THE LATE K.B.SAHAY: DR. P.S. MUKHERJEE

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)

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.

K.B.SAHAY- AS I KNEW HIM: NAGESHWAR PRASAD

FROM THE BLOGGER’S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K.B.SAHAY:3

Sri Nageshwar Prasad, one of the senior-most advocates; one-time Chairman, Hazaribag Municipality, Ex Honorary Secretary, Hazaribag Central Cooperative Bank Limited and a person devoted to social works, delves into the past to sketch the portrait of Sri. K. B. Sahay, the man who dominated Bihar politics for a long time. (Editor)

Sri Krishna Ballabh Sahay was born on 31^st December 1898 in a middle-class family. His father was late Ganga Sahay a sub-inspector of Police. From the very beginning, he was a brilliant student. He graduated from the local Saint Columba’s College in 1919 with Honours in English, First class first. His vernacular was Urdu. He learned good Hindi when he was in active politics.

In 1919 he joined Patna College and took up M.A. in English. He could just finish first-year M.A. course when he gave up studies in 1920 on the call of Gandhiji and became a lecturer of National College at Sadakat Ashram. He joined Non-cooperation movement in 1921 which he continued till 1923. He was jailed for six months in 1923. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Bihar and he continued as such for 6 years. In 1925 he attended Shimla Conference with Late Sri Krishna Sinha. He was jailed for 6 months in 1925.

He joined Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and was jailed in 1930 for one year. In 1936 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary of Chief Minister of Bihar, the late Sri Krishna Sinha. He by his work came very close to “Siri Babu”, as he was affectionately called and made himself indispensable. He used to deal with all the files from almost all departments. Siri Babu was heard to say that he cannot think of a Ministry in Bihar without K. B. Bihar Ministry was dissolved after the break of the Second Wolrd War. He was all the time working hard for the Congress and even to sell Khadi carrying the same on his back. In 1942 he joined the Quit India Movement and was jailed. He had offered individual Satyagraha and was jailed again. In 1946, he became the Revenue Minister of Bihar and in this period he got enacted the Zamindari Abolition Act and successfully implemented it. He was also responsible for the enactment of the Private Protected Forest Act in teeth of hard opposition. In 1948, he was responsible for bringing electricity to Hazaribagh town. Due to his efforts and endeavour, Water supply was brought to Hazaribagh. It was K. B. who brought the then Chief Minister of Bihar Sri Babu in 1954 at Hazaribagh and got the water supply and water tower no 1 inaugurated by him.

In 1952 he was elected to the Assembly from Giridih constituency although he lost at Barkagaon. He was Revenue Minister then also.

However, in 1957, he lost the election from Giridih constituency but in 1962 he was elected from Patna West constituency and was appointed Cooperative Minister after some time and remained till 1963. He was then elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party and subsequently became the Chief Minister of Bihar and remained as Chief Minister till 1967. In 1967, he lost both from Hazaribagh and Patna West constituency. In 1971 general elections, he contested for Parliament to the ticket of Congress (Organization) (after the split of Congress in 1969) from Giridih Constituency but lost it. In 1974 he was elected MLC but he could not take oath in the House as he died in a car accident. He was returning from Patna after attending the marriage of my nephew on 03-06-1974. Thus a most eventful career was nipped before time.

I remember him to have said on occasions that he will not bend but break. It must be said to his credit that he managed almost all elections for the Congress in Bihar. He used to maintain a strict account of the funds.

Hazaribagh should be indebted to K.B. for establishing Border Security Training Center at Meru, 6 miles away from Hazaribagh. He was also responsible for the establishment of Bihar Alloy and Steel Limited at Patratu providing employment to the sons of the soil.

I cannot but mention one incident. In 1964 April, one fine morning he came to my residence and said that he was holding Bihar State Congress Conference at Hazaribagh and the Chief Guest will be late Smt. Indira Gandhi, who was then Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and he further said that the late Sri. Rajendra Mishra, the then President of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, would be the Chairman of the Reception Committee and that I should shoulder the responsibility of the General Secretary of the Reception Committee. I had shown my inability but I had to yield to his dictates. The function was a real success.

Late K.B. was very simple in food habits. He was absolute in his opinion. He did not like loose talks. No man is perfect and K.B. was also accused of being rough of tongue. He was a good man at heart and people often misunderstood him.

Thus say that I first came in his contact in 1918 when I was only 11 years old. He introduced me to social work through Bihar Students Debating Association then. These were very important. I joined Congress in 1931 although I was Congress-minded from the very beginning. I was all the time with him in elections and other works.

I cannot but mention that had not the two giants of Hazaribagh, Late Sri. K. B. Sahay and Late Raja Bahadur Kamakhya Narayan Singh clashed the fate and face of Hazaribagh and Bihar would have been different. They would have controlled the politics of Bihar and to a certain extent politics of India.

K. B. Sahay had suffered too much and along with him his children during the hard days of Congress. We sometimes differed sharply only to agree at last. He had a hand in my career and all gratitude to him for them.

