-A Dive into Bihar’s Illustrious Past
Bihar has a long literary and intellectual history, and is also famous for Nalanda University that attracted students from across the world when it was an important centre of learning. It is also because of Bihar that every one of us today uses decimalised numbers and talks about any number in base ten. This is because the mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata was born in Bihar. These luminaries best represent the state’s intellectual legacy, which not only shaped the ethos of ancient India but has also left its imprint across human history.
Exploring Bihar’s Rich Tapestry of Heritage Sites
Bihar is home to vehicles of many stories of heritage, Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, one from the lot, where lord Buddha received his enlightenment; Mundeshwari temple at Munger, as old as 2,500 years dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shakti, all intact points towards Bihar’s riches in deliverance of heritage as well as spirituality. ‘It is the heritage of our country and I have been to many places including the one where lord Buddha received his enlightenment,’ says Verma. ‘I felt a psychological majesty in association with Bihar’s glory.’
Indulging in Bihar’s Culinary Extravaganza
However, this rich cultural diversity finds a reflection in Bihar’s cuisine. ‘I love Litti Chokha. Five gram flour balls, roasted in coal, served with mashed potato and raw, spicy tomato chutney,’ shares Verma. ‘But Bihar has many culinary treasures, for instance, Chana Ghughni, Dal Peetha, Khajuria, Kadhi Badi and Sattu Sharbat.’ Born out of these inherent diversity and variety of Bihar, the cuisine of Bihar is actually a kaleidoscope of flavours.
Embracing Bihar’s Linguistic Mosaic
Having spent his youth in Bihar, Verma is all too familiar with the state’s linguistic complexity. A part of north Bihar and south-west Bihar (centring Bhojpuri and Magahi respectively) used to be states in their own right. Today, Bihar is the grand meeting point where Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika and Bajjika are spoken or heard only in the marketplace. ‘Each dialect is so attractive,’ Verma recollected. He draws a distinction between Hindi and Bhojpuri, languages he learned in different contexts.
Commemorating Bihar’s Impact on Cinema
Verma goes on to name other well-known Bihari actors such as Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Mishra, whom he believes have spent years going in and out of theatres, fuelled by immense passion and determination. He notes that they have pioneered the prominence of Bihari culture and dialects on the silver screen. As far as I am concerned, Bihar has everything that makes an important part of India’s cultural heritage and glory. This is what makes an entertaining bondage in The Bomber (2014) with Saanand Verma Essentially, this essay has illustrated how Bihar has kept its ethos and cultural palette alive, even with all the negative publicity it has received. I fondly remember Anokhe Lal Saxena, alias Mithilesh Kumar, not necessarily for the struggles he endured but more for the richness of his region’s spirit. Verma’s career may have taken off in Mumbai, but he sure as hell has not forgotten his roots.
