Bihar International Society for Welfare and Solidarity (Biswas) marked the day with an impressive function to commemorate the state's separation from Bengal in 1912. Deputy Chairman of Bihar Legislative Council Saleem Perwiaz inaugurated the events by lighting a lamp. Renowned mathematician and founder of the prestigious "Super 30" educational program Anand Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion while India's deputy chief of mission in Riyadh Manohar Ram was the guest of honor.
Founded in 2002, the "Super 30" program selects 30 meritorious and talented candidates each year from economically deprived sections of society and trains them for the IIT-JEE, the entrance examination for the Indian Institutes of Technology.
Time Magazine has selected mathematician Kumar's school in its Best of Asia list for 2010. Newsweek listed the Super 30 the list of four most innovative schools in the world. In the last 10 years over 236 students out of 270 have been accepted into various IITs in the country.
Addressing a packed auditorium Kumar said: “Bihar has tremendous intellectual power. The hard working meritorious people from the state have proved their mettle in every walks of life.
"Be it the green revolution in Punjab or technological boom in metros and elsewhere, Biharis have proved their mettle in every field due to their ability to work hard and perform," he said.
Kumar said Biharis the world over feels proud of identity. "Now, people take pride in being called a Bihari, which was not the case earlier due to the stigma of backwardness in the state. Today, Bihar is among the fastest growing states in India. Bihar's soil has tremendous power.”
Claiming that Biharis now have realized their potential, he said the people in the state were demanding schools for their children, not jobs from politicians. “There is a kind of awakening with children, especially girls, going to schools in large numbers,” Kumar said.
He praised the efforts of people of Bihar working in the Gulf states, especially in Saudi Arabia. He also praised Biswas for conducting the program. He gave a PowerPoint presentation showing the progress and performance of Super 30 as well as his teaching methods. He also said he was planning to open a school for talented kids who underprivileged.
Biswas President Obaidur Rahman said the function would go a long way in boosting the morale of nearly 200,000 Biharis living in Saudi Arabia. “They were very excited about this function, which has turned out to be a home away from home for them,” he added.
He also read a message from Bihar Foundation CEO Depak Kumar on the occasion as Biswas represents the foundation’s Saudi Arabian chapter. Obaid distributed the Jannki Deve (Mother of Anand Kumar ) awards to the best students.
Manohar Ram praised Biswas for organizing such a program. He congratulated all Biharis on their state’s centenary celebration. Rashid Ali Shaikh, a prominent non-resident Indian businessman, said: “After the split of 1912, (the state) has no mines but enough minds.”
The program started with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Tariq Nadvi. Biswas General Secretary Akhtarul Islam Siddique conducted the proceedings. On behalf of Biswas, its chief Rahman presented a memento to Kumar.
