Bihar ...changing fate.

It was one of those rare occasions when I watch news channels with both patience and interest. Bihar’s CM Nitish Kumar was chosen for ET leadership award for his effort towards the development of the state since he took over CM’s position. The news showed how the state which lived in darkness since ages, is on the fast track of growth from last 4 years.Today Bihar reports an amazing GDP growth rate of 11%, second only to Gujarat. The state's consistent economy since 2004 has all the indication that Bihar is on the right track.

Two days later I saw a full page special report in a national daily newspaper highlighting Bihar’s success story. The report presented few great facts and figures about the emerging Bihar. Infrastructure growth with a never before pace and effective crime control are among such achievements.

Didn’t know but it was a happy moment for me too. Not that I have equally contributed to this success but for a simple reason that somewhere at the bottom of my heart I felt proud to be a Bihari (a term used to describe a person from Bihar).

It may sound strange for a person having his roots in Bihar and upbringing in a typical Bihari family to say something like “Didn’t know”, but year’s long separation and the image the state portrays outside really never excites the prospects of associating oneself to state, who leaves it for better education or living. There are few who never leave the sense of belongingness, few can’t leave it ever even if they want, and then there are few who get compliments from colleagues and friends for not having a Bihari accent: “You are from Bihar? But you don’t sounds like one.”

My point is, may be all this bad name Bihar had earned in several years and the shame a few people might feel in telling which state they belong to, the face of Bihar is changing. It still has issues like poverty, health service, population density, floods but atleast its on right path and the signs are promising.

Bihar’s success story is indeed a reason to rejoice- as for a state that has lived long under the image of corruption, violence, poverty and backward growth; seeing it progressing at a rapid rate and getting its dues is satisfying feeling.