Branded Bihar to Brand Bihar

Not long ago, Bihar’s people were seen as uncouth, regressive and the term ‘Bihari’ had stopped denoting a regional identity – and had become an insult.  The state itself was more in news for kidnappings, as eulogised in a movie, robbery, caste-killings and the lowest literacy rate in the country.

Since the last four years, the state’s perception among people is changing – with a promise of redeeming all that Bihar and Bihari had come to mean.

At the Governance Now Forum ‘Bihar on the move’, a panel discussion on changing perceptions of the state offered diagnoses, feedback on and shared experiences of the new Bihar.

Pramath Sinha, founder and managing director, 9.9 media and founding dean, ISB

"I have been asked why private sector has still not come in the state. I think it is mainly because the perception has still not changed in the private sector. People still think of other states before Bihar when it comes to development projects and we have to compete from behind.

So, the simple focus should be on the private sector, where we will focus on individual companies instead of going for big branding.

Also, I do not see young Bihari taking decision in the public sector, Bihar can be different if that happens. But I do meet lot of them in the private sector. "

Nikesh  Sinha of ACPA

"It’s not about what we need from Bihar, but what Bihar needs from us. In the last few decades, Bihar has given its labour and people to the entire country. Punjab’s green revolution was possible because of the labour from Bihar.

We are all responsible for the present crisis in Bihar because we moved ahead and left Bihar behind. This needs to be stopped. It is time we should return  to that state and work for for its development. 

Harivansh, editor, Prabhat Khabar

In the past five years symptoms of the state being functional can be seen. The presence of state can now be felt at the remotest of village.

The provision of 50 percent reservation for women in panchayat in Bihar would be quite effective in future.

The education system in Bihar had almost collapsed. Therefore the initiative by the  present government to provide cycles to girls is appreciable.

And lastly, construction of roads, bridges and culverts has played an important role.

G S Kang, former chief secretary of Bihar

The criminals’ involvement in politics is fast becoming a thing of the past. In the last Panchayat elections, no criminals were elected in any of the 8,461 panchayats. Law and order is improving and the state is proving itself to be on a par with the other states in the country. The wild Bihar of yesterday is fading out.

Shalini Vatsa, Theatre and movie actor, Peepli Live

Any cultural vibrancy exists in a place only when the place is safe. I have grown up in Bihar and have been part of various theatre groups. Earlier it was difficult to get out of one’s house and go to one’s place of work. This has changed. I have seen it personally. I have seen people travel late at nights with their families. This change I can say is conducive for a vibrant cultural growth.