Current Concerns
Havoc Of Floods:-Rains have come in North Bihar and foothills of Nepal and all the rivers are in spate causing devastating floods,submerging thatched huts in low lying area.The railway tracks,roads have been washed away..
Poor persons have been rendered homeless,taking shelter on high grounds and bundhs.About 371 people have died.There is scarcity of food and fodder.Many cattles have died,
Many villages have been cut off from the rest of the world.There is no communication with the capital cities and the district headquarters..Boats are insufficient.Though food packets are being dropped by the Air force helicopters but they cannot cope up with the scarcity caused by the deluge created by the overflowing rivers.
The fields are underwater.The crops have been destroyed.This is the perenial scene of North Bihar. Year after year the same problems crop up.
The worst affected areas are Muzaffarpur,Sitamarhi,Darbhanga,Madhubani,Supoul,Saharsa,Khagaria,Rosera,Forbesganj,
Purnea,Katihar,Jhanjharpur..The Rivers in spate are Buri gandak, Bagmati, TheKamala, Balan, Kareh, Kosi,Mahananda.
The train services disrupted are between Samastipur-Darbhanga,Manasi-Saharsa-Forbesganj and Sakari-Jhanjharpur.1.7crore people are affected.
The Government is apathetic to the problem. Though crores are spent on the relief work no permanent solution is achieved. The water management by providing canals,suitable bundhs,proper irrigation channels may solve the problem of the excessive water due to torrential rain and overflowing river s. A permanent solution is a far cry.
Diminished Production of Power:-After the division the capacity of power productoin of Bihar has diminished considerably.The remaining power production units are old and constant regular electric production is not possible with the existing power plants.Muzaffarpur and Barauni thermal power plants are yet to be renovated.The distribution system is also to be stabilised.In the mean time the state is dependent on the power production unit of the centre.
FESTIVALS / PANCHANGA
3 Aug. 2003-Nag-Panchami
8 Aug. 2003- Ekadashi
12 Aug. 2003- Raksha-Bandhan
15 Aug.2003-Independence-day
20 Aug.2003-Sri Krishna-Janmashtami
23 Aug.2003-Ekadashi
27 Aug.2003-Amabasya
30 Aug.2003-Haritalika-Teej
31 Aug.2003-Sri Ganesh Chturthi
6 Sep.2003-Ekadashi
10 Sep.2003-Mahalaya-Fortnight( Pitri-Paksha) begins
17 sep.2003-Viswakarma jayanti
20 Sept.2003-Matrinavami
22 Sept.2003-Ekadashi
25 Sept.2003- Sarva Pitri shradha
26 Sept.2003-Navaratra begins
2 Oct.2003-Gandhi jayanti
5 Oct.2003-Vijayadasami
6 Oct.2003-Ekadashi
9 Oct.2003-Sharad Purnima
14 Oct.2003-Karavachouth
22 Oct.2003-Ekadashi
23 Oct.2003-Dhanateras
25 Oct.2003-Dipavali
27 Oct.2003-Bhratridwitiya(Bhai-duj)
Seasonal poetry
Hay sakhi hamar dukhak nahi ore!
Ee bhar baadar maah bhaadab sunya mandir more
There is no limit to my owe,my dear !
O heavy rains of autumn-tide,
My house is empty!
Jhampi ghan garjanti santati bhuvan bhari barkhantiya
Kant pahun kam darun saghane kharsar hantiya
Impenetrable clouds are thundering unceasingly,
And all the world is full of rain:
Kant (My sweet heart) is a stone,and Love is cruel,
A rain of arrows pierces me .
Kulish kata sata paat modit mayur nachat matiya
Matta dadur dake dahuki phati jayat chhatiya
A hundred flashes blind my eyes,
The peacock dances in an ecstasy:
The happy frogs but croak and croak,
My heart is bursting.
Timir dig bhari ghor yamini athir bijurik pantiya
Vidyapati kah kaise gamaob , Hari bina din ratiya?
Utter darkness,night impenetrable,
Unbroken line of lightning:
Vidyapati says:How may you pass
The day and night alone?
2.
Gagane ab ghan meh darun,saghan damini jhalakai
Kulish patan shabad jhan jhan paban khartar balgai
Sajani ,aju durdin bhel
Kant hamar nitant agusari sanket kunjahi gel
Taral jaladhar barikhe jhar jhar garaje ghan ghan ghore
Saam nagar ekle kaisan panth herai more
Sumari majhu tanu, abas bhel janu athir thar thar kanp
Ee majhu gurujan nayan darun ghore timirahi jhanp
Torite chal ab kiye bicharahjiban majhu agusar
Kavi sekhar bachane abhisar kiye se bighin bichar.
(For English translation of this Vidyapati poem please contact HERE)
SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD
Maithili book Sahasramukhi Chowk Par,a collection of poetry by Somdev is among 22 books selected for 2002 year's SAHITYA AKADEMI awards. The awards were selected on the basis of recommendation of a jury of three members of its executive board meeting held at New Delhi .
Each award carried a prize of Rs.25000/- and a plaque was presented at a function at Delhi on 17 Feb.2003.
Another poetry work named Kaladhwani (The murmur of the time),1964 was well acclaimed earlier by the readers.He was the exponent of Sahajtabad school of poetry in Maithili..His theme in poetry has been satire on the modern politics and the bankruptsy of intellectualism of politicians.He exposes their selfish conduct shown at the cost of nationalism.His poetry is full of imagery and symbolism.
MAITHILI AND MITHILA STATE
The reorganization of Bihar state, by separation of Jharkhand, has opened a Pandora box of questions for formation of Mithila state. Mithila's economic, cultural, sociological development has been neglected through out the 54 years of independence. Will the politicians care for it's all round development? Will its resources be utilized to create more jobs for its unemployed youth? Will there be facilities for development of its human resources? Will its resources be utilized to industrialize the whole area, create jobs? Where are the industries in Mithila? Why not better management of its Makhana, Lichies, Mangoes, Fisheries and various agricultural products may be given a face-lift? How long will Mithila remain a colony of the "developed states" of India? How long will its precious human resource be utilized only as serfs and laborers?
Will there be better power supply, roads, railway and Air connections? Will there be better institutes for studies of modern "Techies"? Will its towns be planned in a better way that will have basic amenities and better public health?
Last but not the least, when will its children get education in their mother tongue --sweet and rich language --Maithili having old heritage and legends of Vidyapati, Jyotirishwars, Siddhacharyas, Loriks, Lakhimas, Gargis, besides Janakas Yajnavalkyas. How long and how much will we be neglected, ignored and bear the ridicule of our fellow Indians? When would Maithili be included in the 8th schedule of constitution of India???
OBITUARY
Acharya Surendra Jha 'Suman' (1910-2002) well known stalwart of Maithili Language and literature passed away after prolong illness at Darbhanga on 6 March 2002.He received Sahitya Akademi award for his poetry work 'Payaswani'in 1971.He was not only a great poet of modern Maithili but his contribution to Maithili journalism is unparallel.He translated many books of Bengali and Sanskrit into Maithili to enrich the language.He was elected member of Bihar legislative assembly and member of Parliament from Darbhanga constituency.His place in Maithili will remain unfilled for a long time.
May almighty bestow peace to the departed soul ,and courage to kins to bear the loss.
PITAMBAR PATHAK,a staunch supporter of Maithili movement passed away at Kolkata on22Feb.2002.
