STUDENTS OUTRAGED OVER NEGLECT OF BHOJPURI IN HIGHER EDUCATION

STUDENTS OUTRAGED OVER NEGLECT OF BHOJPURI IN HIGHER EDUCATION

26-JUNE-ENG 36

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------The demand to secure a rightful place for the Bhojpuri language in higher education has gained momentum once again. On Wednesday, the Bhojpuri Student Union of Veer Kunwar Singh University met Bihar's Higher Education Minister, Sanjay Singh Tiger, and submitted a detailed memorandum demanding the expansion of the Bhojpuri subject, the recruitment of teachers, and amendments to the new recruitment statutes.

The students state that no new posts for teachers or staff have been created or filled in the university's Postgraduate Bhojpuri Department since 1992. Furthermore, there are no arrangements for studying Bhojpuri in the university's constituent colleges or the newly established block-level degree colleges.

Student representatives demanded that, just as facilities for studying Urdu and Maithili exist in various colleges, Bhojpuri studies should also be introduced at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in colleges across Bhojpuri-speaking districts.

Additionally, a demand was raised to amend the proposed 'Assistant Professor Recruitment Statutes-2026' in Bihar to align with UGC standards. The students appealed for the maximum age limit to be set at 55 years and for a reconsideration of the provisions regarding written examinations and academic scores. Higher Education Minister Sanjay Singh 'Tiger' listened seriously to the demands of the student delegation and assured them that necessary action would be taken. Acting on his instructions, the Director of Higher Education also held discussions with the students and promised prompt action.

The Minister stated that the government would make every possible effort to strengthen advanced studies in the Bhojpuri language and ensure there is no shortage of resources during the expansion of the department.

After meeting the Minister, the delegation from the Bhojpuri Students' Union visited Lok Bhawan and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands to the secretariat of the Governor-cum-Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain.

The delegation included Sanjay Kumar, Yashwant Kumar Singh, Rajesh Kumar, and Ravi Prakash Suraj.

Bhojpuri is counted among the world's major languages ​​and is spoken by millions of people. Despite this, the lack of adequate facilities for studying Bhojpuri at the higher education level in most colleges across Bihar remains a matter of concern for students and language enthusiasts. It is worth noting that when Bhojpuri instruction was previously discontinued, the Bhojpur district shook the foundations of the government; Bhojpuri speakers from various states traveled to the Ara headquarters to stand up for the language's honor, eventually compelling the government to resume Bhojpuri studies. If the government—which has repeatedly sidelined Bhojpuri—does not remain vigilant, a massive agitation could erupt at any time, as this is a fight for the dignity of the Bhojpuri language.