• Anand Madhab

No organization is built by simply daydreaming about it. It first assumes a form in the mind and then the leaders lend it a concrete shape. Everyone has the idea of creating it, at least they claim to do so, but no one has a road map as to how to do it. If an organization is to be built, if an organization is to be made permanent, then seeking the right opportunity at the appropriate time, the leaders will have to descend to the ground. They will have to be well-connected with the people, they will have to understand them appropriately. The truth is that even today, people love the Congress Party and that is why they consider the Congress responsible for today’s mismanagement. It is because we were the ones to give way to this mismanagement by serving them power on a platter. Had we not made way for them to occupy, the present misrule wouldn’t have been there. We have all gotten lustful of power. The habit of staying in power or say its addiction is not gone even today. Even today, we wear the same attitude as if the power is eternal. But no one wants to struggle for power, everybody searches for a magical shortcut to attain it.

This statement of Chanakya seems to be gradually becoming popular in Bihar. Bihar has done something unbelievable this time. The new National In-Charge of Bihar, Bhakta Charan Das, visited 37 of the 38 districts of Bihar within the first three months of his charge. From January to March2021, under the ‘Kisan Pad Yatra’ campaign, Bhakta Charan Das Ji held meetings in many places, undertook many ‘padyatras’, organized Kisan Panchayats in many places and held many tractor rallies. Visiting two districts per day, he took this campaign as a mission.There was an army of leaders and workers of Bihar walking along with him. Perhaps, he is the first in-charge of Bihar to have visited all the districts of Bihar; something that even an in-charge of a small state wouldn’t have bothered to do. Simply after settling everything from the capital, they would have come back to Delhi. After becoming an In-charge, they would have first of all enquired about various flights. Bhakta Charan Das Ji tried to find out about the real issues of the people of Bihar. Not only did he convey the message of the Congress to districts, to blocks, then to panchayats, but it was also a very worthwhile effort to reach out to the Congressmen. We say that Congress exists in every village. This is also an irrefutable truth which surfaced. People joined this ‘Padyatra’ in varied numbers, with a ray of hope in their eyes. They felt reassured at someone visiting them with the message of Shri Rahul Gandhi, the message of the Congress. In 37 districts, people listened to them carefully, spoke their hearts out and then even took a collective oath that we will be struggling till these three black peasant laws are abolished. The ‘Padyatra’ apparently acted like a pebble that hit the water of a stagnant pond (Bihar) and let a wave arise in it, unsettling its water. But there is a need to maintain this tide, a need for continuity, a need for stability and a strong organization will have to be created for this.

If you want to form an organization, then its course of action will have to be decided upon. At the same time, a unified attempt will have to be made. A Unified attempt so strong that would reach Delhi at the speed of light, that would shake the very foundations of the governments coming in its way, that would make palaces creak under its feet and would unsettle the throne at Delhi.

Congress people of Bihar are very excited about these ‘Padyatras’. The Corona has put a halt to this campaign for now. Everyone is trying to stay where they are to stay safe and also trying to provide every possible help to the needy. With the improvement in the situation, Charan Das Ji will have to put a big team behind him which will serve his purpose. If he emerges successful, then this ‘Campaign Padyatra’ will sound the bugle of a new revolution across India which will start from Bihar. Even Gandhi Ji got a new identity from the Champaran Satyagraha. Indira Ji had a landslide victory after the Belchi Yatra. The beginning of our staunchly opposed Jai Prakash movement was also from Bihar itself. So, perhaps this new wave of change should originate from Bihar. Bihar is alluded to be the ‘Sheshnaag’ which is not dead, is a little sluggish but once awakened, has the power to cause holocaust.

Today, Rahul Gandhi Ji has single-handedly become the voice of the opposition of the whole country. We are fast asleep. The times have now changed and the opportunist sounding of the bugle doesn’t work anymore. If the people in power blow their trumpet for all the 365 days, even you will have to show up with the people in fields, in barns, on streets, in plains, in meetings, in every nook and cranny, for all the 365 days.

They say that the stage of victory is laid in conflict. “Bhagya purusharthikepeechhechaltahai” (Luck follows the brave)- Acharya Chanakya (The author is Chairman and Spokesperson of the Research Department Manifesto Committee of Bihar Congress)