Dr Birbal Jha, the boy who drank the ‘milk of lioness’ turned into a leonine personality
New Delhi, 20.01 2020 Taking a leaf from Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, who once said “English is like the milk of lioness, one who drinks it becomes a lion”, Birbal Jha gulped down the ‘milk’ to an extent that he has been able to share with those deprived of this life-changing skill. Now self-made Birbal, once destitute is a world celebrity, featuring in the records of celebs.
Outstandingly, apart from top communication skills trainer, he is a noted author, social entrepreneur, social thinker, cultural activist, lyricist, linguist and columnist all rolled into one. To his credit, he has more than 30 books covering the aspects of English communication skills, personal growth, manual, parenting, culture and society.
Remarkably, he received a lot of compliments for his weekly columns ‘Seekhen Sahi Angreji’ in Dainik Jagran and ‘Jano English’ in Hindustan, both national dailies. Apart from many others, Oxford University Professor Elizabeth Schoel has endorsed Dr Jha’s magnum opus- Celebrate Your Life. His latest book- ‘English for Social Justice’ is an eye-opener.
In 2013, putting a spotlight on the need for English education, he wrote a drama, namely ‘Englishiya Boli’. Moreover, he has composed many poems in three languages- English, Hindi and Maithili, showing poetic skills.
In 1993, moved by the pathetic situation of his home state he coined the slogan, ‘English for all’ for his social venture – British Lingua with a mission of helping people, more particularly country’s youth avail the advantages of English communication skills.
A million of youth from the unprivileged section of society who were initially deprived of English education and employability skills have been able to improve their lifestyles, thanks to his initiative and commitment to the social cause.
Heading British Lingua specializing in communication skills training in the country Dr Birbal expounded a unique Structural-cum-Interactive Method ( SIM) for a quick and easy grasp of English language skills, His SIM has been endorsed and appreciated by various international schools of thoughts on the subject.
Born in 1972 to an extremely poor family of a riverine village Sijoul of Madhubani, a district of Bihar, Birbal lost his father when he was hardly one year old. He lived a very miserable life as a child. His mother Jaipura Jha, who brought him up worked in farmland to eke out a living and make both ends meet.
With 27 rupees in the pocket, Dr Birbal for the first time ventured out of his remote village to Patna on 3rd April 1988 in search of a job and possibly further education. However, he had no option but to work as a waiter at a street eatery of Musallahpur where he came in contact with his current colleague Pradeep Jha, who helped him get a job of a peon at erstwhile Murlidhar Press.
He went through all trying times. There was a time when a brick was his pillow to support the head while sleeping. The footpath was his roofless shelter to pass the night only to wake up at the crack of dawn. The endless blue sky was his wrap over his body. A khadi lungee was his quilt to lie on.
He is a Ph D and holds 2 Master degrees from Patna University, where his name figures in the category of notable alumni. Having received early and secondary education in the village, he did his 10th Board from Bihar School Examination Board in 1988.
In the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, he headed the training team of British Lingua which imparted the first-ever training in Spoken English and Behavior al Skills to those, who were the first points of contacts at the international event.
Recognizing his expertise and scholarship, the Government of Bihar entrusted his organization with implementing the first-ever ‘Spoken English and Capacity Building’ training program for Government High School-teachers, in 2009. Furthermore, his social enterprise has been able to bring about noticeable changes in the lives of millions of the poorest of the poor in the country.
In recognition of his social, cultural and literary works, Dr Jha has been bestowed upon several awards and citations matching his towering personality. His practice of learning and sharing with others is in tune with his intention of taking advantage of English Skills to the common man of India. He is credited with arranging 365 marriages all dowry-free. Further, he is regarded as having created a revolution in English training in India.
What could be more satisfying for him than the recognition of a piece of work under his social leadership? A postal stamp was issued on Mithila Paag in 2017 following the ‘Save the Paag Campaign’ launched by Mithilalok Foundation, which he heads as Chairman.
As a child activist, Dr Jha has launched campaigns for the safety, security and well-being of children. In this regard, his songs are so heart-touching, moving and emotive that all and sundry get riveted. He has written a book titled ‘Child Safety’. His writings and works are reflective of him being a prolific writer.
He led the child Safety Campaign aftermath a 7-year-old schoolboy was murdered by slitting his throat at Gurugram. He has composed lyrics of dozens of songs as a non-professional person. One of them ‘Kya Gunah Tha Mere Bache Ka’ which has been posted on YouTube has more than 8 million views till the date.
Under his social engineering initiatives, he has transformed the lives of thousands of youth from the poorest and deprived section of society.
A book by Vivekanand Jha published in 2017, titled ‘The Living legends of Mithila’ recognising 25 leading personalities from the region for their social contributions, Dr Birbal Jha has been accorded the status of the ‘Youngest Living Legend of Mithila’ therein. He has been conferred with several national and international awards including ‘Star of Asia Award’.
Apart from being conferred with several national and international awards including ‘Star of Asia Award’, Dr Jha has been accorded the status of the ‘Youngest Living Legend of Mithila’ through a book by Vivekanand Jha published in 2017, titled ‘The Living legends of Mithila’ recognising 25 leading personalities from the region for their social contributions’
His expertise and commitment to social causes also drew the attention of the New York Times, which ran a story on him in 2003.
Books by Dr Birbal Jha
1. Celebrate Your Life
2. English for Social Justice in India
3. English Now
4. Tricks to Wordology
5. Spoken English Kit
6. English Training Manual
7. Group Discussion Guide
8. Interview Manual
9. Child Safety & Parenting
10. Spoken English Grammar
11. Primary English Grammar
12. Primary English Translation
13. Spoken Questions
14. World Around Us
15. Preposition Guide
16. Conversation Guide
17. Pronunciation Aid
18. Confusing Words
19. Common Errors
20. House of English
21. Englishiya Boli
22. One Word Substitution
23. Look and Learn
24. English Alphabet
25. English Phrases & Idioms
26. English Proverbs
27. Word Power
28. Newspaper English
29. Paag
30. Mithila Culture
List of Awards & Accolades
• The Youngest Living Legend of Mithila
• Bihar Achiever Award
• Great Personality of India Award
• Paagman Award
• Star of Asia Award
• Person of the Year- 2014
• Kriti Purush Award
• Service Excellence Award
• Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Service Award
• Education Excellence Award
• National Education Excellence Award -2010
• First Course on Spoken English – XIX Commonwealth Games
Accolades
• Appreciation from Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Parliamentary Affairs Government of India
• Appreciation from Hindustan Media Ventures Limited
• Appreciation from Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi
• Appreciation from Hindustan Times, Delhi
• Appreciation from Mass Education, Government of Bihar
• Appreciation from DM, Samastipur, Bihar
• Appreciation from Professor, Oxford University, England
• Appreciation from Bihar Education Project Council
• Appreciation from Education Project Council
• Appreciation from the Ministry of Communication and IT, Government of India
• Appreciation from Bihar Education Project Council
• Appreciation from DIET, Mattarsham, Hisar, Haryana
• Appreciation from Dainik Jagran, Delhi
• Appreciation from Sandip Foundation, Mumbai
• Appreciation from Municipal Corporation of Delhi
• Appreciation from MC National University of Journalism, Noida
• Appreciation from Indian Express, Delhi
• Appreciation from the PG Department of English, Patna
• Appreciation from Falmouth University, England
• Appreciation from Keele University, England
• Appreciation from Ecole des Tuileries, Paris, France
• Appreciation From Asian News International (ANI)
• Appreciation from DGHG, Government of Delhi
• Appreciation from SCERT, Government of Bihar
