats for Bihar. I want to payback to my motherland whatever I could”- said Mr. Shakil.

It was unanimously agreed that Bihar Foundation, Bihar will open its Chapter at Doha in association with ‘Indian association for Bihar & Jharkhand’. The chapter will communicate in two ways – one, what the Government can do for the migrated Biharis and another what NRBs can do for the development of Bihar. Soon NRBs of Qatar will meet & frame up the shape of the Doha Chapter & send the list of Executive Committee members to the parent body for approval. Mr. Shakil promised to bring social entrepreneur like him for developing Bihar and would also promote art, culture and image of Bihar in Qatar.

Doha Chapter of Bihar Foundation (News)

NRB of UAE got his project approved

To,

His Excellency Ambassador Manish Uprety at UN Office.

Copy to : Col. Ajay Sharma (Charge d’ Affairs- Fox Group Companies)

Dr. Sabiha Mehdi (Director)

Architect Gyaneshwar Prasad (Design and Planning)

Dr. Naseer K. Jaidah (at Bahrain Office)

Mr. Satyajit N. Singh-Manager Public Relation, Bihar Foundation, Govt of Bihar.

Eng. S.K Singh – Chief Project Head (Fox Power Project- Bihar)

Dear Sirs and Madam,

I am happy to receive to approval letter from Government of Bihar for setting up Power Plant 30+MW Capacity in each 38 Districts of Bihar. You all will be glad to know that the Government Machinery is highly Co-operative and no dought Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, IAS Principle Secretary, Industry Department Bihar and Director Technical – Mr. Mahesh Prasad and the team will show the world the developed Bihar. We all at Fox Group salutes these officers of Government of Bihar. As per the targeted time we will finish the task off setting of Power Project. We will be officially announcing it in Bihar on 5th of December, 2009.

Now, I have gone through your mail regarding Fox Health Care Limited. I am happy with the suggestion of Amb. Uprety for seeing this health care not for money making but for serving to mankind. We accept the views of Amb. Uprety and will lead this program in point of view with care for woman and children. We have planned to dedicate the name for all 38 Hospital in each 38 districts in the name of everyone’s mother – “Maa”. This hospital will be of 50 Bed and with all maternity facility. We will be seeking help of UN – WHO body for this program. And in Phase Second in the year 2012 we will exceed to Block levels in Bihar. And Phase –III in 2015 will reach to each Panchayat.

Funding has been sought from :

Mr. E. Landerson

Managing Director

Komeet Relation Co.Jan van Goyenstraat 19

Almere- The Netherlands.

The Amount Requested and accepted by them is Euros 300 Million for ten years at the rate of 6% against Bank Guarantee. Now, you will be understanding why I was in hurry to put Power Plant in Bihar, these all hospitals will be supported by 100% power backup and Infrastructure. And definitely we will ask gentle and genuine doctors to step in with us. I am sorry for not making it 100% free of cost why Becoz this will be developed thru International Finances and it has to remitted at the right time. Later on after 10 years or 12 years when my dream hospitals will be running autonomously will be free and will make it Non – Profit Making organization.

For me Country rather my State First – if you or any one who is not having faith in my View, please quit. This is the right time.

Again , I am thankful to the guidance provided by Amb. Uprety, Col. Sharma and other members and well wishers of Fox Group Companies.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Yours Sincerely,

AJAI KUMAR
(Chairman & Managing Director )

FOX PETROLEUM FZC, UAE

P.O. Box : 10559Ras- Al- Khaimah, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESP

hone : +971-50-7698431 (UAE)Phone : +91-9873073480

E-mail : foxuae@foxpetroleum.net

NRI Bihari Business school Girl earns FMA Collegiate Fellows Program award

"Congratulations to you and your daughter Nilam! Great achievement! You should be very proud of your children." Wrote Mr. Rokhfeld Mark in a mail to Mr. J. N. Singh, Math Professor at Barry, USA.

