Bihar is one round away from a verdict. Next Sunday the verdict of Bihar will be out. I am no expert on Bihar and its caste plus religion plus development narrative and other things that are usually associated with analysis. The caste plus development model of Nitish and Lalu and the development plus religion narrative of PM Modi is critical for the chemistry and arithmetic of elections. But I want to look beyond this. I could be completely wrong. But nevertheless.
My sense is that Bihar wants to break away from the past titles of backward and bimaru.
My first hint that Bihar will stand with aspiration came from a group of entrepreneurs who graduated from IIMs and other top Indian institutes. They returned to Bihar to face red tape, corruption and lack of opportunities and to set up businesses. And what really made me hopeful of the Bihar story is that these entrepreneurs could attract over 1000 students each, even in remote colleges in the state. They all want to be on their own...and in Bihar. They don't want to go to big cities and metros in search of opportunities. If that is a sample of the future Bihar, why would they get stuck in caste cocoons which have given them little to take them to the next level?
Second hint: At a political slugfest in Patna where Lalu was claiming that caste is everything and how he empowered the powerless he was shouted down by an audience of young men and women. Lalu couldn't believe it. But those youngsters are firm. Caste cannot be a fetter.
Third hint: At the airport an airline manager who seemed a fan of Nitish is upset and concerned about the alliance with Lalu. He is not willing to accept that the route to power is a combo of caste and corruption.
This election the Bihari could have voted for themselves. Bihar wants to be Bengaluru...and move beyond Bhagalpur.
Hope the netas will readjust.
Author Radhakrishnan Nair is Managing Editor, CNN-IBN
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