Just a couple of hours before Dada had left from our place at Jhumri- Telaiya for Hazaribag. He had won the elections to the Bihar Legislative Council and was returning to Hazaribag after oath-taking. They had left Patna early in the morning at 3.30 a.m. as was usual with Dada. They left Telaiya at around 8.30 in the morning. Papa got ready and left for the town by 10.00 a.m. He rushed into the house to break this news at around 11.00 a.m. We all prayed that the accident wasn’t fatal for anyone. Those weren’t the days of mobile. Even landlines were not very common. A local taxiwala coming from Hazaribag had informed papa of the accident. Papa along with Ma and Bada Ma left for Hazaribag immediately. We followed in the evening. On reaching Hazaribag we got the news of Dada’s death. It was devastating, to say the least. Other family members were also injured and hospitalized. It was indeed the blackest day for our family as the magnitude of loss came to sink in over the years as we lost place of primacy in Bihar politics. The chapter for all purposes has come to a close.
Papa reminisced that on that fateful day, Dada was back in his confident self and full of energy. He had met Jai Prakash Narayan during his Patna stay and had discussed their future political strategy. This twosome, united in their endeavor, could have proved lethal for the central regime of the day. Papa had planned for a get together with the Mukhiyas and had requested him for a date which was postponed for the next month.
The following two articles have been drawn by me from my personal collection of articles and writing on K. B. Sahay. The first one is the headlines of “The Indian Nation” newspaper dated 04th June 1974 and the second is the tributes paid by the leaders of the day. This includes tributes from historical figures like Mr. Abdul Gafoor, Mr. Mahamaya Prasad Sinha, Mr.Satyendra Narain Sinha, all former Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Ram Dulari Sinha, Mrs. Tarkeshwari Sinha, Mr. Dharam Vir, and Mr. Sitaram Kesari all former Union Ministers and scores of other leaders of Bihar of the day.
LEADERS
MOURN K. B. SAHAY’S DEATH
(COURTESY:
THE INDIAN NATION, 4TH JUNE 1974)
Rich tributes were paid to Mr. K. B. Sahay, former Chief Minister and an Organization Congress leader who died in a car accident this morning near Hazaribag by a large number of leaders and legislatures.
Mr.
K. B. Sahay was described as the messiah of the poor, downtrodden, oppressive
and suppressed, an architect of the Zamindari abolition, a fearless freedom
fighter and a brilliant and able administrator.
The
office of the Bihar Legislative Council was closed as a mark of respect shortly
after midday today under orders from the acting Chairman Mr. Ram Govind Singh
who described Mr. K. B. Sahay in a condolence message as “a great organizer and
patriot”.
The
Bihar Governor Mr. R. D. Bhandare said: Mr. Sahay has left a lasting impression
on the history of Bihar and as a public leader he will be remembered by all for
a long time to come. The vacuum created by his death will be difficult to
fill’.
The
Bihar Chief Minister, Mr. Abdul Gafoor said: ‘Mr. Sahay’s death is a tragedy
too deep for words. He was one of our foremost freedom fighters and maker of
modern Bihar. I was thinking of drawing upon his experience in legislative and
administrative matters. But fate willed it otherwise. I pray for the peace of
his soul and offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family’.
Mr.
Satyendra Narain Sinha, M.P. and President, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee
(O) said: ‘ In the death of Mr. K. B. Sahay, one of the most colorful
personalities in Bihar politics had been removed. He described Mr. Sahay as “an
able administrator and patriot, a great organizer and the architect of
Zamindari abolition in the country.’ He further said that the void created by
his death would be difficult to fill.
Mrs.
Tarkeshwari Sinha, ex M.P. said: ‘ Mr. Sahay was not an individual but an
institution. The cruel hand of fate had removed one of the outstanding old
guards of the undivided Congress. Mr. Sahay;s capacity for hard work, devotion
to duty, and sincerity of purpose would always remain a source of inspiration
for all’.
Mr.