Nilam Singh, a native of Chapra and a senior at Barry University majoring in finance was one of 21 students across the nation that received the Financial Management Association (FMA) Collegiate Fellows Program award.

The only Barry student to be recognized by the FMA honor society, Singh is in the company of other students from schools such as the University of Central Florida and Georgetown University. She proved to be an exceptional candidate demonstrating exemplary leadership, service and program planning. The FMA fellows program, awards outstanding chapter members who make meaningful contributions in service to their chapter and college or university throughout the year.

“It is rewarding to be recognized for the work you do,” said Singh, 20. “It afforded me the chance to learn about different firms, about how people can grow within an organization and what to expect in the field. I also have to thank Dr. Payne, my mentor and guide."

Bihar Foundation
[A Govt. of Bihar Society for NRI/NRB]
6th Floor, Indira Bhawan, R. C. S. Path – 800001
Ph – 0612-2231371, 9431424892
http://www.biharfoundation.in/, http://www.biharfoundation.blogspot.com/

PRESS RELEASE

PR No – BF/09/02

Date – 7-11-09

BIHAR TO GET MORE THAN 200 CRORE INVESTMENT THROUGH THE MUMBAI CHAPTER


Hon’ble Dy. C.M., Bihar Sri Sushil Kumar Modi inaugurated the Bihar Foundation MUMBAI CHAPTER on 7th Nov, 09 at Y. B. Chawan Auditorium, Nariman Point. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Modi said that Bihar Foundation Mumbai Chapter will work as an Umbrella organisation under whose guidance all other Bihari groups can pave the way for resurgence of Bihar. In a very short span of time many Bihar based groups assembled under the umbrella of the Mumbai Chapter of this unique initiative of the Govt of Bihar. Prominent among them are – Rastriya Bihar Sangh, Bihar Pravasi Mandal, Anjuman-E-Bashindgan-e-Bihar, Bihar Mitra Mandal, Bihar Nav Chetna Sangh. Bihar Vishwakarma Samaj Samiti.

Prominent Bihari Singer and Actor Manoj Tewari, Actress Neetu Chandra, graced the occasion by their invaluable presence. Ms. Chandra announced from the stage that She feels proud to be a Bihari and will play the role of the Ambassador of not only the Foundation but also of Bihar as offered by the Foundation. Mr. Tewari enthralled the audience by his mesmerizing voice and assured everyone that being a member of the Executive Committee of the Chapter he will work day and night for the promotion of Bihari art and culture worldwide.

Dy CM Bihar presented the Awards for excellence to various Bihari achievers who have made us proud. This year the Chapter recommended Mr. B.N. Singh, MD, Alkem Ltd in the field of Business, Mr. Uday Shankar, CEO, Star TV India in Corporate Career, Mr. Udit Narayan Jha, Singer in Performing art, Dr. Badrul Hassan, General Physician in the field of Social Service.

Mr. Modi was also the first person to register himself as a member of the chapter through a call by just dialling 022-67375400, a feature supported by the Spanco Ltd. Any one can be a registered member of the foundation by making a call. This feature will mainly be helpful for the illiterate or other persons who are not internet savvy.

Before this Hon’ble Dy. CM inaugurated the Bihar Foundation Mumbai Chapter office at Dharavi and addressed the gathering of more than five thousand people who were glad to listen about this unique initiative of Govt of Bihar of linking NRB with the State Govt and its people. Hon'ble Dy. C. M. cum-Chairman, Bihar foundation Shri Modi. presented three scholarships of Rs. 500/- per month each to Maharashtrian poor meritorious students namely Sitesh Bharat Shinde, Nilesh Suresh Kaale, Vinod Vijay Golani nominated by local corporators and other local leaders.
A fifteen bed ‘Bihar Medical Center’ was inaugurated at Nagpada The center has provided two general physician one Opthalmologist, one Orthopedic, one Paediatric and one Gynaecologist for the service of NRB and Biharis.

