GLORIOUS BIHAR

Remains of Vaishali

Ancient Bihar which consisted of Anga, Videha/Mithila, Magadha and Vajji/Vrijji was a centre of power, learning and culture in ancient and classical India. Out of five "The Greats" from India, four greats belonged to this region of India, Magadha: Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Samudragupta and Vikramaditya. From Magadha arose India's first and greatest empire, the Maurya Empire as well as one of the world's most widely accepted religions, Buddhism. Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule.Its capital Patna, earlier known as Pataliputra, was an important centre of Indian civilization. Nalanda and Vikramshila was a centre of learning established in the 5th and 8th century CE respectively in Bihar, which is also counted among the oldest and truly international universities, where people all over the world came for study. Bihar has distinction of giving the world its first democracy through Lichchivi during ancient era.

BIHAR

Think what would happen if u omit Himalayas and Ganges - which touch and pierce Bihar - from the India's geographical map? What if u delete Mahavir, Budha, Valmiki, Aryabhatt, Chanakya, Vatsayan, Nagarjuna, Guru Govind, Asoka from chapters of Indian history. And Rahul Sankritayan, Sahajanand Saraswati, the memory of the first republic and of the ancient world class university from Indian consciousness. An underlining thread that runs across all of them is that they are either from or they touch Bihar directly or obliquely. Who would deny that India without them would a be a bland geographical location to be in. But what is notable today is that history is silently repeating itself again. Biharis in body or in mind across the globe need to sit up and take note, a Bihar renaissance is in the offing. U would like to be part of this new glorious chapter, we are sure. Don't miss the opportunity. join the event, join this page, join the cause. Be the change u want to witness. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Uday Sahay 

This is the link:https://www.facebook.com/globalbihar?ref=ts&sk=wall

DEPUTY C.M REVIEWING SUMMIT PROGRESS

Deputy Chief Minister discussing progress with the organising team.

PATRONS & ORGANISERS

Chief Coordinator Dr. Alakh N. Sharma from Institute for Human Development with Shri Sushil Kr. Modi

Patrons & Organisers

Chief Patron                                                                   

Shri Nitish Kumar

Chief Minister, Bihar and Patron, Bihar Foundation

Patron

Shri Sushil Kumar Modi

Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar and Chairman, Bihar Foundation

Summit Co-ordinator

Dr. Alakh N. Sharma

Director, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi

Steering Committee Members

Shri C. Lalsota

Principal Secretary, Department of Art & Culture,

Government of Bihar

Shri C.K. Mishra

Principal Secretary, Department of Industry,

Government of Bihar and CEO, Bihar Foundation Convener

Dr. Shaibal Gupta

Member Secretary, Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), Patna

Shri Mihir Kumar Singh

Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of Bihar

Dr. Alakh N. Sharma

Director, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi

PROGRAMME

The Summit will be held over three days, 17, 18 and 19 of February, 2012.

Day 1 (17 February) in the forenoon will comprise pre-conference events such as film screenings, literary readings, and presentations by Local NGO’s & entrepreneurs and presentations by researchers on Bihar development. The inaugural session will be addressed by the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other eminent speakers. Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is also likely to grace the occasion.  It will be followed by a plenary session on the vision of Bihar to be addressed by three well known scholars and public figures.

Day 2 (18 February) will commence with the presentation of the Summit’s background paper on Bihar’s development priorities, achievements and challenges. It will be followed by a series of thematic workshops wherein papers on themes like agriculture, urban development, infrastructure, education, health, women’s development etc.  will be presented. The following plenary session will examine strategic issues for follow up: the forging of partnerships for development in Bihar and an agenda for action.

Day 3 (19 February) will start with a parallel session on themes like socio- cultural renaissance, expanding knowledge  and research for development and strengthening institutions for inclusive development. It will be followed by a plenary session wherein four to five top leaders and public personalities from Asian countries will present perspectives on the culture, philosophy and religion of ancient Bihar and their contemporary relevance. Main deliberations of the Summit and agenda for action will be presented in the last plenary session which will be followed by Valedictory Session. A series of interactive sessions with various stakeholders including NRBs/NRIs for future collaborations will be held after the formal closure of the Summit.

THEMES

These are the eleven themes on which the summit will be focusing

1. Overcoming the constraints on faster agricultural growth
2. Devising an appropriate strategy for urban development
3. Building industrial capabilities: infrastructure, finance, skills and entrepreneurships
4. Developing Bihar as an attractive tourist destination
5. Strengthening educational and training institutions
6. Creating a more effective healthcare system
7. Raising and managing resources for a stronger Bihar
8. Extending socio-economic and political roles of women
9. Strengthening institutions for inclusive and equitable development
10. Ushering in a socio-cultural renaissance
11.  Expanding knowledge and research for development

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

In bringing together eminent individuals and agencies concerned with the process of change and development in Bihar, the Summit aims to achieve the following main objectives:

·         To generate innovative ideas and thinking among all actors and stakeholders that can foster progress in the state;

·         To define priorities and lay down a roadmap for development.

·    To create strong networks among all the concerned stakeholders in order to facilitate their effective participation in the development of the state; and

• To forge lasting partnerships between the people of Bihar and the outside world, including distinguished Diaspora’s from the state and friends of Bihar from elsewhere in India, the region and beyond. 

BACKGROUND OF THE SUMMIT

The Summit is a follow-up to the “Global Meet for a Resurgent Bihar” organized by the IHD, in association with ADRI and other institutions during 19-21 January 2007 at Patna. Inaugurated by the then president of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, this Meet was attended by more than 700 people from across the world. The event was widely appreciated as a milestone for contributing to an environment for change and progress as well as for forging partnerships to boost development in the state.

Five years later, Bihar has made progress in many respects. There has been rapid economic growth, governance has improved and new and effective social programmes are being applied. But Bihar’s economic structure remains narrowly based, its infrastructure weak and its people excessively dependent on employment outside the state. It is time to follow up the 2007 Meet with a new effort to consolidate the progress that has been made, and to advance beyond it. The 2012 Summit will take up this challenge, with the aim of contributing to and expanding the efforts of government – both State and Central – and of other stakeholders to deepen the process of development in the State.

In recent years the State of Bihar has been in the news for its success in accelerating growth and strengthening institutions to support economic development and public welfare. Yet many challenges remain if the continuing problems of poverty and backwardness are to be overcome. In order to contribute to debate and action in the State, the Institute for Human Development (IHD), The Bihar Foundation and Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) are organizing a Global Summit for all those committed to the cause of development in Bihar.

The Summit will bring together leading development practitioners, policymakers, scholars, industrialists, investors, representatives from the world of art and culture, donors and members of civil society for forging partnerships to pursue and reinforce social and economic progress in Bihar. About 1000 people from around the world will be participating in the Summit.