Bihar: Legacy or Lore

March 22nd is historically known for Bihar Diwas marks our Foundation Day. It isn't just a date; it’s an emotion.

This year, from March 22nd to March 24th the Gandhi Maidan, Patna was transformed into a massive 3-day carnival to celebrate our 114th Foundation Day on the theme of "Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar"

Yesterday was the final day of Bihar Diwas, so I walked into Gandhi Maidan expecting a celebration of Biharism—a reflection of our history, our art, and our resilience...

The theme this year, "Unnat Bihar, Ujjwal Bihar" (Progressive Bihar, Radiant Bihar), wasn't just a slogan on the posters—it was alive in the stalls too.

Walking through the exhibitions, I saw a version of Bihar that makes the heart swell with hope.

From women-led ventures like JEEViKA’s Didi Ki Rasoi to innovative wood and terracotta crafts by startups like Sabhyata Interio and Rang Variation, the entrepreneurial spirit was undeniable.  

The Heritage & Tech Blend that was seen in 3D replicas of Nalanda University. 

The demonstrations of Drones for pesticide spraying and AI-based safety showed that we are ready for the future.

The live Madhubani and Sikki art demonstrations reminded me why we are the land of knowledge and tradition.

But Celebration is not just about stalls and concerts. It is about how we treat a fellow citizen when the lights are dim and the crowd is thick.

We celebrate Bihar Diwas to honor the day our state was carved out and to reflect our legacy, but standing there yesterday, I realized alot of things 

As the concert began, the "Youth of Bihar" instantly turned the environment chaotic. I watched young boys and girls piling the chairs on top of each other, climbing up and standing on those chairs without a single thought for the audience sitting behind them.

And then comes the "Administration."

I saw policemen and constables—the very people meant to ensure public order—sitting comfortably on their chairs. And right infront of them the crowds was pushing and shoving on each other making a stampede like situation.

There was zero crowd control, zero intervention.

The management was busy gossiping sitting on the chair.

The lack of crowd control wasn't just poor planning; it was a complete breakdown of the very 'System' we were there to celebrate.

The way out was just as disorganized as the way in. 

When we failed to find any clear exit point, we approached the management.

We approached the police sitting nearby. We weren't asking for a favor; we were asking for a basic direction to safety.

On which one of the policeman said  "Jaise aai ho waisi hi chali jao".

For a second, I stood there stunned. I thought maybe he didn't understand the problem. 

I tried to speak again politely, "sir, I said, we are unable to find the gate through which we entered. Every point looks the same." 

But their statement remained the same with zero concern. zero empathy, zero inclination to help, and a total absence of the 'public service' spirit.

If a group of girls cannot find a helping hand in a sea of uniforms, then who is this 'Bihar Diwas' really for? Is it for the people, or just for the posters and lore. 

We complain when people in other states use "Bihari" as a derogatory term. 

We feel the sting of discrimination in Delhi or Mumbai. But look at how we treat our own people in our own city.

When a policeman treats a group of girls with such dismissal, and when the youth breaks chairs just to stand a few inches higher, then we are the ones disrespecting our own identity.

If we do not respect and have concern for our own people and land, how can we expect the world to respect us?

The Constitution gives us the framework, but Empathy and Civic Sense give us the character.

Let us not just be proud of our past. Let us be responsible for our present. Because a "Radiant Bihar" cannot be built on "Ujjwal" slogans alone—it needs the light of empathy and the strength of civic sense.

बिहार दिवस की शुभकामनाएँ तब तक अधूरी हैं, जब तक हम अपने व्यवहार में सुधार नहीं लाते। उत्सव सिर्फ भीड़ जुटाना नहीं, बल्कि सभ्यता का प्रदर्शन होना चाहिए।