Representatives of some leading companies met Mr. Modi and Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh, CEO of Bihar Foundation and presented his expression to invest more than 200 crore in Bihar in Power and telecom sector. Also, One big power and infrastructure company has shown interest in investing more than Rs. One thousand crore in Power, Road and other infrastructure projects.

Mr. Ravi Shankar Srivastav, Chairman of the Mumbai Chapter of the foundation gave vote of thanks to the team of 22 artists from Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir, Patna who performed Bihari Lok Geet under ‘Sanskriti Bodh Srinkhla’ on the occasion and also to Gaurav Jha, Actor and Mime artist, Rashmi Priya, Singer and Akanksha who was the compeer of the show.

The function was also attended by Hon’ble Minister of 'Art, Culture and Youth' Smt. Renu Devi, Chief Executive Officer of Bihar Foundation Sri Vivek Kumar Singh, who is also Secretary, Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Govt. of Bihar and NRB from the diversified field residing in Mumbai.

Satyajit Narayan Singh

Manager Public Relation

Our Forthcoming Events of November, 09

Works we are going to do in November, 09 -

1. Inauguration of Mumbai Chapter by Dy CM Sri Sushil Kumar Modi on 7th November, 09
2. Prticipation in India International Trade Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi [14-27th Nov.09] Bihar Day on 20th Nov. 09
3. To give final shape to the Delhi Chapter and finalize the schedule for opening
4. Preparation for Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, 2010
5. Expected Date for Kolkata Chapter Opening - 25-27th December, 09 [To be finalized in Nov]
6. Date for Banglore Chapter to be finalized

Our October Achievements

Main Works which we did in October, 09 -

1. Approval of UAE CHAPTER, headed by Mr. Omer Hezazin
2. Approval of SOUTH KOREA CHAPTER, headed by Mr. Bibhhuti Bikramaditya
3. Approval of MUMBAI CHAPTER, headed by Mr. Ravi Shankar Srivastava
4. Internal/Core Group Meeting for DELHI CHAPTER at Bihar Bhawan
5. Uploading of New Website of Bihar Foundation [www.biharfoundation.in]
6. Coordination in the projects of two NRIs - Dr. Mahima Pandeya, UK [Health Centre at his native village in Gopalganj Dist] and Dr. Sanjay and Dr. Tina Malhotra, UK [Psychiatry Camp at Sheikhpura Dist]

Bihar Foundation leased new life to my project

Dear Shri Satyajit Singh Ji,

Warm greetings from Widnes, Cheshire, England.

Thank you very much indeed for your encouraging e mail. Simply I have no word to express my gratitude. I was on the point of giving up my dream after struggling for the last three years on this project, but your e-mail has given the fresh life to the project. This is the first time that some one from the Bihar govt administartion has contacted me about this pilot project.

I have now got your telephone no and I shall be in touch with you early next month when I will be at the medical centre in my village.

With very best wishes and kindest regards.

Dr Mahima Pandey

Founder and Chairman

Indo-British Medical Association Limited, UK

(Registered in England and Wales as a limited company)

Letter of NRI of Bihar origin from UAE

Dear Mr. Satyajit,

Thank you very much for your time and courtesy you extended to me , when I visited your office in Patna. It was nice meeting you.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and admiration to you and Government of Bihar for doing everything possible in order to uplift the living standard of people of Bihar. The result is tremendous. One can see the development on all the fronts.

Good road infrastructure, reliable law and order situation, Empowerment of weaker section of society, cooperative government officials and people friendly government has given peace of mind and happiness to the people of Bihar for the first time.

I have spent almost 21 years out of India, first as student and now as an entrepreneur.

In some ways, I am also part of the initiative taken by Honorable Chief Minister and Hon'ble Dy Chief Minister to develop Bihar. My company Okpet Construction and Services Pvt. Ltd. Is constructing roads and bridges in interior parts of Bihar.

Our Charitable Trust (Madina Educational Welfare Trust) is also doing incredible job. You can visit the site to get an idea about its initiatives. http://www.mewtrust.org/

Our presence is in four continents and will be more than happy to work with your organization for betterment of the Bihari People.

