9 months ago
George Orwell's Neglected Birthplace in Motihari Amidst Elections
George Orwell, the famous writer who wrote books like '1984,' was born in a town called Motihari in India.
His old house there is supposed to be a special historical place, but it's falling apart.
The fence is broken, the roof is damaged, and it's messy inside.
People who live there, like a goat herder, feel sad about it and worry what visitors will think.
Kids use the space to play or let their animals graze.
Some students say there should be a guard, and others don't even know who Orwell is because they are more worried about school or politics.
Even though it's election time, Orwell's house seems forgotten, just like the politician Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Manohar Lohia's statues nearby.
The government says they are busy with other restoration work.
Some young people are focused on who to vote for, mentioning leaders like Lalu ji and Nitish Kumar, and problems with the education system and caste.
George Orwell's birthplace in Motihari, Bihar, is in a state of severe disrepair.
The protected structure suffers from neglect, with collapsed roofs, overgrown weeds, and vandalism.
Local residents express sadness and concern over the house's condition, calling it a forgotten heritage.
Amidst ongoing elections, the focus for many locals is on political campaigns and pressing issues like education and caste.
Government officials cite a high workload for restoration projects as a reason for the delay in addressing the Orwell house.
- Who
- George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair), local residents, students, and government officials
- What
- The neglected state of George Orwell's birthplace in Motihari, Bihar, contrasting with its historical significance and the ongoing election campaigns.
- Where
- Motihari Chowk, East Champaran district, Bihar
- When
- During the ongoing elections in Bihar, with campaigning concluding soon.
- Why
- The birthplace is in disrepair due to lack of maintenance and vandalism, while local concerns focus on elections, education, and caste politics.
Key facts
- Orwell's Birthplace
- Motihari, East Champaran district, Bihar
- Orwell's Real Name
- Eric Arthur Blair
- Orwell's Birthdate
- June 25, 1903
- Orwell House Status
- Protected structure under the Ancient Monuments (Protection) Act, 1976
- Current Condition of Orwell House
- State of disrepair with collapsed roofs, weeds, and vandalism
- Local Representative
- Pramod Kumar (BJP) has held the Motihari seat since 2005
Quotes
Bhola Meena
A 77-year-old goat herder
“Bahut bura lagta hai ye buiding dekh ke, ye hamari dharohar hai, hume ise bachana chahiye (I feel terrible seeing the state of this house, this is our heritage, we must save it). A lot of foreigners come here, what will they think of us?”
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Shravan Kumar
A Class 9 student
“There was a guard here, but as soon as he left, the whole area turned upside down”
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Harsh Kumar
A Class 8 student
“My grandfather gave me this book. I haven’t read it yet. I don’t understand much of it. But I know he is a very famous person.”
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Dr Ajay Kumar Singh
State Department of Arts, Culture, and Youth official
“a lot of restoration work is ongoing across the state and the workload is high”
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Ram Kumar Dom
An 18-year-old local
“I cannot tell who I will vote for. But I know one thing. Lalu ji gave respect to the poor.”
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Khushi
A Class 12 student
“I have not thought about politics much yet. But I like Nitish Kumar, he gave us a bicycle. I want to go outside Motihari to study. There is not much to learn here”
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Randeep Kumar
One of the political science students
“The delay has become a norm now. Our fourth-semester admission should have been completed in April. But it has still not been over even today. In Bihar, the future scares the youth. Caste has surpassed everything. Only caste has gained significance over the years, hence parties engage in social engineering. But, who will fix the broken education system?”
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