If Bihar Were a Nation An Exam in Bihar If Bihar were a country, it would be the largest of the world’s poorest nations. I define ‘poorest’ as countries with an annual per capita income of less than 1000 dollars per year. Fifteen of these countries are in Africa, and the four poorest Asian nations are war-torn Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan, and the North Korean redoubt of Kim-il-Sung. The largest of these nations is Afghanistan, with a population of about forty million.
I have visited Bihar --for work -several times. On the face of it, you witness demonstrable progress- better roads, reliable power, signs of thriving consumerism, etc but deep down nothing has changed. Law and order remain a concern, casteism is rampant, an education renaissance is awaited, women are oppressed and the government is everywhere yet nowhere. Land records are in a mess and industrial land near Patna is so expensive that you might as well try Mumbai. Meanwhile, the educated intelligentsia continues escaping - seeing no respite.
in the early 1990's i recall reading a book by Arvind N. Das ---The Republic of Bihar/ a thin Penguin which seems to have dealt with the same ideas---what happen to Bihar?? Why did it all fall down---good luck with your search for insights and look forward to reading your thoughts/
I have visited Bihar --for work -several times. On the face of it, you witness demonstrable progress- better roads, reliable power, signs of thriving consumerism, etc but deep down nothing has changed. Law and order remain a concern, casteism is rampant, an education renaissance is awaited, women are oppressed and the government is everywhere yet nowhere. Land records are in a mess and industrial land near Patna is so expensive that you might as well try Mumbai. Meanwhile, the educated intelligentsia continues escaping - seeing no respite.
A real crisis of leadership!
Very instructive comments Chittu.
Thanks.
A strange paradox when the IAS cadres used to be dominated by Biharis but the state of the State is what it is .
True! Hadn't thought of that.
in the early 1990's i recall reading a book by Arvind N. Das ---The Republic of Bihar/ a thin Penguin which seems to have dealt with the same ideas---what happen to Bihar?? Why did it all fall down---good luck with your search for insights and look forward to reading your thoughts/
Thanks, Alan.
I will look for the book.
More freedom, justice and wealth for people in Bihar and Illinois