We have very active presence in Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada and United Arab Emirates.

Please let me know if I can be of any help to you.

Best regards

Omer Hejazeen
Chief Executive Officer

Oryx Productions L.L.C.
P.O.BOX 11830, DUBAI
United Arab Emirates
Tel:+971 4 3450044, 3460060
Mobile: +971 50 4528448
Fax:+971 4 3455145
Email: omer@oryxfilms.com
Website: http://www.oryxfilms.com/

NRI Bihari Group donated Ambulance to Patna Hospital

Deputy Chief Minister Sri Sushil Kumar Modi who is also Chairman of the Bihar Foundation, Patna handed over the key of an ambulance which was donated by the Bihar Development Foundation (BDF), UK, to the Director of the hospital Dr. V. N. Prasad in a function organized at Patna on 24th September, 2009.

"The ambulance will be used for organizing health camps in various areas of Bihar," said Dr. Rajay Narain, the foundation Secretary, Manchester, UK.

Dr. Narain further informed that the Foundation recently took over the Karjain Health Centre in Supaul with the help of PRAYAS, an NGO, and the Government of Bihar, to provide basic health care facilities in the area.

An eye camp was organized by the Foundation last month during which 50 patients with cataract problem were operated upon completely free of charge.

The Foundation will soon launch a number of health programs to address problems related to hypertension, diabetes, and Heart Disease, Dr. Narain said.

The BDF, in the last few years, has organized several health camps and flood relief operations in Bihar.

The organization consists mainly of Biharis settled in the UK. Some of the active members are Prof. G. K. Verma, Dr. Ashok Pathak, Dr. Murli Sinha, Dr. Amit Kishore, Dr. Rajay Narain, Dr. Chhitij Mohan, Dr. Anurodh Bhawnani, Dr. S. M. S. Raza, and Dr. Vishwajeet Kumar.

The function was attended by a number of physicians including Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal (MP), Dr. Bimal Karak, BDF National Coordinator, Dr. B. B. Verma, Dr. Jaipuriyrar, Dr. A. S. B. Sahay, Dr. Anurag Verma and Mrs. Chanda Prasad.

Courtesy - Dr. Rajay Narain, Secretary, Bihar Development Foundation, UK

OUR FORTHCOMING EVENTS (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER), 09

1. KOLKATA CHAPTER OPENING - 11th October
2. BANGLORE CHAPTER OPENING - Date to be finalised soon.
3. DELHI CHAPTER - Internal Meeting with the Diaspora at Delhi & NCR at 1st Oct., 09, Likely to be opened by PBD, 10
4. NE-USA CHAPTER - In association with BJANA, USA - Approval letter to be sent and List of Executive Committee members to be announced
5. S. KOREA Chapter - Headed by Bibhuti Bikramaditya, Chairman, Bihar Brains - Soon to be announced.
6. Mutual Partnership with Bihar Brains to be signed soon.
7. Proposal Invited from the NRBs for the SURAT, AHMEDABAD, HYDERABAD, JAIPUR & MUMBAI CHAPTER.
8. Coordination in the Health Project of Indo-British Medical Association of Dr. Mahima Pandeya, UK at Ameya village, Gopalganj.
9. Coordination in the 'Psychiatry Camp' Project of Dr. Sanjay Kumar & Tina Malhotra, UK at Sheikhpura

Bihar Chief Minister Sri Nitish Kumar : Business Reformer of the Year (2008-09)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the Economic Times Business Reformer of the Year. The jury members were unanimous in their choice, giving Mr. Nitish Kumar’s performance a higher rating than Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit.

The national calamity in Bihar following the Kosi river changing its course highlights the state of affairs in Bihar, once rated as the best in administration. Since taking over as the state chief minister, Nitish Kumar has been trying to rebuild the system of governance that has virtually broken down. When he came to power in Bihar in 2005, it was heralded as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the state. Nitish Kumar became the chief minister, with a promise to turn the state around. Three years on, Mr Kumar seems to be on track, although Bihar might take a while to show results.

