{"id":19867,"date":"2025-10-22T03:12:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T03:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/22\/between-patna-and-sasaram-a-drive-through-bihars-soul-after-15-years-is-a-homecoming-to-change-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T03:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T03:12:06","slug":"between-patna-and-sasaram-a-drive-through-bihars-soul-after-15-years-is-a-homecoming-to-change-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/22\/between-patna-and-sasaram-a-drive-through-bihars-soul-after-15-years-is-a-homecoming-to-change-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Patna And Sasaram: A Drive Through Bihar\u2019s Soul After 15 Years Is A Homecoming To Change | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9650639\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">October 22, 2025, 08:00 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9650639\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360 asubttl-schema\">While most of Bihar is touched by roads and power supply, jobs remain a concern<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The fact is, like West Bengal, most young Biharis have preferred to leave the state over the years in search of jobs. Representational pic\/News18\" title=\"The fact is, like West Bengal, most young Biharis have preferred to leave the state over the years in search of jobs. Representational pic\/News18\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The fact is, like West Bengal, most young Biharis have preferred to leave the state over the years in search of jobs. Representational pic\/News18<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a title=\"One Take\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/topics\/one-take\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article_float_embeddedimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:0pt none;float:left;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px padding-top:5px\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2023\/05\/one-take.png\" alt=\"One Take\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">I returned to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/elections\/youre-the-one-whos-strange-tejashwi-reacts-to-nitish-garlanding-woman-candidate-at-bihar-rally-ws-l-9650087.html\">Bihar<\/a> after 15 years. The change was expected, but the stark transformation hit me hard. The first thing that struck me was the swanky Jayprakash Narayan Airport, recently renovated. It was clean, bustling with passengers, and had many flights. Very different from the hurriedly whitewashed single-story airport that was crying for development and cleaning.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">For any city, especially a capital, the first impression is given by the port of landing. The same applies to this airport.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">Cut to the days when I would travel through the state. Potholes, traffic snarls, and dark roads were the hallmark of the state I remember.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">As I drove down from Patna to Sasaram, my car driver told me times have changed. What used to take him 6 hours now takes around three hours, thanks to the good highway and road conditions. Sasaram is also important because this is where Rahul Gandhi began his Voter Adhika Yatra from the RJD stronghold, with Tejashwi Yadav aiming to become the chief minister. The response to the Vote Chori charges by Rahul Gandhi\u2019s yatra made many think about the possibility of change, but most people in this area accepted that those are not the grounds on which they cast their vote.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">While most of Bihar is touched by roads and power supply, jobs remain a concern. This is why both Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav have promised jobs if they come to power. Tejashwi has said he would ensure one government job per family if he becomes CM, while Nitish Kumar has assured jobs for 1 crore youth over five years.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">The fact is, like West Bengal, most young Biharis have preferred to leave the state over the years in search of jobs. One only has to look around in the cities where we stay to see how many Biharis have been successful. In Delhi alone, bureaucracy is dominated by people from Bihar.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">While travelling through many areas from Patna to Sasaram, I noticed that some people wanted to come back. The lure of professional progress could be one reason for the return of the Bihari.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">It may sound trivial to many, but I remember when I stayed in Patna, there were barely any restaurants to eat out. A new one had opened near Alankar Complex. It soon shut down. The reason: some ruffians entered, refused to pay, and when asked to, ransacked the place. I was at the restaurant. Such incidents act as a deterrent to new businesses opening up. But Bihar has changed. And it\u2019s changing more. The capital is dotted with big brands, restaurants, and a sense of fearlessness to open shops.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Law and order have now emerged as a major issue. The NDA projects the return of the Mahagatbandhan as a return of the Jungle Raj, while the opposition argues that the government under CM Nitish Kumar is no longer equipped to ensure safety.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\">With this comes the issue of women\u2019s safety. Both the Mahagatbandhan and NDA are wooing women voters, as they are clearly the swing factor. The NDA will project that a Tejashwi government will not ensure that women can feel safe going out.<\/p>\n<p id=\"10\" class=\"story_para_10\">Certainly, in Bihar, one has seen more and more young girls who are enterprising and going to schools and colleges, a change I have personally witnessed.<\/p>\n<p id=\"11\" class=\"story_para_11\">Other states proudly showcase their crafts and music across the country. Bihar has long lagged behind, despite having some of the best cuisines, like litti chokha and Champaran mutton. But now Bihar has grabbed attention for its Madhubani crafts (showcased in the gifts given by the PM to foreign dignitaries), fox nuts or Makhana, fashion, and music. The many YouTubers and Bhojpuri singers have ensured that the music of Bihar has transcended boundaries.<\/p>\n<p id=\"12\" class=\"story_para_12\">Once disparagingly called Biharis, the same word now denotes an aspiration. Something that will occupy centre stage in the battle for Bihar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pallavi Ghosh\" title=\"Pallavi Ghosh\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wfrgtvi6_400x400.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=60&amp;height=60\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/pallavi-ghosh-10994.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Pallavi Ghosh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>October 22, 2025, 08:00 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Between Patna And Sasaram: A Drive Through Bihar\u2019s Soul After 15 Years Is A Homecoming To Change<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-3736562360 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/between-patna-and-sasaram-a-drive-through-bihars-soul-after-15-years-is-a-homecoming-to-change-9650639.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:October 22, 2025, 08:00 IST While most of Bihar is touched by roads and power supply, jobs remain a concern The fact is, like West Bengal, most young Biharis have preferred to leave the state over the years in search of jobs. Representational pic\/News18 I returned to Bihar after 15 years. The change was&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19867\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}