महावीर त्यागी ने अपनी पुस्तक ‘मेरी कौन सुनेगा ‘मे सरदार बल्लभ भाई पटेल

काँग्रेस के पुराने नेता महावीर त्यागी ने अपनी पुस्तक ‘मेरी कौन सुनेगा ‘मे सरदार बल्लभ भाई पटेल के सीधे सादे जीवन पर प्रकाश डाला है जो आज क हर दल के भोगी नेताओ के लिए शायद अनुकरणीय बने ।त्यागीजी अपनी पुस्तक मे लिखते हैं कि उन्हे पटेलजी के यहाँ जाने की कोई रोक टोक नहीं थी,वे उनके बहुत निकट थे ,एक बार जब वे पटेलजी के घर गए तो उन्होने पाया कि मणि बेन सरदार को दवाई दे रही थी और उन्होने देखा कि मणिबेन(पटेलजी की लड़की ) की साड़ी मे बहुत से पैवंद लगे हुये है।उन्होने ज़ोर से कहा कि मणिबेन तुम तो अपने को बहुत बड़ा आदमी मानती हो ।तुम ऐसे बाप की बेटी हो जिसने साल भर मे चक्रवर्ती अखंड राज्य स्थापित कर दिया जितना न भगवान राम चन्द्र का था ,न कृष्ण का न अशोक का ,न अकबर का और न अंग्रेज़ का ।एक ऐसे बड़े राजो और महाराजों के सरदार की बेटी होकर तुम्हें शर्म नहीं आती ?यह सुन कर मणिबेन मुंह बना बिगड कर कहा कि शर्म उनको आए जो झूठ बोलते हैं ,बेइमानी करते हैं ?मुझे क्यो शर्म आए?।त्यागी ने जबाब दिया कि हमारे देहरे शहर मे निकाल जाओ तो लोग तुम्हारे हाथ मे दो पैसे या इक्कनी रख देंगे ।यह समझ कर कि कोई भिखारिन जा रही है ।तुम्हें शर्म नहीं आती कि धेंगली लगी धोती पहनती हो?। त्यागीजी लिखते हैं कि मैं मज़ाक कर रहा था ।इसे सुन कर 

सरदार भी खूब हँसे और कहा कि बाज़ार मे तो बहुत लोग फिरते हैं ।एक –एक आना करके शाम को बहुत रुपया इकट्ठा कर लोगी ।त्यागी जी लिखते है –‘मे तो शर्म से डूब मरा जब डॉ ० सुशीला नायर ने कहा –‘त्यागीजी ,किससे बात कर रहे हैं ?।मणिबेन दिन भर सरदार की सेवा करती है।फिर डायरी लिखती है और फिर नियम से चरखा चलती है , जो सूत बनता है,उसी से सरदार के कुर्ते,धोती बनते हैं ।आपकी तरह सरदार अपना कपड़ा खादी भंडार से थोड़े खरीदते है ।जब सरदार साहिब के कुर्ते –धोती फट जाते है तो उसी से काट छाँट कर मणिबेन अपनी साड़ी और कुर्ता बनाती है ।

त्यागी जी आगे लिखते हैं कि मैं उस देवी के सामने अवाक हो गया,कितनी पवित्र आत्मा है मणिबेन ।उसके पैरे छूने से हम पापी पवित्र हो सकते हैं ।फिर सरदार बोल उठे –‘गरीब आदमी की बेटी है,कहाँ से लाये उसका बाप इतना रुपया ?,बाप कुछ कमाता तो नहीं ।‘ फिर उन्होने अपने चश्मे का केस दिखाया ।शायद 20 पुराना होगा ।इसी तरह 30 वर्ष पुरानी घड़ी देखी ,चश्मा ऐसा जिसमे एक ओर कमानी तो दूसरी ओर धागा बंधा था ,कैसी पवित्र आत्मा थी और आज देश मे ,कोंग्रेसी नेता उनकी तप तपस्या की कमाई खा रहे हैं । कहाँ सरदार का सादगीपूर्ण जीवन और कहाँ आज के नेताओ का विलासपूर्ण रहन सहन ।क्या किसी मंत्री ,नेता के बच्चे मणिबेन के चरण की धूल बनने लायक भी है ?