Mr. Kumar wants to make Bihar a developed state by 2015. Bihar being primarily an agricultural state, Mr Kumar has been stressing on agro-based industries . He believes this will help in keeping land acquisition to a minimum. The government has identified agro-processing, handloom and textiles, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and leather as areas with comparative advantage. The other areas where he has made a good start are employment generation and infrastructure development. He beat other states to put in place an employment-guarantee programme for agricultural labourers, which promises 80 days of work, in addition to the 100 days mandated by the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme. His government has adopted a new poverty measurement method, so that a bulk of the families living below the poverty line could be identified and have schemes targeted at them.

His goal to develop roads in Bihar has been tagged to a three-year timeline, by when he hopes to have Bihar rival the best road networks in India.

Even on the administrative front, there are several big tasks waiting for his attention. For almost 15 years, Bihar didn’t even have a proper budget. Mr Kumar has also identified promotion of investment opportunities as equally important. With poor infrastructure and the absence of long-term policies hindering private investment, he has kickstarted a series of legislative and administrative reforms. A new industrial policy was put in place in 2006, as was the Bihar Infrastructure Development Enabling Act. A new policy for the sugar processing sector — an important crop in the state — was also brought in. The new industrial policy makes land available at concessional rates and promises reimbursement of 80% of VAT deposited. And these initiatives seem to have paid off, with the government receiving proposals from a number of big sugar manufacturers. An industrial complex with sugar mills, ethanol and power generation plants has been cleared. Measures to revive the textile industry have also been pushed through. With the state relying almost entirely on the Centre for its power needs, Bihar plans to put up new thermal and hydel power plants.

Courtesy - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4931000.cms?flstry=1

Global recognition for Bihar's Husk Power Project

In my earlier post I mentioned about the Swadesh act of the NRI Biharis Gyanesh Pandeya and Manoj Sinha. The classic example of grass root innovation by Manoj Sinha was featured on NYT for his unique contribution of coming up with Husk power system for transforming rural power generation. Husk Power Systems won first place in 2008 in the University of Virginia business plan competition and the social innovation competition at the University of Texas, Austin.This model has been now won global recognition by beating more than 1,000 competitors from world over to bag the inaugural Global Business Plan Competition award.The award was sponsored by leading American venture capital firms Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Cisco. India's Husk Power System would receive $250,000 (nearly Rs 1.20 crore) as investment from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Cisco to help take the technology to the next level; thus giving it an opportunity to expand to other parts of the state."Deciding on just one winner was difficult, especially with this caliber of candidates. We are excited to have chosen Husk Power Systems, which is especially remarkable for its alternative power technology, and we can't wait to see how this team becomes the next game changer," Draper Fisher Jurvetson MD Tim Draper said."Given Cisco's focus on emerging countries and the use of innovative technology to provide enhanced essential services, Cisco's investment in Husk Power Systems is a great way for us to accelerate these themes," added Hilton Romanski, Vice-President of corporate development for Cisco.The company, which the two venture capitals believe has the potential to change the face of rural areas, especially in the rice belt of Northern India, by converting rice husk into energy, was founded in 2007 by two University of Virginia, Darden School of Business 2009 graduates Chip Ransler and Manoj Sinha.

Bihar Foundation's 'Global Meet' in January

TNN 29 August 2009, 05:05am IST
PATNA: The next global meet of Bihar Foundation, formed by the state government to attract investments from Bihari NRIs and those living outside the state, will be held in the last week of January, 2010. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.

The meeting also decided that a Bihar minister or a senior bureaucrat will interact with Bihari NRIs and those living outside their state through internet and will apprise them of the steps taken for development of the state. Suggestions would also be sought from them in this regard.

The meeting decided to open more chambers of the foundation outside Bihar and abroad. The chambers will be opened in Kolkata and Banaglore soon. There is a move to open chambers in Mumbai, Jaipur and Bhopal and also in the UK, the USA, Russia, Australia, Canada, Mauritius and Gulf countries.

