NEW DELHI: Dr Birbal Jha, an English Litterateur and cultural connoisseur coined, designed, developed, organised, and led the Paag March, which was held for the first time in 2016 with the sole objective of promoting Mithila’s cultural identity and overall development. Â
The Paag March, part of the ‘Save the Paag campaign’ organised by the Mithilalok Foundation, focuses on socio-cultural and economic development in society.
This Paag March, led by Dr Birbal Jha, the Youngest Living Legend of Mithila, began from Rajendra Bhavan, New Delhi. There, the fourth lady judge of the Supreme Court of India, Mrs Gyan Sudha Mishra, the IPS Sanjay Jha, the Politician Sanjay Jha, and dozens of scholars, among thousands of Maithils, took to the streets. It then rolled out in several districts of Bihar.
According to BBC Radio, it was the largest-ever cultural effort made from the Mithila belt, with 4 crore Maithils connected. Dr Birbal Jha became known as a cultural crusader and mass communicator.
The main objectives of the Paag March include promoting the use of the paag as a symbol of cultural identity and heritage; raising awareness of the paag as a symbol of royalty and respect; and encouraging social integration and development in the region.
The Save the Paag Campaign includes a proposal to have the paag recognized as the official headgear of Bihar. The campaign also included a proposal for some representatives in the Bihar Legislative Council to symbolically wear the paag.
A milestone was achieved, with the central government led by Narendra Modi issuing a postal stamp featuring the Mithila paag.
Paag March is a campaign to promote the use of the paag, a traditional headdress worn in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. The march is organized by the Mithilalok Foundation, a cultural pressure group that was established in 2016.
Dr Birbal Jha is a name that reflects social activism and cultural and social advocacy, especially in Bihar and Delhi. Years of experience have brought out the leadership qualities of a man who doesn’t shy away from hitting the streets to make his point for various causes.
From English literacy to cultural identity, the Marches led by Dr Birbal Jha have shaped public opinion and empowered disadvantaged populations. He has played a big role in restoring Bihar’s dignity via his activism and works of par excellence.
Bihar’s legend Dr Birbal Jha epitomises the legacy of activism and leadership skills, as evidenced by his strong dedication to bringing about social change.
In Summary:
•Objective of the Paag March: Promote the paag as a cultural symbol of Mithila and drive social development.
•The History: Launched in 2016 by Mithilalok Foundation, with a proposal to recognize the paag as Bihar’s official headgear.
•Impact: The march connected over 4 crore Maithils globally and gained nationwide attention, with the central government issuing a postal stamp in honor of the paag.
•Dr. Birbal Jha’s Role: As a social entrepreneur, linguistic expert, and mass communicator, he led the Paag March to restore Mithila’s cultural pride.
Dr. Birbal Jha’s Paag March continues to be a monumental effort in preserving the cultural heritage of Mithila, proving that one person’s leadership can create lasting change.
Dr Birbal Jha has led several notable marches, including:
1. Gandhi March (2001): To take the message of Gandhi all around the world
2. English Literacy March (2002): To promote English literacy in India
3. Peace March (2003): To seek peace and non-violence against the migrants of Bihar in North East of India
4. English March (2003): To promote English proficiency in the state of Bihar.
5. March for Spoken English Skills (2009): To stride toward better communication skills.
6. Education March (2010): To advocate for educational reform in Bihar
7. March for English Language Awareness (2011): To take English skills to villages
8. Mahadalit Youth March for Spoken English Skills (2012): To take English to the poorest of the poor
9. English Vinglish March (2012): To encourage womenfolk to watch the movie English Vinglish and learn English
10. Bihar Asmita March (2013): To appeal to migrants to work for identity and self-respect
11. English for Mahadalit March (2014) – To encourage the Mahadalit community to learn English and get their fair share in society
12. Voter Awareness March (2015) – To foster and encourage democratic participation and cast votes.
13. March for Dowry-free Marriage (2016): To encourage ideal marriages that are dowry-free marriages
14. Paag March (2016) – To revive the cultural symbol of Mithial paag—save the paag campaign beginning from Delhi, Patna, and Darbhanga and going to Madhubani.
15. Paag March to Bihar Legislative Assembly (2016): To establish and demand Paag be declared as the state cap.
16. Paag Kanwariya March (2017) – To establish and spread Mithila cultural identity, 500 Kanwariyas, for the first time donning Mithila Paag on their heads, left for Vaidyanath Dham in Deoghar from Delhi to offer the sacred Gangajal to Lord Shiva
17. Saurath Sabha March (2017): To revive the age-old marriage system through Saurath Sabha in Madhubani
18. Candlelight March (2017) – To awaken people to child safety
19. March for Justice (2017): To press for justice to be delivered to Pradyuman Thakur
20. Baton March (2018): To give a wakeup call for child safety
21. Consumer Awareness March (2018): To make consumers aware of their rights
22. March for Intellectual Donation (2020): To promote ideation and execution
23. Namaste March (2020) – To promote the Indian way of greeting by saying namaste rather than shaking hands, to encourage social distancing.
24. Kindness Awareness March (2021) – To spread compassion across communities
25. Lingua March (2022)—To promote International Mother Language Day
26. Atal March (2024) – To commemorate the centenary birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
27. Youth March (2025): To celebrate the National Youth Day and commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand