A royal family in pursuit of 'New Bihar'

New Delhi, Mar 18: To prevent large-scale exodus of young students from Bihar and Jharkhand to other states in search of quality education, the scions of erstwhile princely state of Darbhanga in Mithila region in North Bihar, have decided to open a string of technical and secondary-level educational institutions in the region.

With the help of central and state governments as well as corporate houses, they have also decided to open over a dozen of small-scale industries to prevent large-scale migration of labour force to various parts of the country.

Famously known as 'Darbhanga Raj', the princely family had played a distinguished role in promoting education and culture during pre- and post-independence era.

''There is an overwhelming response from corporate houses, educational institutions and industrialists and they have agreed in principle to join the venture,'' said Kumar Kapileshwara Singh, son of late Kumar Subheshawara Singh, Maharaja of Darbhanga.

''It's a beginning. Our purpose is to make a fresh beginning and provide them a modern, high-tech and sophisticated educational atmosphere in their home states," claimed Ms. Kavita Singh, daughter-in-law of Darbhanga Raj family and Chief Executive Officer of the mission.

She said good academic institutions do not just lift educational standards of a state but also the morale of the people, and lend it a status and an image that are imperative for the growth of a community.

Shivnath Jha, a senior journalist who had worked with the Darbhanga Raj-owned newspapers ''The Indian Nation'' and ''Aryavarta'' in the 70s, is the brain behind the mission to be taken up in phases over the next five years.

According to the Singhs, special emphasis would be on education for girls and women. At least half a dozen educational institutions would be opened exclusively for their higher education.

Owners of KK Info Media (P) Ltd company, the family have also decided to revive the century-old newspapers 'The Indian Nation' and 'Aryavarta' in a new shape from the national capital. ''We are getting positive response. We are in constant touch with a large number of technocrats and professionals who have settled in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other parts of the country, besides the US, the UK and Canada. They have hailed our proposals and expressed their solidarity in making a 'New Bihar','' said Ms.Singh.

On the need for IIT-level engineering colleges in Bihar and Jharkhand, she said a large number of academic and technical institutions were established in the country after it gained independence.

Ironically, almost all such institutions meant for the eastern parts of the country went to West Bengal, including IIT, Kharagpur; Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta; ISI, Calcutta and Vishwa Bharti.

''The Central Government has never bothered to meet the demands and aspirations of the people of these two states,'' she lamented.

It may be mentioned that having one-tenth size and population of Bihar, Delhi alone has four central universities, including an IIT, while the North-Eastern region has five central universities and an IIT.

According to the duo, in the first phase of the programme, major educational institutions (up to higher secondary level) would be opened followed by high tech technical and engineering colleges in the region.

''This would certainly prevent the outflow of both the 'super brains' and the 'money' from the state to other parts of the country. More than Rs 150 crores are expected to be spent on the first phase of the development,'' she said.

According to an estimate, Delhi accounts for 40 lakh of the migrated manpower from Bihar while another 27 lakh have settled in the National Capital Region. This is besides the exodus of more than 1.5 lakh students every year to other states in search of quality education.

UNI