In a unique career pivot, 70-year-old Professor K.C. Sinha, a name synonymous with mathematics education for generations, has officially entered the political arena. Professor Sinha filed his nomination papers as the Jan Suraaj candidate for the Kumhrar constituency in Patna, marking his transition from academia to the campaign trail for the upcoming Bihar elections.
Sinha, a former acting vice-chancellor of Patna University and author of approximately 70 mathematics books covering subjects like algebra, calculus, trigonometry, vector geometry, and set theory, was met with widespread respect as he began his campaign. Supporters on motorbikes announced his candidacy, highlighting his respected status among people of all ages.
Known for his unconventional style, Sinha often opts for full-sleeved shirts, trousers, and sneakers over traditional attire. His academic journey includes topping his district in school and achieving top ranks in his university and post-graduation studies. After narrowly missing out on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), Sinha dedicated his career to teaching in Bihar, rising through the ranks at Patna University to become a professor and principal of Patna Science College.
His distinguished academic career also saw him serve as the vice-chancellor of Nalanda Open University and hold additional charges for four other universities, where he focused on administrative reforms and academic revitalization. Last year, he joined Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement, driven by a desire to extend his impact from educational institutions to broader policy-making.
“As a principal or Vice Chancellor (VC), my influence was limited to institutions. In politics, I can work for systemic reforms — especially in education and agriculture, Bihar’s core strength,” Sinha stated, expressing his ambition to tackle systemic issues.
Addressing Bihar’s traditional reliance on ‘muscle power’ in politics, Sinha believes intellect will be Jan Suraaj’s primary strength. He envisions countering rivals’ power with knowledge and clean governance, stating, “Our party, too, has its ‘bahubalis’ (strongmen) — in academics, medicine, law and public service. We will counter their (political rivals) muscle and money power with our mind through clean and good politics.”
In Kumhrar, a constituency that has been a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stronghold for decades, Sinha’s platform centers on addressing civic issues such as waterlogging and sanitation. He also aims to transform the constituency into an educational hub, proposing it as a knowledge corridor given its proximity to Patna and Patliputra Universities. He specifically mentioned his commitment to improving the living and studying conditions for underprivileged students who flock to Patna for competitive exam preparation, often facing hardship.
Sinha’s decision to enter politics has been met with support from his family, including his wife Indu and their three sons, all engineers, two of whom are IIT graduates.
The success of this celebrated mathematician in navigating the political landscape of Kumhrar remains to be seen. His electoral journey is set to culminate on November 6, with the results announced on November 14.