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