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