** *Do you know a place called Jharkhand?* ** ** *Year: - 2000 Location:- Could be any city of the new state Jharkhand or the erstwile Bihar I was in standard 12th. But that was the secondary thing in mind then. The hot and happening topic doing the rounds even in the most dumb groups in every school, college around me was - What will the rest of India know us as? 'Biharis' or 'Jharkhandis'? Neither name found a favor among the youth who planned to move out of this state as soon as possible.
A state, where the young generations donot have their father's name suffixed to their own - no Topnos, Kumars, Kundus, Choubeys, Ekkas, Singhs, Sinhas, Chaturvedis, Lals, Jaiswals, Dubeys, Mishras, Toppos, Kerkettas, etc. etc. to be found on the attendance registers...but all sorts of bizarre permutations and combinations of two perfectly different names ! Why? Parents want their kids to get through the 'limited' seats in the limited schools and colleges. Which in itself is a difficult task, what with more than half of the seats being taken over through (un) conventional means. Who would like to add totheir own woes by makintheir ward's caste public by giving them their last names? Year:- 2004 Location: - Any educational institute in any part of the country. First day of a new academic year. First rounds of 'official' introductions between the professors and students hailing from every nook and corner of the country. A general speech by a fresher from 'Bihar' or 'Jharkhand' - "Good Morning everybody, I am XXXX, from ABCD, Bihar / Jharkhand". While the former state name is met with stifled giggles and snorts, the latter calls for confused glances. Where? Which place is that? "Ummm......errrr....it is one of the new states formed in 2000" "O.K. O.K. So say Bihar na yaar!! It is all the same any ways. You should rather be greatful to be labeled a 'Bihari' rather than the uncomfortable 'Jharkhandi' " "Ummmm ...But are we all not first Indians sir?" "Bacchae, this is only July, 15th August is still far away. Keep your patriotism for the cultural function on that day." Bursts of laughter in the background.... Year:- 2006 Location: - Again, could be any IT / Marketing / HR / Telecom / Finance office. Another round of introductions. This time our character is more cautious and tries to blunt her regional accent while speaking. Same speeches met with same doubts. Where? Oh OK. Ya. Ya. All those minerals and ores place no? Full of naxalites also na? Keep reading about those massacres in the papers? Hmm Lalu has nothing to with the governing now right? * *Year:- January 2007 Location - A trans-regional (love) marriage scene of a 'Jharkhandi' girl with a boy from 'any other state in India'. But you are basically a 'Bihari' na? Will the ladies wear those waste length 'Ghoonghats'? Do you still follow that 'Parda system'? Will the men be carrying bamboo sticks and adorn those reddish towels in the Barat? It will be a scene to watch? Oh! Do ask your relatives to be as comfortable as they want to. We want to see them just the way they would be in their native places. Do you also speak Bhojpuri? But we can not play those songs please? It will be too much. Time: - Any morning. Location: - Breakfast table in the new house. Hey look at this news! I look up. The title reads "Six year old held for rape. Location – Some deep down district of my beloved Jharkhand" Its like reading an article out of some 'Ripleys Believe It or Not' journal for my new relatives. Do you have tourist spots in Bihar…err sorry Jharkhand? Err.. is it safe to venture out alone there…We have heard that people, specially ladies do not venture out after 6. Shops are closed at 8 there no? How come your parents sent you away from such a protected environment? Crap and more crap. Day in and day out. I stand up and fight back. I bluntly answer questions in my own rash way. I fight my new extended family. I fought the 'intellectuals' in the 'happening' IT cities of Bangalore, Pune and now Amchi Mumbai. But it seems like a one-woman army. Half of the currently booming industries (take your pick) are doing great thanks to US. Us means Biharis and Jharkhandis. We make you laugh. We give you a reason to smile. We make complete jokers out of ourselves. We are the most popular pick for any comedian on any sick television laughter show. B.U.T. we are also the leading designers, marketing, software, HR, PR heads, political heads, models T.V. actors and news channel anchors, all over the the country and the world abroad. One of us, heads the industry that employes the most number of people in the entire world. We represent our country equally well - like any other regional guy to the world. T.H.E.N. Why can't we be given some more respect? Why cant we given some hope? Are not regional accents a setback to any Indian who wants to go and conquer the world? Then WHY can't we be treated at par with the rest of the country? Every region, every state, every language, every culture has its own idiosyncrasies; we love to make fun of each one of those. But we respect them equally too don't we? Then WHY can't the same apply to our part of the country too? We are ourselves responsible for our fates, I admit. We do not stick around in the state after graduation. Every youth whose parents can afford it, moves out. And what if it is a girl child? Get her married off to someone posted in some nice 'happening' city, and if the parents can get hold of some NRI – then they can never stop thanking their stars! Yes. It is us who are not giving back to our states. We. Biharis and Jharkhandis need to get back to our roots. But who wants to come back? What with the naxalites suddenly taking fancy of ruling the land, parents want their wards to be as far as away from the mess as possible. And even if that issue is quelled away, what about the red tape? Politics? Quota wars? Reservations? Miles and miles of land going to waste but no one dare even look at them as they belong to certain special castes? Work culture? What about the meaningless bundhs, riots and holidays every alternate day of the month? Countless Rituals and Pujas to be performed every day? Myths and counter myths for every other day of the calendar? Not a single task done or journey undertaken without consulting the calendar and the home priest – (more besotted than the family doctor)? How do we fight our own drawbacks? Do we really need to fight them? What's the need yaar? You are well settled with a good package outside all this na? So, forget all this and live happily? - And keep answering bizarre impractical questions 4 – 5 - 7 –10 –15 years after the new state has been formed?? Part of life yaar! Take it easy. Jai Hind. Proud to be an Indian. Blah! Blah! But are you proud to be a Bihari / Jharkhandi? We are first Indians, only then anything else - your words only. Yeah right! Who cares any ways?* ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *Note: Views expressed in this mail are belongs to it's author only. Author Name - not shown by request..* *Want to broadcast your stories/blogs/articles related to Jharkhand Region (Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, WB and CG)? Submit it to [EMAIL PROTECTED]<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
