FREE Wi-Fi in Patna, IT City in Nalanda

Faizan Ahmad । Economic Times
Once known as a backward state, Bihar has made a strong bid for a mention on the world's infotech map as chief minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the 20km free Wi-Fi zone, the longest across the globe. Kumar also announced an IT City would be developed on a 200-acre plot at Rajgir in Nalanda. more

Bihar's ancient university returns to life

Ministry of External Affairs । PIB
The Government has sanctioned Rs.2727.10 crore to the University during its establishment phase from 2010-11 to 2021-22. The estimated capital cost of the project is Rs.1749.65 crore.  The recurring expenditure projected from 2014-15 onwards is Rs.977.45 crore.  Funds will be allocated from External Affairs Ministry’s Plan Budget as per annual funding requirements. more

Examining Bihar's Turnaround

Indira Hirway । EPW
With 3% of the total geographical area of India and 9% of its total population, Bihar is the most densely populated state in the country. It is also one of the poorest and backward states in India. Before the British came, Bihar was one of the most prosperous regions in the country. However, during the British period, it underwent a radical transformation (thanks to the 1793 Permanent Settlement and the other policies that followed), turning into a poor agricultural state with a very exploitative agrarian structure that became a great impediment to agrarian reform. Efforts to develop the state in later years were not very successful and it continued to remain one of the most backward, with rising caste and class tensions, criminalisation, non-governance, and poor delivery mechanisms. Over the last six to seven years, the image of the state has changed for the better, thanks to a turnaround in the growth rate and significant improvement in law and order. more

Nitish's Bihar Story in Pakistan

Salim Ansar । The News
'Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar' is a clear-sighted study of Indian electoral politics that unfolds with the pace of a political drama, offering hard facts and an incisive analysis of the state’s turbulent trajectory. The author steers the narrative deftly through the complex groupings of Bihar’s political arena to reveal Nitish Kumar’s acumen in bringing law and order, roads, education and health to the fore of governance. From feudal politics to caste identities, and finally to development — Bihar could prove to be the model for India’s post — Independence journey. more

Amartya Sen threatens to quit Nalanda University

Pranab Dhal Samanta । Indian Express
The government’s dream Nalanda University project has run into trouble with Chancellor Amartya Sen threatening to resign after the finance ministry raised pointed queries on the financial management of this mega revival plan. At its crux is a massive Rs 2,727 crore financial support package to the university over a period of 12 years. The university is yet to begin functioning fully, and its campus is still under construction in Rajgir. more 

Vikram Seth recites his Hanuman Chalisa

Girdhar Jha । Mail Today
The celebrated poet-author of The Golden Gate and A Suitable Boy fame left the audience spellbound with his lyrical English translation of the Hanuman Chalisa on the inaugural day of the three-day Patna Literature Festival. Seth first read out the original text of chalisa, followed by a recitation of its translation in verses composed by him. more

Bihar’s ‘mesmerising’ Sonepur cattle fair

Horatio Clare । FT
'As I joined the flow of people, I felt part of a pageant through time. It was more like visiting a tiny universe than a great event, and perhaps Sonepur’s secret goes beyond the worldly. For all that we were harangued by “self-made gods” and by the 10-rupee shops, and by phone companies and manufacturers of detergents and baby products, Sonepur really is not about the money, nor the winning or losing of deals. It is about the taking part.' more

'Bihar’s renaissance man'

Sankarshan Thakur । Mint
Will Nitish Kumar be content playing an ant crawling up the elephant’s snout, causing it to trip? An exclusive excerpt from a new book on the evolving Bihar story. more

Bihar Sprints 3 Times Faster

Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar । Economic Times
The CSO has revised GDP data for the last three years. All-India growth for 2010-11 has been revised down to 8.9%, revised upward to 6.7% for 2011-12, and revised down to 4.5% for 2012-13. After revision, how has the growth slowdown been distributed between states? Tamil Nadu has suffered the worst growth collapse among the 17 large states: from 13.12% in 2010-11 to just 4.14% in 2012-13, a fall of two-thirds. By contrast, Bihar has remained very resilient, maintaining double-digit growth and topping the states' ranking in 2012-13 with 14.48%. This is almost thrice the national average! more

India’s first river-linking project in Bihar

Urmi A Goswami & Ashok Mishra । Economic Times
The river-linking idea is one that's been knocking around for a long time. Now India's first river-linking project will take place in three districts of Bihar—Khagaria, Samastipur and Begusarai. The hope is that the rivers will help drain away the floodwaters and provide irrigation in the dry season. more

Allies fight over seat sharing

Deccan Herald

Four of the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies have become a bone of contention among the prospective Bihar allies Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the he Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). more

Bollywood's Bihari diction teacher

Madhuri Kumar । Times of India
A youth from Biharsharif is a hit in Bollywood teaching actors how to speak Hindi and regional dialects fluently. As a dialogue coach he has worked for several movie projects including Ishqiya, Gulal, Saat Khoon Maaf, Udaan, Aurangzeb, Radio and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. more