Late-Night Thoughts on Bihar

It has become a trend to unjustly hate or mock Biharis, as oppressed communities are often treated poorly in every society. Unfortunately, some from Bihar’s elite class distance themselves from their identity once they achieve financial success or social mobility. If Biharis themselves start rejecting their roots, how can they ever stand up against this bias and reclaim their pride? I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Please share your opinions. One incident I’d like to highlight involves a colleague of mine who is originally from Bihar but refers to himself as a Delhiite because he moved to Delhi after completing his 10th grade. This reflects a broader trend where hating Bihar has become fashionable. Let me tell you one incident, during a train journey from Delhi to my hometown, the train was delayed by six hours in Uttar Pradesh. When we reached a station in Bihar that was less developed but still a scheduled stop, an uncle shouted, “Dekho, Hum log Bihar aa gye aur chain pulling ho gya.” I was lying on the side upper berth and, although chain pulling used to be common in some parts of Bihar, I checked and found that we were at a station, not stopped due to chain pulling. Yet, they defamed the entire Bihari community as chain pullers, and some people laughed as if nothing had happened, even though the train was delayed for reasons unrelated to Bihar. I was pissed off and said, “Nowadays, people can’t even recognize a station.” Still, these shameless people responded that the train became this much late because it passed through Bihar. I pointed out that when the train stayed at a single place for three hours in Uttar Pradesh, no one said a word, but it became acceptable to blame Bihar even when the train stopped at a designated station. What hypocrisy. Some people consoled me, asking if I loved my state that much, where I was from, and what I did. Suddenly, they were interested in knowing my background, as if to determine whether I was worthy of arguing with that group. I calmly answered all their questions, and then my stop came. I could share many similar incidents