FROM THE BLOGGER’S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K.B.SAHAY:4
Dr. P. S. Mukherjee an ex-student of Saint Columba’s College who after obtaining his M.A. degree worked as a college teacher for nearly four decades. He retired from service on the 28th February
1983. He is still active. He has sponsored a college, Ananda College,
affiliated to Ranchi University of which he is the Secretary. Besides he is
the Secretary of four other Schools, Secretary of Religious and Minority
Association, Hazaribagh, Vice-President, Bengalee Association (Hazaribagh)
and is connected with a large number of institutions in Hazaribagh. (Editor)
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That the late K. B. Sahay was one of the outstanding residents of Hazaribagh, a polished educated and cultured person, a lover of his ‘alma mater’, his active participation in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh, the promoter and well-wisher of K. B. Women’s College, is well known to practically all the old and middle-aged person of this town.
Therefore the writer of this paper who is a student of Economics
instead of narrating his life like the dates of his birth and death, education
etc. would like to throw some light (although briefly) on how his efforts led
to the economic growth and eradication of poverty of which we often read in
newspapers and hear on the Television. Not a day passes when we do not listen
to the ultimate goal of India that is “Garibi Hatao”.
The late K. B. Sahay who was a dynamic personality realized soon after
he joined the Government that land reforms can go a long way in the development
of the State by bringing about Agricultural Revolution which was the crying
need of the hour.
Krishna Ballabh Babu as he was popularly known contemplated that in the
context of economic planning the direct effect of land reforms is
redistribution of income with a more egalitarian pattern. The transfer of
purchasing power from the “haves” to “have nots” will in all likelihood change
the demand constituents in favour of goods manufactured by better production techniques and to that
extent the economy may expect greater growth prospects.
Land Reforms occupied his attention in such a manner that he laid his
fingers on the abolition of the Permanent Settlement Act which was introduced by
Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal. The whole principle lying behind Permanent
Settlement was defective in logic, irrational, and inimical to the interests of
agriculture which is the backbone of the Indian economy. “The Permanent Land
Revenue Settlement of Lord Cornwallis in 1793 was a Himalayan blunder.
According to this system, the land was held by one or at least at the most by a few
joint owners, who were responsible for the payment of land revenue. The system
was introduced by the East India Company to create vested interests in land and
thereby cultivate a privileged and loyal class. This system was prevalent in
Bengal, Bihar, Andhra, and in some parts of U.P., Madhya Pradesh and zamindars
in these areas were treated as the absolute owner of the land. The landlords in
most cases were blood-suckers. They merely collected rent and did almost
nothing for augmenting the productivity of land which was essential for
economic growth. The pressure of the population led to the general extension of
cultivation and to greater demand for cultivable land. The net effect was that
the zamindars grew richer, intermediaries continued to become affluent and the
State was deprived of its share of legitimate increase in revenue and it was
left to the cultivator tenants to live a hand to mouth existence- most of whom
were denied even two square meals a day.
After achieving independence Sri. K. B. Sahay threw his whole weight on
abolition of Zamindari and in spite of several hurdles got a legislation
abolishing Zamindari.
The author does not like to pinpoint the various beneficial effects of
the abolition as the paper will become lengthy and bore the readers.
The writer will now briefly mention another economic policy initiated
by the Late K. B. Sahay. When Sri. Sahay became the Cooperative Minister, he
visited Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh of which I was a lecturer then. I
recall in how clear and convincing manner, he pointed out the advantages of
cooperative movement including service cooperative. He pointed out that service
cooperatives would among other things, arrange for credit to farmers in close
cooperation with production programmes, arrange for the supply of fertilizers,
seeds, manures, plough, insecticides etc collect surplus produce of members for
sale through the nearest marketing society and arrange for surplus of common
goods to members against indenter.
Besides agricultural development, for balanced economic growth, the
late K. B. Sahay also directed his action towards industrial developments. I
shall not go into details but just mention Sri. Sahay’s achievement in this
sphere of the economy:
1. The Mica
Syndicate.
2. Patratu Thermal
Power Station (the biggest in Bihar)
3. Tenghat Project.
4. Forest-based
industries.
5. Wood Processing
plant at Ramgarh.
6. Match Factory at
Koderma.
7. Pabra Lift
Irrigation Project.
8. Katara, Sabrang, and Giddi Coal Washery Projects.
The Bokaro Steel Plant was also materialized owing to the efforts of
Late Sahay. The Hazaribagh district contributed the maximum amount of land for
the Bhhodan Movement through the endeavour of Sri. K. B. Sahay.
All the above shows the performances of Krishna Ballabh Babu. The
author does not take the patience of the readers any further, but it has
certainly to be observed that Late K. B. Sahay was the life and blood of
Hazaribagh. The interest of Hazaribagh was uppermost in his heart and his death
in tragic circumstances has removed from us a friend, philosopher, and guide.
One thing more before my pen stops. The Late Sahay was an educated
person in the real sense and loved and admired true educationists. His
admiration for the saint among educationists Mr. A. F. Markham (of whom he was
not a student) was exemplary. I recall the day, when after becoming the Chief
Minister, many people went to Nagoa airstrip to receive him and congratulate
him. He responded to the welcome by others with folded hands but when he came
near Mr. Markham he embraced him with great warmth and admiration. Lastly, I
mention another incident. As Chief Minister the Late K. B. Sahay desired Mr.
Markham (his most respected person) to become the Vice-Chancellor of the Ranchi
University. The Chancellor did not like this and objected on the ground that
Mr. Markham was not an Indian citizen. Krishna Ballabh Babu fought out the
issue with the Chancellor and strongly maintained that a person who has
dedicated his life to a college in Bihar (Mr. A. F. Markham lived in Bihar
since 1923) is to be treated as a “Bihari”. The Chancellor had ultimately to
bow before the arguments of Krishna Ballabh Babu and his determination to make
Mr. A. F. Markham the Vice-Chancellor prevailed.
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“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because
without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
-MAYA ANGELOU.
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