'B' Bole To...

I have always been baffled whenever people play the regionalism card.It's all so very confusing.You can call it my naivety but werent we,as kids,told that the only region we should care about was India? And,that too,for the plain fact that the rest of them would require a passport and a visa? :)
Maybe,that was the reason when I left U.P. and went to Bihar,where my dad was posted,I could not understand it at first.People told me,I didn't look like I was from U.P.! Then again I left Bihar and went to Delhi and people told me that I didn't look like I was from Bihar.And likewise,I have been to many places where they have told me the same thing.So,I finally decided to ask them whatever on earth that meant.And pat came the reply-"People from your part of the world are known to have typical accent,they dress conservatively and are typical villagers.You,surprisingly seem to have none of it." I really didn't know what to say!Maybe,that was the reason I was never subjected to the kind of seclusion and embarrassment that other students from Bihar and Jharkhand suffer from.In fact,these people justified my presence in their "group" by claiming that I wasn't originally a "Bihari" and it was only because my dad was posted there!
But,I have never hidden the fact that I have spent a major part of my lifetime in Bihar and that,come what may,I trully love this place.And trust me,it's not that blind love that other people have when they promote regionalism.I owe a lot of "myself" to Bihar.I may not be the best of the best people you come across,but I certainly know that if I have been able to retain a major part of my goodness that I had come with in this world,it's because of this place.And this is because even though this place is so poor,you find people hoping for better things and not giving in to the feeling of despair.You get to see some of those very raw emotions,very basic feelings in this part of the world.You know that life has got to become better and better from here.It's a fight for survival here.Maybe,that's why when the biharis go to other places,they stick close to each other.The amount of unity that you witness in a bihari group cannot be found anywhere else.
And even though,Bihar is one of the most backward and illiterate states in India,I say this with utmost pride that the quality of schooling that you can find here cannot be found anywhere else.It has some of the best and top-ranking I.C.S.E. schools in India which form the backbone of that system which produces the highest number of I.A.S,I.P.S,Engineers,Doctors and Lecturers in the country.And trust me,they have all been contributing in the success of this country.When a Bihari enters "your" state or region,he invests in money that contribute to your progress.He's not eating from your profits.Rather,he's bringing you the necessary money that's needed to keep your system running.
A Delhi University or a Pune University didn't become what they are overnight.It has taken them years.And the Biharis have their fair share of contribution in it.Bihar had developed a lot earlier than the other regions and it was the place that gave the world the concept about city,municipal corporations and international affairs.That circle will complete again.Bihar will rise again.
But still,if you feel they are snatching away whatever is yours then throw them out.They will still find someplace where they can prosper.But make sure,you dont have to repent the way Maharashtra Govt. is doing!