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Joseph Pacheli Galstaun at MLA hostel. Picture by Hardeep Singh
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He considers himself firstly as a teacher and then puts his other achievements on the front.
Joseph Pacheli Galstaun, the lone nominated member of the Assembly, represents the Anglo-Indian community for the second term.
Galstaun, born in Ara, feels Bihar is in veins. He speaks Bhojpuri fluently and wishes to serve his community both in Jharkhand and Bihar. He was brought in the Assembly by his former student and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.
As a nominated MLA Galstaun has voting rights and he rescued the NDA governments on two occasions ? in 2000, when the Nitish Kumar government had to prove its majority in Bihar Assembly and this year when Arjun Munda-led government was on the brink of danger in Jharkhand.
An alumnus of St Michael?s High School, Patna and St Xavier?s College, Calcutta, Galstaun completed his M.Sc from Magadh University. Starting his career as a teacher of Catholic High School, Ara, in 1958, he served Patna?s St Xavier?s High School for a couple of years when Sister Elinorio, a German nun, called him to Muzaffarpur to help establish Prabhat Tara School in the mid-seventies.
In 1982, Galstaun set up Dominic Savio High School in Patna. The Plus Two school, with all modern facilities, has over 5,000 students on its roll now. He even takes classes when he visits Patna.
As a member of Jharkhand Assembly Library Committee wherever he goes he emphasises on bringing in the needed improvement in the education sector, especially primary education. He is focusing on imparting communicative language skills to illiterate inmates of different jails of Jharkhand.
In an interview with Anupam Sheshank, he speaks about the Anglo-Indians living in the state.
lWhat are the issues confronting the Anglo-Indians in Jharkhand?
Unemployment and poverty in the lower strata of the community are the major issues, which need to be addressed. While a lot is expected from the state, the rich people of the community also devote some time to their deprived counterparts. Besides, minority status, in true sense, to Anglo-Indians is also necessary here. We are very small in number ? less than 25,000 in the entire state, still we do not get any preference in either job or education. I am trying to get at least one seat reserved in all educational institutions for Anglo-Indians.
lDespite having a glorious past, why are the Anglo-Indians failing to make their presence felt in the society now?
It is true that Anglo-Indians are not reaching the height as they did before. In Jharkhand, most of the Anglo-Indian families are employees of Indian Railways. Since the railways offers jobs to the wards of its employees, most of our families never looked beyond railway jobs.
lMcLuskieganj was considered a stronghold of the Anglo-Indians, but a large number of people have migrated from there. What are you doing to instil confidence among your community to stay or return there?
Yes, McLuskieganj is a dying colony and most of the Anglo-Indians have already migrated from there. The major reason for migration is absence of job avenues for the local residents. I am trying to get the area developed as a tourist centre and some small-scale industries are also to be set up there.
lWhat has been your achievement as an MLA?
I served Bihar Assembly for a year and then came here. I tried to revive the defunct Anglo-Indian associations in Bihar and Jharkhand. Besides, I have roped in All India Anglo-Indian Association to sponsor education of poor children of our community.
lIt is alleged that you are an MLA of a state to which you do not belong to?
It is cent per cent true since I was born and brought up in Bihar. But, it is wrong to differentiate between people of theses two states. A few people of my own community challenged my status as a resident of Jharkhand though it is never mentioned in the Constitution that only a resident hailing from the state can be nominated to the Assembly. I also produced documents to prove I was a bona-fide resident of Jharkhand.
lIs it true that you were nominated again since the NDA wanted to use your voting right? Why did you join a party whose secular image has always been in question?
I am duty bound to support my party. While Munda had confidence in me, L.K. Advani and Rajnath Singh specifically wanted the old man back. I have never thought of ditching the BJP. Certain people wanted my help in toppling the BJP government, but my loyalty remains with the party that brought me to politics. Even if BJP is a secular and pro-Christian party, I joined it on Sushil Modi?s request since I believed that I can help my community better being an insider than criticising the party from outside.
lAnglo-Indians should continue with their separate identity or become fully Indians?
I personally feel it is better if Anglo-Indians fully become Indians. We are Indians first then anything else.
lWhat does the educationist Galstaun has to say about his field in Jharkhand?
The government is doing a lot and it has taken a good step introducing CBSE curriculum here, but as long as teachers are not happy, the education sector cannot improve. How can the teachers teach if their salary is not paid for months together?
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