The energetic smiling snap is of Mr. Sanjay Jha who has bagged one of the highest honours in American business journalism. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges? Mr. Jha is the first Indian to get the prestigious Leob Award and is post graduate from Algappa University, Kerala. In a chit chat with www.bihardiary.com Correspondent Diwakar Kumar Mr. Jha tells about his journey and interesting insights of life.
Bihardiary: Congratulation Mr. Sanjay Jha! Tell me something about you and your family?
Sanjay: Thanks! My name is Sanjay Jha and I am currently working as South Asia Editor of nowpubic.com. NowPublic is a user-generated social news website. The company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to content contributed by users, NowPublic has a content-sharing agreement with the Associated Press. Earlier I have worked as India correspondent of the Guardian and was also involved with Aajtak news channel at the time of its launch.
Bihardiary: How and where did you spend your early childhood and schooling education?
Sanjay: My father works with a state government enterprise so I spent my childhood at different places in Bihar. Starting from a small place called Pusa Road to Bettiah and then I completed my schooling from Jaynagar in Madhubani district.
Bihardiary: How do you feel after bagging Leob award, one of the highest honours in American business journalism?
Sanjay: I am very pleased and excited after winning such a coveted award. When I got the news from my American colleagues about it I was very proud and also very excited to know that I am the first Indian to have this award.
Bihardiary: Being a Bihari, how do you react on Raj Thakeray'sBihari ouster campaign in Maharashtra?
Sanjay: I think Raj’s outburst is shortsightedness and shouldn’t be given much prominence by media outlets. With a handful goons he can’t maraud outsiders including Bihari for long time. I also condemn failure of local government in defending the rights of migrants in the city and not upholding the basic structures of Indian constitution which guarantees freedom of movement within India. Also development after the Mumbai attacks clearly showed who loves and defends Mumbai.
Bihardiary: Why Bihar is being considered as one of the backward states in India though it produces number of IAS officers, IITians, etc? Is this because the state lacks industries like others have?
Sanjay: Well Bihar is caught up in time warp and successive governments have failed to deliver the governance. It has been seen as a symbol of poverty, lawlessness and corruption in India. It has failed to contribute India’s rapidly growing economy and remained at the bottom of the entire human index and ruling parties have had no compunction with this branding. It’s a state where two-thirds of women cannot read and dowry is widespread. I think current regime is more pragmatic with modern development needs and working in that direction. I am quite sanguine that Nitish led government will be able to bring in some new initiative for local employment and development.
Bihardiary: Do you support brain-drain in Bihar? If yes, why?
Sanjay: The Problem is if you don’t have enough opportunity locally, talents are bound to go to places where there is job opportunity for them. I failed to understand why thousands of Bihari students go to study in private engineering and Medical colleges outside when same can be provided locally. The setting up of private colleges will stop outward remittance flow as well bring in employment avenues for local people. Same way state government needs to encourage investment by providing safety and also giving tax incentives. These factories can accommodate large number of blue collar workers.
Bihardiary: As a journalist where do you see Bihar state in next 5 years?
Sanjay: I am very hopeful and positive about India’s future growth even in the time of economic downturn and I see a resurgent and robust Bihar contributing India’s growth. Bihar is at the cusp of a new beginning and I expect major push for infrastructures project which in turn will create better living conditions.
Bihardiary: What would you like to convey your message to the youths struggling for careers in Bihar?
Sanjay: I think youths in Bihar are still very fixated with government jobs and secure jobs. I would like to exhort them to explore the entrepreneurship and other new emerging areas. Life is beyond civil servants and Bank jobs.
Bihardiary: Please tell me something about the website www.bihardiary.com?
Sanjay: I think you are doing a good job of providing a compilation of news of Bihar. Anyone living outside state or country can have all the news of Bihar in one glance.
Bihardiary: I cordially thank him for sharing his precious time with me. He is a busy personality and lives his life in a very tight schedule. It was tough for me to fix an appointment but it worked out somehow. www.bihardiary.com team members wish him all the best for his career ahead.
Sanjay: Thank you very much
Interviewed by—Diwakar Kumar [diwakar.abhay@gmail.com]
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