Dharam Vir Sinha, Union Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said:
‘ I am deeply grieved to learn of the death of the indomitable freedom fighter
Sri. Krishna Ballabh Sahay under tragic circumstances. He will be remembered
for his pioneering role in land reforms in the country as one who abolished the
Zamindari System. A dynamic leader, he will also be remembered as a firm
administrator whose concern for the poor and the downtrodden was both deep and
abiding. I received great affection from him and I salute him in death as in
life. The concern that he aroused in us for fundamental change in society will
not die.’
Mr.
Ram Vilas Sharma (Congress-O), leader of the opposition in Bihar Legislative
Council, said: ‘ Mr. Sahay was an outstanding leader patriot, organizer and
administrator. Most of the Congress leaders of Bihar today are his creation.
May his soul rest in peace’.
FREEDOM
FIGHTER
The
Speaker of the Bihar Assembly, Mr. Harinath Mishra said: ‘In Mr. Sahay’s
passing away the country has lost a veteran freedom fighter, an able and
effective parliamentarian, a seasoned administrator and above all a self-made
public man of great stature. May his soul rest in peace’.
Mr.
Mahamaya Prasad Sinha, a former Chief Minister said: ‘The country has lost in the death of Mr. Sahay a true public servant, a valiant freedom fighter and a great
administrator. The loss is irreparable’.
Mr.
Sitaram Kesari, M.P. and President of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee offered
his heartfelt condolences on the death of Mr. K. B. Sahay and the office of the
Bihar PCC (O) remained closed today as a mark of respect to the deceased.
Mr.
Indra Kumar, member of the National Committee of the Sanjukta Socialist Party,
said in a message: ‘Bihar has lost a man of manifold virtues. He never
compromised with his principles and was known for his firmness of character.
DEVOTED
PATRIOT
Mr.
Shamaile Nabi, MLA and Vice President of the Urdu Editors Council said that in
the death of Mr. Sahay, Bihar has lost a devoted patriot and a secular leader.
Mr.
H. K. Verma, a Youth Congress leader and leader of BPCC said that Bihar has
lost a great administrator, freedom fighter and organizer.’.
Mr.
K. N. Sahay, a former President of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘ Bihar
has lost one of her ablest administrators and a champion of the downtrodden’.
Irrigation
Minister, Government of Bihar, Jagannath Mishra said’ It is difficult to find
an administrator like Mr. K. B. Sahay. He was a great leader and would be
remembered by people of Bihar for his progressive views, courage, dynamism, and
administrative ability’.
Former
Bihar Minister Mr. Baleshwar Ram said: ‘ He was a great leader who will be
remembered for his forthright approach to complex problems’.
Former
Minister of State Shambhu Nath Thakur said: ‘ Mr. K. B. Sahay would be
remembered for his progressive views and strong and efficient administration’.
ABLE
LEADER
Presiding
over the condolence meeting at Muzaffarpur, Mr. Sharada Prasad Bhandari,
President, Muzaffarpur Press Association said: ‘ Mr. Sahay was a very
successful journalist during the days he was correspondent with the Amrit
Bazaar Patrika at Hazaribag’.
Mr.
Vasudev Sharma, Secretary of the Sarvadeshiya Arya Pratinidhi Sabha in a
condolence message said: ‘Mr. Sahay was the ablest administrator the State had
ever produced. He played a significant role in the freedom struggle’.
Mr.
Shashi Kumar Sinha, Advocate and President of Chowk Thana Congress Committee
said that in death of Mr. Sahay the State and the Country has suffered an
irreparable loss’.
Mr.
Dharmendra Prasad Singh, Publicity Secretary of the Bihar Khadi Udyog Sangh and
Mr. Dhwaja Prasad Sahu, the senior leader of the Khadi and Gramodyog movement
in Bihar in a message condoled the death of Mr. K. B. Sahay. Mr. Sahu said that
it was a personal loss.
In
a message Labour Minister Mrs. Ramdulari Sinha said: ‘Krishna Ballabh Babu was a
great patriot, an able administrator, a versatile genius, and a man of few words.
In the history of India, his name would go down as an architect of Kisan Raj who
abolished Zamindari System’.
Mr.
Shyam Prakash Singh, Secretary, Bihar Bhoodan Yagya Committee said: ‘The
contribution of Sri. Sahay in the Bhoodaan Gram Movement was unparalleled. The
movement has lost a supporter.’
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