Gandhi and Orwell desecrated, insulted Why ?

SAGAR SURAJ

MOTIHARI: Mahatma Gandhi – an anti- colonial nationalists and George Orwell- a British writer - both the iconic figures on the planet are under the radar of anti social elements in Motihari of late. Owing to their strong links with the soil of Champaran and their outstanding contributions to humanity-undoubtedly, they are our heroes, who enriched the glories of this Bihar’s district Champaran -clinching Indo-Nepal border.  While father of nation experimented his worldly acclaimed arms ‘truth and non violence on the soils of Champaran in 1917 during Champaran Satyagrah, George Orwell- the millennium writer, born here in 1903 but enriched the world literature English making scathing attack on imperialism and totalitarianism. Gandhi launched his first disobedience movements against the British dispensation in 1917. 

His first basic school founded in Bhitiharwa village near Motihari is reminding us to what extent Gandhi was sensitive for the upliftment of then Champaran folk.  Despite being an employee in the British imperial police, George Orwell- our son of soil continued to attack imperialism and colonial systems. His two best sellers ‘Animal farm’ and ‘1984’ was enough to make pride on this son of soil. But what we are repaying to both. Gandhi and Orwell both are being insulted here. Incidents of attack and insult on Gandhi statue was reported from Charkha Park in Motihari and from Turkauliya a few days ago . A principal of Motihari Mangal seminary was also accused of insulting Mahatma Gandhi, whose picture was sketched  on the school's wall but his face was covered with a poster of school and Gandhi presence amid garbage.

This ignited district administration to such an extent that they visited these places at night to locate anti- social elements and ensured security of these sites to the media. The George Orwell statue too was damaged a few years ago. A section of citizens had been protesting the proposed literature park on the birthplace of Orwell. They averred that as Orwell belongs to an English man, why should they be glorified. The English men exploited our forefathers and slave the nation for years, the claimed.

State government however declared the site as protected but there is nothing protected at the site. While stray pigs roaming around the Eric birthplace turned the site into a virtual animal farm, the druggists and gamblers find the place as safest as there is no permanent guards to guard the site located close to SNS College in Motihari.

Not everything bad, there are two organizations, who remind citizens of the presence of Eric time and again. Firstly, the Rotary lake town Motihari-the organization led by Devpriye Mookherjee celebrates Eric's birth and death anniversary almost every year and PG English department of Munshi Singh College through organizing symposiums.  

A few days ago, a symposium was organized to commemorate George Orwell in MS College. Principal Prof (Dr) Arun Mishra and Department head Prof(Dr) Ekbal Hussai both ensured the arrival of a good number of scholars across the state including district magistrate of east Champaran Shirshat Kapil Ashok.

While releasing a book edited and written by Prof Ekbal Hussain entitled ‘Making art out of politics’,DM assured beatification of Orwell birthplace. The chief orator Prof (Dr)  Sanjeev Kumar Mishra and Prof (Dr) Umesh Patra of Mahatma Gandhi central university delved deep into the literary works of George Orwell.