A ONE DAY SYMPOSIUM ON ‘BABU VEER KUER SINGH—PERSOANALITY AND WORK’ ORGANIZED

A ONE DAY SYMPOSIUM ON ‘BABU VEER KUER SINGH—PERSOANALITY AND WORK’ ORGANIZED

28-FEB-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Under the joint aegis of Directorate of Archaeology of Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar and Post Graduate History Department, Maharaja College, Ara, a one day symposium on “Babu Veer Kuer Singh- Personality and Work” was organized. Prof. Ratneshwar Mishra, a known historian, presided over the meeting. Prof. Dr. Ratneshwar Mishra, Prof. Dr. Neeraj Singh, Prof. Dr. Baliraj Thakur, Principal, Maharaja College, Dr. Alok Kumar, In-Charge, Babu Veer Kuer Singh Memorial Museum, Jagdishpur, Dr. Shiv Kumar Mishra, Head of the Department, Post Graduate History Department, Dr. Neyaz Hussain, Dr. Arun Kumar Rai, Prof. Chanchal Kumar Pandey, National Kuer Singh Vahini Coordinator, Dheeraj Kumar Singh and others inaugurated the symposium jointly by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Principal Maharaja College Dr. Alok Kumar welcomed the distinguished guests while Dr. Shiv Shankar Mishra conducted the meeting and also extended vote of thanks. The guests were felicitated with Mithila paintings and a replica of the seal of the ancient Nalanda University.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ratneshwar Mishra said that Babu Veer Kuer Singh was the biggest symbol of Bihari public consciousness. He said that Babu Kuer Singh was invincible and he was martyred in this condition. Prof. Mishra said that Kuer Singh was one of the four great heroes of Bhojpuri region and before him, there was Maharishi Vishwamitra in this region from whom lord Ram and Lakshman had come to study. The second king was Bhoj and the third was the great hero Shershah Suri whose governance system was adopted by Emperor Akbar. Prof. Mishra said that the place of Ram in Awadhi language is the same as Babu Kuer Singh is in Bhojpuri language. Therefore, it is necessary to compile Bhojpuri literature, songs and stories.

Prof. Ratneshwar Mishra further said that the maximum number of books have been published on Mahatma Gandhi and Napoleon in the world while maximum number of books have been written on Babu Veer Kuer Singh in Bhojpur region which has had an impact on the minds of the entire Bihar. In entire Mithila including Purnia, people mention Babu Kuer Singh’s Ara while playing Kabaddi. His clan guru, Bhikhiya Dutt Jha of Mangrauni village in Madhubani district, had spread his fame throughout Mithila.

Prof. Dr. Neeraj Singh, former Head of the Hindi and Bhojpuri Department, Veer Kuer Singh University (VKSU), said that Babu Kuer Singh was the first warrior whose struggle started with victory and also ended with victory. His democratic consciousness is relevant even today. He said that the entire nation remembers those who dedicate themselves to the nation. His social harmony is still relevant today. Ara was a big centre of Jains so they respected everyone—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, women and Jains. He was a symbol of women empowerment. He had the amazing ability to take everyone along to do kidness, constructive and welfare work.

Prof. Dr. Baliraj Thakur, former Head of the Hindi Department of H D Jain College, said that Babu Kuer Singh was a wonderful warrior who fought with a sword in front of cannon. He was always worried about Jagdishpur. Morality was deeply embedded in him. While crossing the Ganga, he first helped his colleagues cross the river and then crossed himself.

Prof. Rajeev Kumar, Women’s College and convenor, History Compilation Committee threw light on the personality of Babu Veer Kuer Singh in detail. Dr. Neyaz Hussain, HOD, Department of History, Maharaja College, presented the analysis of the historical importance of Ara House through PPT. mentioned various battles sites of Kuer Singh. Mentioning the welfare works, he discussed the works done to solve the water problem. Dr. Arun Kumar Rai while showing the works of Babu Kuer Singh through PPT, said that an English scholar said that the bravery shown by Babu Kuer Singh at the age of eighty, what would have happened if he had been forty? It was due to his opposition that the railway bridge being built on the river Sone could be completed in 1862 instead of 1856. Dr. Rai said that it is clearly stated in the Constitution that the responsibility of protecting the national monuments and heritage rests on the government. Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh said that the bravery shown by Babu Kuer Singh at the age of eighty was not seen anywhere else. Dr. Amritanshu discussed in detail the historical facts related to Babu Kuer Singh. Dr. Kamlesh Singh said that even today Babu Kuer Singh is relevant because whenever bravery is talked about, comparisons are made with him. Rashtriya Kuer Vagini Convenor, Dheeraj Kumar Singh said that there is a need to make the new generation aware to save the legacy of Babu Veer Kuer Singh.

Nirmala Shukla, Aniket Kumar, Mohammad Ashiq, Abhishek Chaubey, Abhinandan Kumar, Pramod Kumar, Jitendra Kumar Azad, Kanhaiya Kumar, Sachin Kumar, Ravi Kumar, Pankaj Singh, Arun Kumar Pandey along with hundreds of participants were present on the occasion.