Published on: October 18, 2025 | 3:44 PM IST

Patna: Known to generations of students as the author behind their mathematics textbooks, 70-year-old Professor K.C. Sinha has taken a significant step from academia to politics, filing his nomination papers on Wednesday as the Jan Suraaj candidate from Patna’s Kumhrar constituency for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

A respected academic, Sinha has authored around 70 books covering topics such as algebra, calculus, trigonometry, vector geometry, and set theory, making his name familiar in households and classrooms across Bihar. From teenagers to senior citizens, people from diverse age groups bowed and showed respect to the former acting vice-chancellor of Patna University as young Jan Suraaj volunteers announced his candidacy with handheld microphones and motorbikes across the constituency.

Academic and Professional Journey

Born in Beur village, in the Chainpur block of Kaimur district, Sinha’s academic brilliance was evident from an early age. He topped his district in school and later excelled in university examinations in 1972 and 1974. Despite narrowly missing the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and being deemed unsuitable for the Indian Police Service (IPS) due to his build, he chose to dedicate his life to teaching in Bihar.

Sinha began his career in 1977 as a lecturer at Jain College, Ara, gradually rising through the ranks at Patna Universityto become reader, professor, head of department, dean, and principal of Patna Science College. Recognized for his academic excellence and administrative acumen, he later served as Vice Chancellor of Nalanda Open University and held additional charge of four other universities between 2021 and 2024, implementing administrative reforms and promoting academic revival.

Transition to Politics

Sinha joined Jan Suraaj, founded by his former student Prashant Kishor, last year. He reportedly did so at Kishor’s urging, seeking to expand his influence from the academic sphere to policymaking. “As a principal or 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 said.

Undeterred by Bihar’s reputation for muscle-driven politics, Sinha believes intellect will be the party’s strongest weapon. “Our party, too, has its ‘bahubalis’ — in academics, medicine, law, and public service. We will counter the muscle and money power of rivals with our mind through clean and good politics,” he remarked with a smile.

Vision for Kumhrar

Kumhrar, a BJP stronghold for nearly four decades, will test Sinha’s political strategies. His campaign focuses on civic issues such as waterlogging and sanitation, as well as transforming the constituency into an education hub. “With Patna University and Patliputra University nearby, Kumhrar can become a knowledge corridor. I also want to improve conditions for poor students who come to Patna for competitive exam preparation, often living in difficult conditions in lodges or studying along the banks of the Ganga,” he said.

Sinha’s living room walls display numerous awards, including the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Shiksha Puraskar, reflecting a lifetime of dedication to education. A devoted family man, he credits his wife Indu and three sons — Anurag Chandra, Abhishek Chandra, and Ankit Chandra, all engineers, two of them from IITs — for supporting his political debut.

The Political Test

Whether the celebrated mathematician can solve the complex political equation in Kumhrar remains to be seen. Bihar voters will cast their ballots on November 6, with results declared on November 14, revealing if K.C. Sinha’s transition from the classroom to the campaign trail will succeed.

Sinha’s journey exemplifies a unique blend of academic rigor and civic ambition, highlighting how expertise in education can inform efforts to shape governance and public policy. His candidature also symbolizes a broader trend of professionals entering politics to bring knowledge and intellect to the electoral arena.