Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary with students on their return to academic life after more than 30 years. | Photo credit: X/@AshokChoudhary
Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary on Wednesday graduated from his first class as an assistant professor of political science at AN College, Patna, returning to academic life after more than three decades.
Admitting to pre-class butterflies in his stomach, the rural works minister told The Hindu that he settled into his role early enough as the subject was familiar territory for him. Some PhD students also signed up for the lecture and among the more pointed questions put to him was why instability still persists in Manipur. However, Bihar politics was banned.
Mr Choudhary described his inaugural lecture on ‘Federalism and Centre-State Relations’ as a ‘fantastic experience’. “People first become a professor and then a minister. I first became a minister and then a professor. I also wanted to talk about the ongoing conflict in West Asia, but time ran out,” he laughed.
Mr Choudhary, a close aide of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was selected for the post of Assistant Professor after clearing the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) recruitment examination 2020, the results of which were declared in June last year.
Born in Sheikhpura district, Mr. Choudhary started his political career in the Congress and was elected MLA from Barbigha in 2000. He was also the Bihar Congress chief in 2013 but switched to the ruling Janata Dal (United) in 2018.
Expressing his joy at being able to deliver the lecture in the building he laid the foundation stone of as education minister in Bihar along with then president Ram Nath Kovind, he said existing rules meant he would go on leave after Day 1 and keep his ministerial allowance. “I informed the head of the department that I will attend classes whenever I have time,” he said.
Published – 26 Mar 2026 0:27 IST
