Katihar: What a 25 or 26-years-old boy generally thinks in India? Either to do a professional course or getting a job for securing the life. In fact, most of the parents and wards in our country have the same thinking about their children. Only few think about involvement in active politics, which is one of the backbones of India’s huge democratic setup. However, 25-year-old Aadil Hasan from Ajhrail Village in Barsoi Sub-division of Katihar had developed something unusual bent of mind about a couple a years back. And his out-of-box thinking has provided him the LJP (Lok Janashakti Party) ticket from Balrampur Election Constituency of Katihar for the ongoing Bihar Assembly Elections.
Balrampur earlier used to be Barsoi constituency is a backward area of Katihar as well as Bihar. Unfortunately the area has been a source of experimentation for political parties, and this time too the elections revolve around faces like Mahboob Alam (CPI (ML), Mohammad Siddique (Janata Dal (United), Mohammad Habib (NCP) and Shaukat Hussain (Congress). Apart from Mohammad Siddique, the other three candidates are somehow involved in corruption and criminal act, and development of the area hardly matters for them. Aadil Hasan is a youth, he is far from any type of unlawful act and encompasses a very good educational record. One of most backward areas of Bihar, Balrampur is now seeing a new hope in a Youth Icon Aadil Hasan.
Aadil Hasan who also loves to add Azad as his surname is the son of Abul Hasan, CEO Bihar Sunni Wakf Board (a government of Bihar officer equal to ADM rank). Known for his honest and strict attitude, Abul Hasan has remained the district topper in matriculation examination (Sudhani High School) from the then Purnia district. Despite hailing from an economically weak family, Abul Hasan always kept himself focussed towards higher education and cracked the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) entrance exam. Abul Hasan rose to the prominence step by step from lower to higher position, and now working as ADM (CEO Wakf Board) in Patna.
Aadil Hasan almost followed the footsteps of his father and kept himself focussed towards the goal. It is interesting to know that Aadil Hasan was born and brought up in Patna. He completed his matriculation (2000) and 10+2 (2002) from Don Bosco Academy in Patna. For higher education he headed towards Pune and joined BSL-LLB in Law College, University of Pune in 2005. Besides his educational curriculum, Aadil Hasan kept himself focussed towards social works and political affairs as well.
After completion of BSL (LLB) from Pune University in the month of May, 2010, Aadil Hasan moved straight to his native village Ajhrail. While his batchmates were busy in getting placement to law firms or other related areas, Aadil Hasan was keenly listening to plights for deprived people from Balrampur. Leaving behind the luxurious life in Patna, Aadil was sorting out the common people’s problem and spent more than 100 days with people with whom the politicians or social activist usually don’t wish to meet or interact.
There are many remarkable works done by Aadil Hasan in a short span of time, but his special effort for Muslim students’ pre-matriculation and post-matriculation scholarship provided him national recognition. Most of the banks functioning in Balrampur such as State Bank of India (Telta /Barsoi) and Uttar Vihar Gramin Bank (Sudhani, Malikpur and Abadpur) were not ready for opening zero balance accounts. Aadil Hasan personally visited the banks and requested the branch managers to open such accounts for poor students. However, the branch managers totally denied Aadil’s request and he had to bring the issue in national media.
Aadil Hasan is an energetic youth with a well educational background. Balrampur is one of the most unfortunate areas of the country that had only been used by politicians for experiment. Mahboob Alam (CPI (ML), Munaf Alam (CPI (ML) and Mohammad Siddique (Janata Dal now Janata Dal (United) are some of the MLAs who have represented Balrampur (Barsoi) constituency in the past. However, apart from self-interest these leaders have done nothing to empower the common people or proper development of the area in the fields of education, health, employment, communication or electricity.
The similar situation is prevailing in various parts of the country that can only be changed by the involvement of sensitive politicians especially youth. Aadil Hasan has created a history by becoming the youngest candidate from Balrampur (Barsoi) constituency. It would not be unfair to call him a ‘Youth Icon’ right now because he has the ability and will to serve the common people. Now it fully depends on the voters to understand right and wrong, and elect a deserving and progressive leader for Balrampur constituency. At the same time, the youth of the country should take a lesson from Aadil Hasan and should try to involve themselves in active politics. Only by involvement in politics the youth can free the country from rusted politicians who hardly care about the country and its people.
(bt Md. Mudassir Alam. He is a Delhi based Freelance Journalist)