The Saga of Bihar and Jharkhand: Underground Fire Within Submerged Human Scape The memories of the Past haunts me violently as I witnessed joint Rallies of JMM and Marxist co Ordination Committee led by our dearest comrade AK Roy, the ex M.P. from Dhanbad! I was unfortunate enough to be present in the JMM Convention when Suraj Mandal succeeded to alienate AK Roy from JMM. Only Binod Bihari Mahato accompanied AK Roy until he breathed last. I don`t know the where about of Suraj Mandal, the mastermind behind the division! I also was lucky to visit underground bases of Shibu Soren in the forests of Jharkhand. I witnessed how unexpected changes changed the man. I landed in Dhanbad very dramatically. I started for Allahabad University as soon as I got the Marks sheet of my M.A. Final exams. I intended to complete the research work and then adjust myself in either Nainital or Almora Campus of Kumaun University. I reached Allahabad and took a Rickshaw to get in the house of eminent Hindi Writer Shailesh Matiyani in Colonel Gaunj. he sent me immediately to the University. Where I met Dr Raghuvansh, then the head of Hindi Department. he suggested me to work in Hinidi. Then, I met Dr Manas Mukul Das with whom I debated modern poetry for hours in Nainital. He had already registered six students and could not accommodate me. He introduced me to Dr Malviya and he agreed to guide me and I agreed to assist him editing his career mag! Dr Batrohi from DSB college had stayed with Matiyani in sixties as a student. But the room was occupied by a close relation of Matiyanis. I shifted myself in another Kumayooni House. Shekhar Joshi was our Ideal as a short story writer. I used to write short stories in my earlier days. In fact , I have got two books of short stories later. Mr Joshi resided in a rented house , 100, Looker Ganj, Allahabad with two sons Pratul, Sanjay, daughter Bunty and their IZA means mother. I stayed in the house and searched for job as I had already discontinued to rely on my family since I passed B.A... I did work as a freelance journalist during my student life as part of mass mobilisation for Chipko Movement. I had a post graduation degree. thus, I believed to earn enough to support myself. I applied for Northern India Patrika beside doing some translation work for Mitra Prakashan thanks to Bhairab Prasad Gupta and Amarkant. editors working there. Mr Mathur was the most powerful News Editor I have ever encountered. He was the recruiter in Northern India Patrika and he rejected my application. Manglesh Dabral was the magazine editor. Biren Dangwal was also in Allahbad in those days. i befriended with Neelabh and Ramji Roy. Very soon, I became a part of Progressive students` Union. I have friends in SFI also.SFI friends got an accomodation for me in Mamford Ganj.i had some tutions also. Then, manglesh suggested me to go to JNU. Birenda and Neelabh endorsed. I was introduced to Urmilesh and we got Vaishali express and landed in Poorvanchal hostel of JNU. I had to do M. Phil in Linguistics. The next day, iIwas out to search for job. I got one in Delhi Press. but I could not stay there. I was getting some assignments and translation works. Meanwhile, I visited my village. Where i came to know that DSB College english department was looking for me. I just rushed to Nainital. Captain LM sah was the head of the department. He drafted the application and recommended it. I had to meet the Vice Chancellor. I visited the VC office in Brook Hill. I had to wait for some time. Meanwhile, so impulsive I had been, my student life experience and encounters with the VC haunted me and I decided against surrendering to the corrupt VC. i never knew, it ended my academic career. Yes, I had been very impulsive as Namashudras are best known for. All Indigenous communities suffer from this sever personality disorder. I had to pay for it so often! I returned to my village Basanti Pur and got involved in a quarrel during a drama festival. My friend Tekka was beaten. it enraged me so much that I stopped the show as I enjoyed the support of the youth and students whom I used to lead. My father was very angry. it was a hot exchange as he suggested me that I had to be cool and work for peace! The next day, I got a letter from Urmilesh. he had visited Dhanbad and was offered a job in a daily News paper. He was not interested. But he knew that I could do the job as I had a soft corner for Nationality Movement and Jharkhand. Immediately I rushed to JNU. I told Urmilesh that I would be working there until next session opens. I wanted to have a feel of Indian Economy and I believed I might get the experience in Jharkhand. In 1980, Jharkhand was a part of Bihar. I was proud of Bihar`s indigenous History and present. i was aware of mass movements and general consciousness and awakening in Bihar. I wanted to be a part of all this. My family was not involved in all this vital decisions. Having reached Dhanbad I stayed with Hindi Poet Madan Kashyap who was a sub editor in Daily Awaz. Brahm Dev Sharma, the editor and Bankim Babu, the manager welcomed me. Having joined Awaz, I informed my father. Very soon, I was involved with Jharkhand movement. Beer Bahrat talwar was in Dhanbad and he and Man Mohan Pathak were publishing Shalpatra. Professor Prabhakar singh and Professor BB Sharma led the pro Jharkhand Intelligentsia. Ak roy organised Prem Chand Jayanti. Mahashweta Debi was the chief guest. I had read all her prominent works including Hazar Churaseer Ma, Aranyer Adhikar, Chotti Mundra Teer and so on. In fact, I was introducing mahashweta literature to the readers of Awaz in my column in Awaz. Madan kashyap was to speak. but he had to leave Dhanbad for personal work. eventually I spoke. it was my first public exposure in Dhanbad. Mahashweta Di became a permanent Relation since that day. I was now very close to AK Roy. Then, I began writing on Mines accidents. I joined classes in Indian School of Mines and CMRS. It was an interactive campaign which made me a journalist which I never intended. coal India had to declare officially that all mines are Unsafe and Mining is hazardous! I got married in 1983. my wife Sabita belonged to Bijnore, U.P... She could not adjust in the coal fields. Then I shifted in Ranchi, in Prabhat Khabar. Finally I landed in Meerut, in 1984.
Since 1980 onwards , I am privileged to have a very responsive and favourable readership in Bihar as well as in Jharkhand. My novel Amerika se Savdhan was published serially in Awaz from Jamshedpur as well as Dhanbad since 1995 to 1997...
