Bihar: Better late than never!

In Bihar, people cutting across caste lines are highly educated. Even a labourer ensures that his child goes for private tuition. Bihar is not as backward as it is portrayed. There are various positives, which are overlooked.

THE IMAGE of India has changed in recent years. It is no longer seen as a country of snake charmers and tight-rope walkers. Nowadays, it is known more for its brain power and young manpower with critical skills imperative for today’s knowledge economy. The perception has changed completely and there is lesser prejudice towards Indians.

The case of the least developed state of India, Bihar, is strikingly similar. It has been associated with everything that is regressive and out of date. But the reality is that it is not as backward as it is portrayed through various media. There are various positives, which are overlooked.

After being bifurcated from the united Bengal, Bihar was created aggregating some regions, which were no way similar, culturally and politically. The creation of Jharkhand divided Bihar and the ascendancy of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his antics bemused people and at the same time horrified them that how a state could be governed by leaders like Yadav-Rabri. Yadav, as a stress buster, became so popular that he would give Johny Lever or Rajpal Yadav run for their money. Yadav became synonymous with Bihar and Bihari people became subject of derision. Their overall intelligence was questioned for their compulsion of succumbing to the mercy of these greedy politicians and giving these self serving leaders such a long tenure. On their parts, Yadav-Rabri ensured that roads of Bihar were not repaired and educational institutions did not function at all.

Bureaucrats were humiliated and the administrative machinery was virtually run by the political activists. Complete anarchy gripped the state and the image of Yadav was seen as the true reflection of Bihar. Unfortunately, by the time the people of Bihar woke up, the damage had been done and ’glorious Bihar’ had became a dirty word.

Contrary to popular belief, villages of Bihar are not as bad and backward as it is shown and perceived. Most of the villages of the Mithila region are very developed. As there was comparatively lesser urbanisation, the people used to invest in their villages. As a result, villages had everything essential for living. Almost all major villages have their own power distribution system in place. The people were content and happy in their own world. There are several parts of Mithila regions where the crime committed in recent decades have been only some petty thefts. There is absolutely no crime in these regions. People cutting across caste lines are highly educated. Even a labourer ensures that his son or daughter go for private tuition. Had there any iota of governmental support then the picture would have been contrastingly different.

Congress is equally responsible for keeping Bihar less developed because it had ruled the state after independence till the arrival of Yadav. In spite of having 70 per cent mineral reserves, Bihar was not given its due and those raw materials were used to promote industrialisation of other states. Congress did not stop here and went on to support Yadav despite knowing very well that it would spell a doom for the state.

Congress did this against the wishes of its very own party men. The central leadership got the result, as it was able to form the government with the help of Yadav but at the cost of being wiped out from Bihar and being part of destroying the state completely.

The darkness has become lesser with the arrival of Nitish Kumar. Yadav and Kumar belong to the same strata of caste combination but whereas Kumar is truly educated and highly intelligent, Yadav relies on his antics and laughter skills. After the arrival of Kumar, repair works are being carried out for now and when this will be over, hopefully some developmental activities will be pursued as well.

In the meanwhile, there are some perceptible changes already and that is very pleasing. As they say, better late than never. So after remaining static for decades, the capital of Bihar is gradually wearing a modern look. The pace of construction is hectic and there is visible development all around. Gone are the days when shopping meant visiting Patna market or Hathwa market. Mall mania has gripped the cities now in large numbers.