November 15, 2025
The Indian Exp.
When I landed in Patna on November 6 to cast my vote, in the short drive to the polling booth, I asked my driver, Saroj, about the prevalent milieu. He ducked the question, instead repeating what his mother had told him: “Nitish has been with us for long, done whatever he could; just because he is old, should we forget him so quickly?” This observation encapsulates Bihar’s complex ethos; shaped by nostalgia, loyalty, and memory. In rural Bihar, relationships often replace markets and trust substitutes contracts. Scarcity breeds solidarity, not revolt. People share labour, exchange services, and rely on moral reciprocity more than monetary exchange. The revered Chhath Puja is a festival of gratitude, not consumption. The 2025 election outcome reaffirms this moral rubric.... Read More