IN MODESTY LAY HIS CLAIM TO FAME -HINDUSTAN TIMES CORRESPONDENT "THE HINDUSTAN TIMES", DECEMBER 31, 1998

FROM THE BLOGGER'S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K. B. SAHAY: 21

The original article published in "THE HINDUSTAN TIMES" (Patna Edition) 31.12.1998

From a humble background, Krishna Ballabh Sahay rose to become one of the most powerful Chief Ministers of Bihar. Known as the “Iron Man of Bihar” K. B. Sahay was born on December 31, 1898 in a Kayastha family at Sheikhpura village under Fatuwah police station in the Patna district. He believed in egalitarianism and worked for the benefit of the poor and the downtrodden. Son of a police sub-inspector, K. B. Sahay was educated at Hazaribagh and passed the matriculation examination in 1916 from the Zilla School, Hazaribagh. He graduated from Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh in English Honours with gold medal in 1919 and got admitted in MA and Law simultaneously.

K. B. Sahay however could not complete his post-graduation since he joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1919 at the call of Mahatma Gandhi. Since then he actively participated in all activities during the freedom struggle and was arrested seven times and spent many years in jail. Mr. Sahay became popular among the poor soon after he took the beating of his father’s servant by a Jamadar of Gidhaur police station where his father was posted. He fled away from his father’s fear in the wake of his services rendered to the servant. He was Socialist in his orientation and gave a shape to socialism in his public life. He believed in transparency and frankness. He was honest in his public dealings.

K. B. Sahay created a niche for himself by framing the Zamindari Abolition laws for the first time in the country. He became the target of big landlords and Zamindars and had to bear the brunt of the then Ramgarh Raja Kamakhya Narayan Singh, who never spared him throughout his life. K. B. Sahay also pioneered the Land Ceiling Act. He had to face stiff opposition from all sides but his determination at last earned the Party and the Government public support. He was also instrumental in accelerating the pace of procuring land under Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement and campaigned for it.

Known for his firm resolve, Mr. K. B. Sahay did not buckle under pressure from some of his party colleagues and others during the 1967 Assembly elections and upheld the morale of the police and civil administrators by granting financial assistance even after police firing on the demonstrators who had indulged in arson and loot, least bothering his election from the Patna West constituency. Though he lost the election, he earned kudos from all sections of the society for his administrative acumen. He brushed aside all suggestions not to do that and went ahead as it was not important for him to remain in power. His main objective as the Chief Minister was to protect the public and private property and ensure security to the people.

Narrating some of the features of Mr. K. B. Sahay’s life, his close associate Mr. Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav said once Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had expressed his annoyance over the acquisition of Sathi land of the Bettiah Raj and had asked Chief Minister Sri Krishna Sinha to return the land to its owner. Sri Babu became nervous and at that stage, Mr. K. B. Sahay asked Sri Babu not to go to Dehradoon to meet Sardar Patel. Mr. Sahay himself went to meet Sardar Patel asked him to return the land. Pat came Mr. K. B. Sahay;s refusal who also added that Sardar Patel was not only the Deputy Prime Minister of the country but the protector of Congressmen prestige in the country. Later, Mr. Sahay laid before him all relevant papers regarding the acquisition of surplus land of Bettiah Raj and Sardar Patel had to ultimately put his seal of approval to the proposal of Mr. K. B. Sahay.

Known as a hard taskmaster, Mr. K. B. Sahay always braved the natural calamities with the determination which was evident during the famine-like situation in 1966-67. He constituted a relief committee under the leadership of Jai Prakash Narayan and mobilized resources from every nook and corner and saved the population from starvation death. However, after the advent of non-congress government headed by Mr. Mahamaya Prasad Sinha in Bihar, after the 1967 Assembly elections, an inquiry committee was set up against him and some of his ministerial colleagues but no allegations were proved to be correct.

He died on 3rd June 1974.

Leadership is action, not position.           

-DONALD H MCGANNON

K. B. SAHAY: AN ABLE ADMINISTRATOR -HINDUSTAN TIMES CORRESPONDENT THE HINDUSTAN TIMES, DECEMBER 31, 1998

FROM THE BLOGGER’S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K.B.SAHAY:20

This particular tribute was published in the 31st December issue of the daily newspaper "The Hindustan Times" (Patna Edition) in the year 1998.  The writer in the concluding lines defines what "Samajik Nyaya (Social Justice) actually means and how K. B. Sahay stood like a wall for the welfare of poor whom he emancipated by implementing the Zamindari abolition legislation by his sheer will power. 

The original article published in the "Hindustan Times" (Patna Edition) on 31st December

Today, when “personal aggrandizement” and “developmental inertia” has become the hallmark of our politico-bureaucratic masters, one’s thoughts go to Krishna Ballabh Sahay, a noble son of Bihar who spurned the chance of joining the covenanted Indian Civil Service to become even a humbler servant of the people by opting to be a politician in Mahatma Gandhi’s footsteps. It was on the strength of the character of politicians like Mr. Krishna Ballabh Sahay that the Appleby Committee declared Bihar to be India’s best administered State. Remembering that give a thought to Bihar’s state today.

Today when sleaze and corruption mar Bihar’s policy, the life and times of Krishna Ballabh Babu or simply “K.B.”, as he was affectionately called, provide fodder of inspiration to the optimist in this blessed State.

Born on December 31, 1898, in Sheikhpura village under Fatuwah police station in Patna district, in the family of a British Indian police official, Krishna Ballabh Sahay graduated with honours in Queen’s Language with a first class and a gold medal to boot, from Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh. Called to England for an interview for selection into the hallowed ranks of the ICS, he preferred to listen to Mahatma Gandhi’s call to join the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921 and plunged into the struggle for freedom, leaving his studies (MA & Law) in Patna University unfinished. His habit of becoming a jail bird began with his incarceration during the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930-31.

Krishna Ballabh Sahay gave ample evidence of his legislative and administrative skills    when he joined the Congress Government of Bihar in 1937. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary. Post-independence, he served as the State’s Revenue Minister till 1967. (read 1957). His concern for the Dalit, deprived, landless citizens made him pro-actively pursue the agitation objective of bringing about land reforms. The abolition of the zamindari system and the enactment of the Bihar Land Reforms Act were a result of Sahay’s untiring and selfless efforts.

Krishna Ballabh Babu is also remembered as one of Bihar’s leading administrators. He ranks as one of the State’s most capable Chief Ministers along with Sri Krishna Sinha. Bureaucrats delivered under his leadership. He did not tolerate sycophancy and babu- inertia. A disciplined Gandhian himself, Krishna Ballabh Sahay ensured prompt decision making and speedy implementation of developmental programmes.

Today on his birth anniversary, it would be but befitting for our netas and babus to draw sustainable inspiration from the life of Krishna Ballabh Sahay if. At all, they have the conscience to justify the calling of the lofty vocations they have chosen and to fulfill their duty to Bihar and India. If they do, as the common man prays, Bihar will be able to happily bury its infamy of being a scam-mothering State. That indeed would be an ideal tribute to Krishna Ballabh Sahay- a tribute of “samajik nyaya” (social justice.

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will.

- VINCE LOMBARDI.