Dinkar's 80-year-old daughter-in-law Hemant Devi and grandson Arvind Kumar Singh allege that Sushil Kumar Modi's nephew Mahesh Modi had been forcibly occupying a part of the late poet's house, Dinkar Bhavan, on Arya Kumar Road near Machuatoli here.

"Mahesh Modi, who runs a medicine shop in Dinkar Bhavan, a house named after Dinkar, has refused to vacate the premises despite repeated requests. We have approached every one, from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to top officials, to get back the shop but failed," Arvind Kumar Singh said.

Hemant Devi told IANS she was disappointed by Nitish Kumar's response when she along with Arvind met him early this week. "We approached Nitish Kumar at his Janata Darbar to seek justice after apathy from local police officials but nothing has been done," she said.

"Nitish Kumar's claims of good governance, rule of law and development are useless for people like us who are helpless. My father-in-law was a great poet and a freedom fighter, who was a recipient of various awards. But his own state has failed to respect him.

"My husband passed away a few years after our marriage. This is the only house we have. Even that is being taken away from us by force and the chief minister is doing nothing to help us," she said.

Arvind said Mahesh, to whom his family had leased out a shop on the premises of their house, had refused to vacate even after the lease period ended last year. Arvind also said Mahesh, who had political connections, had abused and threatened the family.

Sushil Modi, however, says that no one can threaten or harass anyone, especially Dinkar's family, and the law will take its own course.

Opposition parties, particularly Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and left parties have questioned Nitish Kumar's claims of good governance sighting the allegations of Dinkar's family.

Leader of opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said Modi's relatives were trying to use their political clout to intimidate Dinkar's grandson.

"I have written a letter to Nitish Kumar to intervene in the matter as it concerns the family of Dinkar, who was not only a towering academic personality but also a freedom fighter," Siddiqui said.

Dinkar, a much awarded poet who was born in 1908 and passed away in 1974, was known for works like "Rasavanti", "Dvandvageet", "Kurukshetra", and "Dhoop Chhah".

Comment

comments...

This is one of the most painful stories emerging from Bihar. It seems, these leaders of today have forgotten the days of Sampoorna Kranti when the iconic leader Jaiprakash Narain, thundered the Ramlila Grounds, filled with more than 100, 000 people, using Dinkar's immortal lines:- Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai...

All resposnible authorites, a big shame on you! How can one even dare to think to hurt Dinkar or his family. And, who is this Modi's relative to do that? Just get out of there!

We are always proud to be called Biharis/Indians because of the greats like Dinkar; and often humiliated because of these crooks.

And remember, we'll not have another Dinkar. So, we need to take care his legacy which are priceless to to all patriotic Indians.

Dhananjay,
Chennai

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“Samar shesh hai, nahi paap ka bhagi kewal vyadh”
Jo Tatastha hai, Samay likhega unke bhi apradh”

Ram K Ojha

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This is really sad to know the affairs in our beloved city. First of all if there is really "Su-Sashan" then matters should have been settled by the law
enforcement authorities itself. "Dinkar House" should be a site or National Heritage and his family should be given an alternate accommodation
of same facilities if not better. Our state government talks of development of tourism and rule of the land but these instances prove otherwise. A
site of National Heritage used to run a medical shop.What a shame.!!!

To add has Mr Modi forgotten the plight of Lalu Yadav , if people can show doors to cunning leader like him then sure Modi jee should take a lesson
or two from him and going by his words should come forward to clean his image and do justice in the case. It is common that kith and kin of powerful persons abuses the name of their high profile relative but this is also individuals responsibility to nail them down.

Shardendu K Chaudhary
US

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This is really sad to know the affairs in our beloved city. First of all if there is really "Su-Sashan" then matters should have been settled by the law
enforcement authorities itself. "Dinkar House" should be a site or National Heritage and his family should be given an alternate accommodation
of same facilities if not better. Our state government talks of development of tourism and rule of the land but these instances prove otherwise. A
site of National Heritage used to run a medical shop.What a shame.!!!

To add has Mr Modi forgotten the plight of Lalu Yadav , if people can show doors to cunning leader like him then sure Modi jee should take a lesson
or two from him and going by his words should come forward to clean his image and do justice in the case. It is common that kith and kin of powerful persons abuses the name of their high profile relative but this is also individuals responsibility to nail them down.
Sharad

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This is matter of great shame for all Indians and also all the Biharis that the family members of Rastra Kavi Dinkar have to run around like this.

What is most frustrating is the pathetic silence of Nitish Kumar on this. In the past he went into a silent mode over the issue of sexual exploitation of Rupam pathakw hieModi sided with one of the accused.

It is so very unfortunate that Nitish has to take help from people like Modi to run this govt whose stand we all know in case Rupam Pathak's case and now Modi's relatives are trying to grab property from family of a national hero and Nitish is silent.

We can only hope that power has not got into Nitish's head. He has to speak up.

Learn from what is happening in Egypt today. Donot force people to this extent.

Whether Nitish is ashamed of his silence or not we don't know.

Whether Nitish is ashmed of property grabbing of a national icon or not we dont know.

But one thing is certain, we are ashamed of you Nitish that we voted for you last in last election.

We are ashamed that a man like Nitish kumar can't speak with clarity when it come to speaking about Sushil Modi
Himanshu Shekhar,Singapore