Bihar Foundation Website Tender Notice

Bihar Foundation : Australia Chapter

Dear Satyajitji,

Nice to hear something from someone associated with the Bihar Foundation at last. We were trying our best to get updates on this initiative for a long time. I personally met our esteemed Deputy CM Sri Sushil Kumar Modi on my visit to Patna last year and was impressed by his enthusiatic approach to Bihar Foundation.

You will find several news clips on the Bihar Jharkhand Sabha Australia (BJSM) website on Forum page for Bihar Foundation Board about the launch of Bihar Foundation in Canberra and Melbourne by Shri Sushil Modi himself. There are several other clips available on internet http://www.managementparadise.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-14338.html and http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070620/asp/frontpage/story_7946671.asp. I mean it is already here in Canberra and in Melbourne, and the members are looking for your input. I may arrange someone from our association to take lead in Sydney, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

You may be interested to know or may be aware that Bihar Jharkhand Sabha Australia has set up its chapters in every State and Territory in Australia and enjoys membership of more than 180 families in Australia. We have different modes of get togethers and we meet 3-4 times a year in all major cities.

I hope you will be able to send us the newsletter or any information on projects run by the Bihar Foundation. Our next meet in Melbourne is scheduled on 9 August 2009. We would be grateful if you could provide some information on your programmes that may be shared with our members in Melbourne and be made available on the website for members from other cities.

We are helping existing members, newcomers and any potential immigrant/student from Bihar or Jharkhand for every possible needs. Further, we organised two sessions of Bhajan Sandhya in Canberra and Sydney and were able to collect more than $10,000 dollars for CM Fund for Flood Victims last year. The report can be viewed at the website.

You will be pleased to know that the BJSM is an association with presence in all major cities and people from other community groups look at us for leadership and inspiration. I must admit that the web presence is contributing significantly to our ever expanding role. Additionally, we are also extending help to other communty groups and winning their goodwill.

I have already provided a link of Bihar Foundation on our website http://www.bjsm.org/.

Regards,

Sanjay Pandey

9 John Winter Street, Gungahlin ACT 2912.

Australia.

Tele : +61 2 6253 8714

Mob : +61 421 642 502

Bihar Foundation : Expectation of Non Resident Biharis(NRBs)/NRI

Hi Satyajit and Team,

It was pleasure to meet you all during my visit to your office in Patna in May 2009. Initially I was little skeptical about this whole initiative as this is a govt supported initiative and we all had our share of bad experience with bureaucracy. But after meeting you all at Patna and learning about your projects and plans, I am quite excited about the future of this organization.

The time I spent talking to you all about the projects, gave me some sort of assurance that in future when we NRBs want to do something for our state, there is a govt body that can help us achieve our dreams.

I am sure together we can do something for our state and do our bit to bring back the lost glory.

Although I live in Australia but my heart still beats for India rather for Bihar. I have keen interest in Bihar related causes and try to do my bit to See a BETTER Bihar and have been involved in various socio-economic projects for Bihar.

I have written an email to the person behind Bihar Jharkhand Sabha Melbourne, Australia (BJSM) and will wait to see what his response is in next few days. I will distribute the brochures etc to everyone possible.

Regards,

Samir Kumar Mishra

Technocrat, Brisbane, Australia

Mobile: +61-403-747-809

Blog: http://semanticdb.blogspot.com/

Bihar Sammelan, 09 at Brighton, United Kingdom

NRI Biharis of United Kingdom came together for 'Bihar Sammelan' at Brighton, UK. About 300 people participated in the event. Bihar Foundation, Patna was introduced in that event and the message was well received by the NRBs in UK. They all are entralled by this initiative of the Govt. of Bihar & want to be associated with this unique movement in the history of Bihar.

Someone wants to invest in Bihar or someone wants to do some works like establishment of 'Community Centre', School or small Hospital in their native village or area through the Bihar Foundation, Patna. Even someone wants to do something for the school or college from where they got education.