May his soul rest in peace.

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“The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.”  

ABIGAIL VAN BUREN

THE SOUVENIR PUBLISHED ON 31.12.1986

Cover of the Souvenir published  by the Committee on 31.12.1986 

Message from His excellency the then President of the Republic of India Giani Zail Singh 

Message from the then Prime Minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi published in Souvenir

Message from the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Sri. Bindeshwari Dubey

K.B. SQUARE, HAZARIBAG: THE STORY OF A MEMORIAL

FROM THE BLOGGER’S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K.B.SAHAY:1

Hazaribagh, the headquarters of the North Chhotanagpur Division of Jharkhand is known as a city of thousand gardens. Some also refer it to a city of thousand tigers. The city is situated in the midst of the forests. In the heart of the city is situated the New Bus Terminal for private buses. As one moves from here towards Ranchi on the N.H. 33, one cannot miss a massive Gothic architecture at the right angle. Erected in 1908 it is the famous Saint Columba’s College.

About three furlongs or so from the bus terminal, the road forks out, the N.H. moving on the right fork with 30-degree slant, while the left fork going straight, leads to the magnificent architecture i.e. the Saint Columba’s College. This creates a triangle to the left incline to the Gothic monument. The triangular plot has a statue of its local hero, Sri. K. B. Sahay, the brightest son of the soil of Hazaribagh who, after serving as the revenue Minister, became the Chief Minister of the undivided Bihar. In a way, it is befitting indeed that the most illustrious alumni of the institution stands right in front of the alma mater as a sentinel warding off evils and beckoning new generations of young men and women to the portals of the temple of learning. The statue stands as a mark of gratitude for a city whose resident never ever forgot this illustrious son. The story of this memorial goes back to the eighties when the residents of Hazaribagh, decided to express their gratitude by erecting a memorial in remembrance of their local hero K. B. Sahay. A committee was constituted to take up the issue with the Government of Bihar. Sri Braj Kishore Jaiswal was the Chairman of this committee and other members on this Committee were Dr. O. P. Gope, Secretary, Sri Dwarkanath Sinha, Treasurer, Sri Srikant Sahay, Deputy Secretary and Sri L. K. Sahay, Deputy Treasurer. Other active members of this committee were all distinguished citizens of Hazaribagh like Sri Nageshwar Prasad noted advocate, Sri. Hafizur Rehman, ex MLA, Sri Damodar Pandey, Ex MLA, Sri Lambodar Pathak, ex MLA, Sri Ram Kumar Ojha, Smt Krishna Srivastava, Ms. Anjali Dasgupta, Sri Krishna Kumar Sinha, Sri Mithileshwari Charan, Sri Javed Akhtar, and Sri Chandrashekhar Prasad. The Committee sought permission of the Government of Bihar to install a statue of K. B. Sahay at the triangular space in front of Saint Columba’s College- the college from which K. B. Sahay had graduated in 1919. What better tribute to an alumnus by installing a statue in front of the college which he attended as a student! The Government of Sri Bindeshwari Dubey granted the space for the purpose and the Chief Minister also agreed to unveil the statue on the 88^th birth anniversary of Sri. K. B. Sahay on 31^st December 1986. Sri K. B. Sahay had nurtured the political career of Sri Bindeshwari Dubey in the sixties and Sri Dubey acknowledged this fact in his address, while unveiling the statue. I do not have much information about the efforts that went into getting the permission of the Government to allow the triangular space in front of the college or in installing the statue but I do remember vividly the visits by Kantu cha (Chhote papa), stopping over at our place in Jhumri-Telaiya, on way to Patna along with other Committee members a number of times or to board the train to New Delhi/Jaipur for the statue. Finally, the efforts of the Committee materialized and it was a great occasion when the statue was finally unveiled on 31^st December 1986 by the Chief Minister of Bihar Sri Bindeshwari Dubey.

The efforts of the Committee did not end here. It also brought out a Souvenir on this occasion in remembrance. This Souvenir was released on 31^st December 1986 and it carried articles on K. B. Sahay written by his well-wishers. These articles gave an insight into the life and times of K. B. Sahay and made for interesting reading. The souvenir was edited by Dr. A. N. Prasad, Professor (English), Saint Columba’s College; Hazaribagh and carried articles by distinguished citizens of Hazaribag town. These articles and many more written by prominent leaders of Bihar of the day, bureaucrats, advocates, renowned journalists, and even common man will be reproduced in this blog in the coming days for the benefit of those who may be interested to know K. B. Sahay - as a person, as a leader, and as an administrator. Incidentally Patna edition of “THE HINDUSTAN TIMES” published an article on K. B. Sahay on this day i.e. 31^st December 1986, written by Sri. Gutulji Sahay, another son of K. B. Sahay. This article titled “K. B. Sahay: His Life and Times” was a befitting tribute to his father by a son. This article is available on this blog.

This is a small effort to digitize all available published materials and upload them on this blog for the benefit of readers. I invite contributions, text and photos, to enrich this blog. The contributions will be duly acknowledged.