First Bihar assembly: Down memory lane

The first session of the first Bihar legislative assembly having 152 members had begun on July 22, 1937, five days after 17 Up Lahore Express had derailed at Bihta leading to death of 65 passengers on the morning of July 17, 1937. It was no wonder then that the session began with paying homage to the victims of the train disaster. The session continued for a month.

Kumar Kalika Prasad Singh, elected from the landowners's constituency, moved a resolution expressing "sympathy with the families of the victims and appealing to the Government of India to appoint an inquiry commission of experts and non-officials". The sitting was held in the same chamber which houses the present assembly.

Khetra Nath Sengupta expressed his solidarity with Biharis by saying 13 Bengalis had been returned with Bihari votes. He said, "A large number of Bengalis in Manbhum, Singhbhum and Santhal Parganas were living with Biharis as brothers in spite of occasional outbursts of rivalry in matters of public service.

Saiyad Mohiuddin Ahmad made the maiden speech in the first assembly's first session by saying, "Chhotanagpur people are political Harijans, with the HE governor acting as Mahatma Gandhi for us. We have been adjudged, declared and shunted aside as a backward people".

Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, in his opening remarks, said, "The dark days of diarchy have disappeared today and we are now enjoying midday sunshine of provincial autonomy."

Mohammad Yunus, who was the first PM of Bihar (March to July, 1397), congratulated Sri Krishna Sinha and wished a good government would come under his leadership. "The aim and objects of my party (Mohammdan Independent Party) for obtaining Independence is in some respects even beyond the aims and objectives of the Congress. My party desires complete Independence."

Sri Krishna Sinha said: We, the Congressmen elected here, have programmes which have been announced from thousands of platforms. We have our economic, social and political programmes."

Sachchidanand Sinha, who was appointed the acting speaker (not pro-tem) by Governor M G Hallett, traced the history of the Congress movement and said the "party was founded by most eminent Indians of the second half of 19th century."

When Mohammad Yunus raised a point of order saying strangers were present in the House, Sachchidanand Sinha directed, "Except photographers who are here with my permission, others must leave and the photographers will not stay a moment longer than is absolutely necessary."

Sinha asked the newly-elected members to take oath of allegiance. To this, Tajmul Husain asked, "May I know whether we have to take the oath in English or Hindi or Urdu or only in English." Sinha replied, "In any language that he or she knows."

Jimut Bahan Sen said, "Is not Bengali one of the vernaculars of the province, sir?" Sinha replied, "I shall permit the member to take oath in Bengali."

Sri Krishna Sinha, elected from South Sadar Munghyr general rural, Anugrah Narayan Sinha from Aurangabad general rural, Dr Saiyad Mahmud from North Champaran Sadar Muhammadan rural, Jaglal Chaudhury from southwest Purnea general rural (reserved) took the oath in that order. Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, elected from Patna division landholders constituency, took the oath a day later.

Harendra Bahadur Chandra and Saraswati Devi made their maiden speeches in Hindi and Muhammad Shafi in Urdu. Saraswati Devi expressed her concern over the poor condition of women in Bihar and asked the government to do justice with them.

Munindra Nath Mookherjee, unattached to any party, said he represented the interests of mines owners. Binodanand Jha, who later succeeded Sri Krishna Sinha as CM, also talked of good governance under the Congress leadership in Bihar.

The first session of the first assembly had passed a resolution moved by Jaglal Chaudhury, the then excise minister, for total prohibition in the state. ON July 23, 1937, Ram Dayalu Singh was elected uncontested as Speaker of the Bihar assembly.