Bihar Foundation, Patna salutes their love and emotion for their motherland. Inspite of being far away from their Bihar, they have always kept Bihar in a corner of their heart. Their love and emotion for Bihar is evident form the fact that they have established Bihar based organisation named 'Bihar Development Foundation' in UK & celebrate events of Bihari essence. They always wanted to know and do something for their motherland.

Now I leave you with glimpses of the event. They had the 'Cultural Programme' and had the dinner together. All thanks for sharing this with the Bihari Diaspora worldwide.


Let the whole world know that Biharis are at the top everywhere and at the same time they think for the development of their motherland.

Courtesy - Dr. Murli Sinha, President, BDF, UK

Dr. Akhouri Ajoy Shanker, UK

From the core of my Heart

Dear Satyajitjee,

It was an interesting meeting I had with Bihar Foundation, India and the prospect of working together for mutual interest which is BIHAR, PEOPLE OF BIHAR. It was very encouraging to see that very senior civil servants of the State Govt. hierarchy are members of the Foundation in Bihar which not only gives it credibility but also gives it stability, and I am sure this organization shall promote Bihar and hopefully will bring investment into Bihar. We as Bihar Development Foundation UK will be honored to work along with yourselves. It was very nice to have met Mr Anup Mukerjee, Development Commissioner cum Member Secretary, Bihar foundation and Mr Ajay Yadav the CEO of Bihar Foundation India during our meeting.

We were delighted to note here in the UK the findings and the recommendation of the World Bank that PATNA is the second most ideal place to invest in the whole India [news in the media]. This speaks a lot for Patna and Bihar.

I have arranged for the poster to be displayed and other material to be distributed in the annual meeting of the doctors from Bihar this time to be held in Brighton [South of England] where about 300 families from Bihar and Jharkhand come together in a " Mela " like environment with exhibitions, music and of course sessions of scientific[medical]lectures. It is a two day program and the participants are from Bihar & Jharkhand.
After the advertisement and the facilities Bihar Foundation, India is going to provide to NRB'S for investment in Bihar I am confident that you shall be inundated with queries, hopefully some of which can end up in sponsored projects by NRB'S. I would very strongly recommend that a similar set up be formed in Jharkhand so that people from jharkhand[OLD BIHAR]get the same benifit.Here in the UK or North America it is still BIHAR not The divided Bihar as Jharkhand & Bihar we all feel as one and meet and treat each other as one.

God Bless India,

God Bless Bihar and BIHARI across the globe.

Yours sincerely

Dr MURLI SINHA

President, Bihar Development Foundation UK

http://www.biharfoundation.co.uk/

NRI Bihari Engineer's Swades Prem

It could well be the script of Shah Rukh Khan's Swades. A local lad chucks a high-paying job in the states to bring light to his remote, off-the grid village in Bihar's West Champaran district.

Villagers found light when local lad Gyanesh Pandey came home from Los Angeles, chucking a promising career in engineering to spark this revolution with his friend Ratnesh. His undergraduate mates, Manoj Sinha and Charles 'Chip' Ransler, from the University of Virginia, raised funds and soon the village was empowered.

His two other expat Bihari friends and an American mate, helping him script this bright turnaround story.

After living in the dark ages for decades, a forgotten village in Bihar's west Champaran district, has found the power to light up its future. It comes from this plant that runs on rice husk, a forgotten technology.

"I can see why we lack innovation and everything, like to me. It all comes down to dignity and self-respect, unless you have that, you can't let your imagination fly. It is the very core of your living and that's something we lack here the most," said Gyanesh Pandey.

"This is enabling my own people, distant relatives you can say, or my own extended family. This is most inspiring," he added.
"The word 'enabling' is the key here. This is to help people help themselves, "said charles Ransler, Gyanesh friend.
Two villages have been electrified so far. Others are clamouring to join Gyanesh's light brigade, which also promises to reverse migration from the area.
"A powerhouse like this will remove the trouble of kerosene, it will bring happiness, children will study at home. We'll be able to watch TV, " said Bala Gupta, villager.

