There is no doubt on the fact that Bihar is moving forward. The promise and expectation of good governance has aroused the native entrepreneurial instinct. Although Nitish Kumar's government has a long way to go, it has shown positive signs. The signs of awakening in Bihar should ideally, ripple developmental activities in the rest of eastern India, particularly in West Bengal and Jharkhand.
A few decades ago, Bengalis would have laughed on the suggestion of learning from Bihar. West Bengal ranked next to Maharashtra as the country's most industrialised province. Calcutta was the economic and cultural hub of India. It was a cosmopolitan city that embraced gracious living and intellectual vibrancy. In the past 30 years, the sonar bangla has been infected by its cholbe na attitude. An imperial success, Bengal has shamefully failed to take any advantage of the opportunities offered by the open economy.
Jharkhand on the other hand, has its own problems. It desperately needs a stable and progressive government. It needs to get rid of corruption. I really don't understand how Jharkhand can keep its face when the states surrounding it, Bihar and Orissa, are both prospering!
It's high time Bengal and Jharkhand learn from Bihar. We cannot afford two sick ladies in the east, ladies with misplaced priorities and mis-governance.