| Bihar or ancient Magadha, has been the cradle of | | | | times. Throughout its history, from the 6th |
| Indian civilization and the centre of Indian culture | | | | century BC to 5th century AD, Bihar has been |
| and education. It was the land of "Ashoka The | | | | the seat of major empires. Not to mention its |
| Great" and where the origins of "Buddhism took | | | | heavy influence on the politics of modern India. |
| place". | | | | Unfortunately, the rich and glorious history of |
| Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara was born in the | | | | Bihar is in complete contrast today from being the |
| ancient kingdom of Vaishali and attained Moksha | | | | first democratic republic of the world to a lawless |
| or Nirvana at Pawapuri (also known as the sinless | | | | and ungovernable state. As India enters into the |
| city), 90 kilometers from Patna, the capital of | | | | economic boom Bihar still stands aloof untouched. |
| Bihar. It was here where the ancient universities | | | | It was once the greatest seat of learning, Bihar |
| of India - Nalanda and Vikramshila were built. It | | | | has now the lowest literacy rate in India. Basic |
| has to be said that is the people of Bihar that has | | | | infrastructure is clearly lacking and most houses in |
| shaped Indian history for generations to marvel | | | | the villages are still made of bricks mortared only |
| upon for times to come. | | | | with mud and covered with cow dung. Potbellies |
| Bihar is a landlocked state that has borders with | | | | of half-starved children is highly visible |
| Nepal in the north, Uttar Pradesh on the west, | | | | Visiting Bihar today you will find that the locals are |
| Jharkhand on the south and West Bengal on the | | | | less worried about its glorious history and its |
| east. Although it's the part of the Hindi speaking | | | | historical ruins. They have far more pressing |
| heartland of India, it nevertheless has several Hindi | | | | needs to worry about. The false impression today |
| dialects such as Bhojpuri, Magadhi (Magahi), Angika, | | | | is that if you visit certain parts of Bihar it is |
| Maithili and Sarnami Hindustani. Interestingly it was | | | | advised you to get off the road before dark for |
| this Magahi that was spoken during the reign of | | | | fear of armed robberies as crime is out of |
| Ashoka. Bihar is situated on the eastern part of | | | | control. |
| the Indo-Gangetic Plain. | | | | Nevertheless a new government is in place. The |
| It is rich in untapped mineral wealth, with its fertile | | | | new Chief Minister has to be admired for his |
| alluvial plain occupying the north while rocky and | | | | attempt to remove the "unruly and backward" |
| mineral rich plateau in the south, also called the | | | | label from the state and increase development |
| Chhotanagpur Plateau region. Bihar also has an | | | | but the work culture still needs to be improved |
| amazing and glorious history as the centre of the | | | | for the road to better health. |
| subcontinent's culture and politics since ancient | | | | |