From darkness to light, it has been a terribly long wait for the villagers in Dhanaha, a dream that they could not even imagine to dream has finally seen light here।

Thanks to Gyanesh and his friends, who preferred and succeeded in chasing a mirage instead of the American Dream, which was theirs for the asking.

Courtesy – Dr. T. L. S. Bhaskar, Diaspora Foundation

Bihar: Past, Present and Future

Amartya K Sen*

Bihar’s history and its achievements include its role in uniting India. The first all-India empire, the Mauryas, based in Patliputra, and established some uniformity of law and order across much of the country.
Some of the early achievements of Bihar, in its leading role in India, are the following:
Development of Education: The remarkable record of Nalanda, which is perhaps the oldest university in the world, and which flourished as a global institution of higher learning from 5th to 12th century. (1.2) The pioneer Mathematician Aryabhata’s migration to Kusumpur or Patna to be closer to the community of mathematicians.(1.3) Focus of education in general – not just higher education- in Buddha’s pronouncements and in Buddhist practice : the culture of “vihara”.
Advancement of public health care: The trail-blazing tradition of free medical service for all in Patliputra, which so impressed Faxian (Fa-Hsien) in early fifth century.
Government by discussion: Buddhist global councils, the first in Rajagriha just after Buddha’ death, the second in Vaishali a century later, and the third-the largest- in Patliputra, hosted by Ashoka, in the third century BC. Decisions on religious and social matters taken after extensive public discussions, with exchange of information and options.
Rule of law and governance in the interest of the people: Developed as a theory in the Arthasastra, by Kautilya, and in a less punitive form by Ashoka, as elaborated in his stone inscriptions. These theories were in varying extent ,put into practice by the Mauryas and other regimes based in Patliputra.
The building of physical infrastructure: Sher Shah, whose large empire in early sixteenth century was centred in Bihar, was visionary on constructing infrastructure of roads, bridges, etc. across India.
Resistance ti inequality and exclusion: Buddhism itself can be seen as the first pervasive protest against caste-based hierarchy. The exclusion of women from major roles in the society and in the family have also been resisted in Buddhism (even though Buddha was opposed to the ordaining of women as priests, his teachings gave active and major roles of women).Many of the later rebellions against traditional hierarchy in India have also been originated in Bihar.
These issues demand examination not only in terms of historical experience, but also for their relevance to current problems that have persistently plagued contemporary Bihar for quite some time now (including high illiteracy, frequent medical neglect, sharp economic and social inequality, low development of infrastructure, high incidence of social disorder).

What we learn from early achievements of Bihar helps us to address and conquer the persistent disadvantages that are restraining Bihar back in the contemporary world। We cann’t bury ourselves in the past, but the past of this exceptional region of India offers both inspiration and guidance.

*Amartya K Sen, Nobel Laureate and Lamont University Professor at the Harvard University, USA
21 Feb, 2009 : speech of Amartya Sen : Indira Gandhi Science Complex (Planatarium) Patna.

मीडिया में बिहार फाउंडेशन चेन्नई चैप्टर

Bihari Achievers

Pl inform us about any Bihari Person who has achieved anything anywhere –

Bihar IAS gets first Jamshedji Tata Fellowship

A senior Bihar cadre IAS officer Manoj K Srivastava got the Jamshedji Tata Fellowship which has been established in London School of Economics(LSE) in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai। He would join the institute for two years for a research project on pro-poor governance in India। With an academic bent of mind, Srivastava had earlier done some prestigious research work at Cambridge university and London School of Economics। Srivastava was also selected as a SPURS fellow at MIT, USA in 2002 where he worked with Judith Tendler, a renowned authority on governance।“Since my core interest was always in understanding the intricate nuances of governability at the lowest level of the society, this would be a great opportunity to understand the pro poor governance particularly in the Hindi heartland of India”said Srivastava.