bihar

Bihar

Bihar, a state in eastern India is penetrated by Naxalism or left wing extremism which dates back to the 1970s in the rural southern region when the first mass-mobilisation against feudal forces began in Bhojpur. Today, the movement is active in 22 out of Bihar’s 38 districts and the violent struggle constitutes a major concern for the regional administration as well as for the national Indian government. 

Bihar remains one of the poorest states in India with more than 80% of its people living in rural areas. Agriculture is the main source of income and the state has been plagued by the problem of access to resources and thus the socio- economic gaps between social groups are pronounced. Revolutionary struggles emerged as a result of caste and tribe- based discrimination and exploitation, in addition to the demands including access to common property resources like gairmarjua land, forest resources, water sources and redistribution of surplus land.

Naxalism, its name emerging from an armed struggle in the village of Naxalbari, have activated the Indian security apparatuses in the name of upholding ‘law and order’. At the same time, the state has also undertaken measures of reform including the reservation policy, the tribal sub- plan and joint forest management, the garibihatao and 20 points welfare program in order to improve the conditions of the oppressed and exploited classes.  Nevertheless, with the turn of the century, increasing incidents of attacks on state and private property in addition to increasing numbers of police casualties blossomed and the government has intervened in order to dismantle the violent rebel groups.

While studying contemporary Bihar, one cannot disregard Jharkhand, which was carved out of the state’s southern part in 2000. Hence, Jharkhand is a substantial part of the focus in the ‘Bihar case study‘.