Bihar Has Always Been a Centre of Intellectual and Ideological Thought: Prof. J.S. Rajput
Committed to Uplifting Economically Weaker Upper Castes: Rajkumar Singh
New Delhi, July 24
“Dividing society on the basis of caste and religion cannot lead to national development. Collective efforts, devoid of discrimination, are essential for the welfare of all sections.”
These words were expressed by former Bihar Minister and three-time Lok Sabha MP Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal, addressing a felicitation ceremony held in honour of Shri Rajkumar Singh, the newly appointed member of the Bihar State Upper Caste Commission, at the Press Club of India, New Delhi.
The event was jointly organised by the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha, the Bharatiya Shramjeevi Patrakar Sangh, and Sahyog Vision India.
Shri Sigriwal stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to implement reservation under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category for upper castes has brought about a significant social transformation. Millions of poor families from upper castes have benefitted from this progressive initiative. He strongly criticised certain political parties (without naming them), saying that divisive politics based on caste and religion, especially in Bihar, is detrimental to national interest and societal unity.
Declining Educational Standards in Bihar is a Matter of Concern: Prof. J.S. Rajput
Renowned educationist and former Director of NCERT, Padma Shri Prof. J.S. Rajput, speaking as the Guest of Honour, reflected on Bihar’s illustrious legacy as a centre of knowledge and ideological debate. However, he lamented the current deterioration in the state’s educational standards.
Recalling his time as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Education (Govt. of India), Prof. Rajput shared that during inspections of certain Bihar institutions, he discovered that degrees were being distributed without regular classes or academic rigour — solely in exchange for money. He described this as a grave threat to the roots of the educational system.
Prof. Rajput further said that Shri Rajkumar Singh’s appointment to the Upper Caste Commission is an opportunity to bring meaningful reform in Bihar’s educational and economic sectors. He suggested that the Commission should function more like a Goodwill Commission, representing all sections of society without caste bias.
He also raised a critical constitutional point, questioning the inclusion of the terms ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution through the 42nd Amendment in 1976 — terms which, he asserted, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had deliberately chosen to omit during the original drafting.
I’m Devoted to Public Welfare: Rajkumar Singh
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajkumar Singh expressed gratitude to the organisers and stated that since taking office, he has already toured three divisions of Bihar, studying the educational, economic, and social conditions of the upper castes in detail.
He announced plans to conduct similar studies in the remaining divisions and will submit a comprehensive report to the Bihar government with recommendations for corrective measures. Shri Singh also discussed the crisis of student hostels in Bihar and stressed the urgent need for infrastructural development in this area.
Neglect of Upper Castes Has Disrupted Social Fabric: Sanjay Singh
Sanjay Singh, National President of the Bharatiya Shramjeevi Patrakar Sangh, stated that contemporary political trends have marginalised the upper castes, disrupting traditional social structures and leading to systemic imbalance — an issue that warrants serious reflection.
Rajkumar Singh Symbolises Social Harmony: Dr. M. Rahmatullah
Senior journalist and General Secretary of Sahyog Vision India, Dr. M. Rahmatullah, offered a detailed overview of Shri Rajkumar Singh’s background, family legacy, and public service record. He described him as a true people’s leader, saying, “The position of Commission Member is too small for a person of Shri Singh’s calibre — he possesses the depth and experience befitting a Member of Parliament.”
Dr. Rahmatullah added that Shri Singh transcends caste and religious boundaries in his vision and approach. He urged the BJP to consider assigning him larger responsibilities at the national level.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was presided over by Dr. Shoolpani Singh, Senior Vice President of the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha. Proceedings were conducted by senior journalist Shrikant Bhatia.
Among the prominent attendees were: Reema Singh (Spokesperson, BJP Mahila Morcha Bihar), Tarique Raza, Abhay Sinha, Advocate Arun Kumar Singh, Prof. B.K. Singh, Dr. Rupesh Chauhan, Arun Singh, Subhashchand Khanna, Prof. Chandra Mohan Negi, Dr. Anurag Pathak, and Advocate Abhishek Singh Tomar, alongside a large gathering of intellectuals, legal professionals, social workers, and journalists.