I find it hard to breathe when I think of the scale of the catastrophe in Bihar. More than 25 lakh people affected by the raging waters of the Kosi. As I browse through news reports out of Bihar, it is depressing and infuriating to see the depths of human behaviour in the looting, raping and pillaging of fleeing villagers. The very boatmen who are supposed to rescue people, are turning tormentors, in the worst way possible.

Filmmaker Prakash Jha, an outspoken champion of the rights of the dispossessed, has launched a mission to reach assistance to the people of his home state, Bihar. Here is a video interview with him.

First published on September 8, 2008
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