Patna, 2nd August 2025: In an inspiring and impactful address that resonated with both students and faculty, renowned educationist, English litterateur, author, and social entrepreneur Dr Birbal Jha, often hailed as the ‘Father of Spoken English Movement in India’, delivered a compelling seminar on “Employability Skills: Preparing for the World of Work” at Jagat Narayan Lal College, Khagaul.
Organised in collaboration with the college’s Department of Botany and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the seminar drew a packed audience of aspiring youth, all eager to listen to a man whose mission has transformed lives through language empowerment and skill development.
With a career spanning over two decades as the Founder and Managing Director of British Lingua, Dr Jha has remained a powerful voice advocating for skill-based education. His session at the college was not just a lecture—it was a call for self-transformation, self-reliance, and skill-driven growth.
“Degrees make you eligible, but skills make you employable,” Dr Jha declared at the outset, immediately capturing the attention of the room.
From Knowledge to Know-How: Dr Jha’s Vision for Employable Bharat
In his hour-long keynote, Dr Birbal Jha outlined the urgent need to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and industry expectations.
“Employability is not just about earning a degree—it is about the ability to deliver, adapt, and communicate in the real world,” he said, adding that mere bookish knowledge is no longer sufficient in today’s dynamic workplace.
Quoting the India Skills Report 2024, which states that less than 50% of Indian graduates are job-ready, Dr Jha stressed the importance of preparing youth for real-world challenges through communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and leadership.
“Employability is the art of turning potential into performance. The sooner we understand this, the sooner our youth will rise from job-seekers to job-creators,” he asserted.
Bihar’s Talent, India’s Future
Speaking emotionally as a son of the soil, Dr Jha paid tribute to Bihar’s rich intellectual legacy while addressing the skill gap in the region.
“Bihar is a land of brilliance, but brilliance alone doesn’t get you hired. What we need is a structured approach to developing employability. That’s why I launched initiatives like ‘English for All’.”
Dr Jha’s English training model through British Lingua has reached lakhs of learners across India, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, equipping them with tools of communication, confidence, and career growth.
Live Demonstrations and Student Interactions
The session was not confined to theoretical inputs. Dr Jha led a series of interactive exercises—inviting students to introduce themselves, role-play interview situations, and transform simple Hindi phrases into polished, professional English, thereby demonstrating the link between language and livelihood.
“Your spoken English is your spoken confidence. It’s the bridge between learning and earning,” he stated, offering personal tips on voice modulation, tone, posture, and professional etiquette.
“Fluency in emotions, not just English, defines your ability to lead, connect, and grow,” he added, emphasizing the role of soft skills in shaping one’s career trajectory.
A Roadmap to Career Success
In a structured segment titled “Seven Steps to Employability,” Dr Jha outlined the key actions students must take:
1. Master communication
2. Build a strong résumé
3. Develop digital and soft skills
4. Gain real-world experience
5. Prepare for interviews
6. Read and reflect regularly
7. Adopt a continuous learning mindset
He concluded the seminar with a heartfelt appeal to the students:
“You are not just youth of Bihar—you are youth of Bharat. Let skill be your identity. Let confidence be your currency. And let learning be your lifelong companion.”
Words That Inspired
Throughout the session, Dr Jha delivered memorable lines that echoed his philosophy:
• “Soft skills are the soul of success; without them, even hard skills fall flat.”
• “In today’s market, it’s not the survival of the fittest, but the survival of the most skilled.”
• “If education is the seed, employability skills are the sunshine that make careers bloom.”
Institutional Response and Follow-Up
The Principal of Jagat Narayan Lal College, Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Prabha Singh, expressed her gratitude and praised Dr Jha’s mission, calling the seminar “a much-needed initiative in shaping the future of Bihar’s youth.”
Post-event, several students interacted with Dr Jha, and many signed up for follow-up training sessions at British Lingua, keen to enhance their English fluency and soft skills.
