To Orwell Today,

Hello,

I am Debapriya Mookherjee, Chairman of the George Orwell Commemorative Committee, Rotary, Motihari Lake Town.

You know I am working for the renovation and awareness of the birth place of the Writer for the last seven years.

The recent development is:

- We have installed a Bust of the Writer just in front of his birth place which was unveiled by Mr. Vivek Singh, Secretary of Art & Culture, Gov't of Bihar

- followed by a Seminar "Millennium Writer".

Mr. Singh announced the Bihar Government's willingness to protect & all-over develop this Birth Place.

It was a very successful programme. Photos are attached. I am in extreme right.

-Debapriya Mookherjee

Greetings Debapriya,

Wow, the surprises from Motihari, where Orwell was born, just keep coming!

It was just last month that the world heard the wonderful news that the government of Bihar was going to be giving Orwell's birth place protected status and develop it as a museum and tourist attraction. I shared the news on ORWELL TODAY and compiled it in the essay: INDIA PROTECTS ORWELL BIRTHPLACE.

It was such a great way to end the year - and start the new one.

For six years now it's been a hope of mine and Nasir Abid's (and many others) that the house Eric Blair was born in would become a SHRINE TO ORWELL.

And from the very beginning I remember hearing your name - "Debapriya Mookherjee" - in relation to the Rotary initiating the project. It was your Motihari Rotary that erected the plaque in front of Orwell's birth house on the 55th anniversary of his death, January 21, 2005.

Then, a couple years ago, in March 2008, a reader - Clive Collins and his wife Monica - travelled to Motihari and sent back photos of the house and the plaque, and they met with you while there. See VISITING ORWELL'S BIRTH PLACE.

And then this past June 25th, 2009 - on Orwell's 106th birthday - a Motiharian, Chandreshwar Dubey, held a homage there with cake and flowers and speeches.

Then, seemingly, things died down and myself and Clive Collins were commiserating with each other, wondering if anything further was ever going to happen regarding the refurbishment of the house - let alone a STATUE being erected.

Then out of the blue, just after Christmas, came the earth-shattering news about the Bihar government stepping in to rescue Orwell's house and property.

But who would ever have imagined it would all happen so fast - and that a statue was in the works! I had no idea one was being created.

I notice, in reading the dedication on the statue, that the date of the unveiling was symbolically January 21st, 2010 - the 60th anniversary of Orwell's death.

The bust does have a likeness to Orwell, with a bit of an Indian look in his face. And it's very statuesquely placed on the tall plaque beneath - tall and thin, like Orwell.

Now India is the FIRST to honour the Great Writer in this way. How proud you must be of this accomplishment.

Thank you India for erecting a statue of George Orwell - a man who has made you proud and who - in spirit - is no doubt proud of you.

All the best,
Jackie Jura

ORWELL MOTIHARI BIRTHPLACE MILLIONAIRE

ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING COMING UP

ORWELL BIRTHPLACE NOT FORGOTTEN

ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING ANIMAL FARM

ORWELL MOTIHARI MEMORIAL MATERIAL

ORWELL STATUE IN MOTIHARI

ORWELL TODAY BIRTHDAY TYPING 1984

INDIA PROTECTS ORWELL BIRTHPLACE

ORWELL BIRTHPLACE NO ANIMAL FARM

Orwell birthplace to be restored (priority to protect it followed by renovation). NewYorkTimes, Dec 31, 2009

Orwell's birthplace aims to attract tourists (funds being raised for Orwell museum in Bihar). UK Telegraph, Dec 28, 2009

George Orwell & India ("I am an Indian and was born there"). Maddy's Ramblings

India gov't saving Orwell's birthplace from decay (Orwell had India in his blood). AFP, Dec 29, 2009

George Orwell birthplace is saved from becoming an animal farm (British enthusiast's photos on Orwell Today website), The Times, Dec 29, 2009

Orwell's birthplace aims to attract tourists (funds being raised for Orwell museum in Bihar). UK Telegraph, Dec 28, 2009

Govt declares Orwell's house in Bihar as protected site. Press Trust of India, Dec 28, 2009 - Patna: In good news for fans of George Orwell, the author of one of last century's best dystopian novels '1984' and 'Animal Farm', Bihar government in eastern India has decided to declare the house in which he was born as a 'Protected Site'....The matter was brought to Singh's notice by locals of Motihari who wanted Orwell's birth place to be protected.)

India declares Orwell birth house protected (plan to develop building & site in Motihari). Calcutta Telegraph, Dec 27, 2009

Clive is planning another trip to India and wonders about progress on the renovation of Orwell's bungalow in Motihari, Bihar

Chandreshwar visited Orwell's birthplace in Motihari on Orwell's 106th birthday

Reader Amit is from Motihari - Orwell's birthplace - and wants to be a part of efforts to develop it as a shrine and tourist attraction

LONDON BANKER BEHIND BIHAR (Reader Manish is keen to help refurbish and develop Eric's birthplace as a tourist destination)

British couple wants to renovate Orwell's Bihar house. Thai-Indian News, Apr 25th, 2008
Patna - ...London-based retired English professor Clive Collins and his wife Monica Collins have written to the district magistrate in Motihari as well as the local Rotary Club, offering help...."Moved by reports of Orwell's dilapidated house, the British couple has decided to renovate it and develop it as a tourist spot," Debapriya Mukherjee, district chairman of the Rotary Club, told IANS on phone. The couple has also assured the Rotary Club that they will launch a campaign to spread awareness about Orwell and his works in Britain, Mukherjee added. About four years ago the Heritage Foundation of India announced that it would renovate Orwell's house. However, no progress was made.)