The insiders: Biharis on a unifying mission

While certain sections of society are grinding their teeth to drive these ''outsiders'' away from Maharashtra, these five young daredevils ventured into the state with a message of love and peace.
It''s not just fancy idealism, say these middle-class boys from Jharkhand and they proved it with their bicycle journey from Ranchi to Pune, educating youngsters about HIV/Aids along the way and carrying a banner which says, "Peace in hand, peace on earth."
For Dulal Sharma, Roshan Surin, Pankaj Barla, Prakash Karketta and Nishant Heranj, all YMCA members, this is their sixth cycle tour for this cause."So far, we have done short distances, like from Ranchi to Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata and Delhi. This is our first long tour and it includes Orissa, Chhattisgarh, MP and Goa, besides Maharashtra," explains Dulal in his typical Bihari accent.
Ask them about the recent outrage broken against Biharis in Assam and Mumbai and they sound even more resolute to make their point. "Yes, we know what has happened and we don''t blame the jobless youngsters who were provoked," says Pankaj, a mass communication student, "Still, I would maintain that they look for solutions to their unemployment. If the ''outsiders'' were not needed in these states, why would they go there?"
The next halt for the team is Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena has started the ''Outsiders Resistance Campaign''.
"Mumbai is not a separate country. It''s still very much part of India. It''s our fundamental right to move anywhere isn''t it?" snaps Dulal.
"I am not at all tense about going there. I know if I give love, I will get love back," says Prakash confidently,
So far these boys are thrilled with Maharashtrian hospitality.
sharvari.joshi@timesgroup.com