BIKRAM RAI

Those who think there is no hope for Nepal should just look at Bihar. Until a decade ago, it was India's poorest, most corrupt, violence prone state. Today, twice-elected Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is busy transforming his state, turning 'Bihar' from a pejorative word into one that evokes praise. To be sure, Bihar has a lot of catching up to do. But it is on the right track: for the past five years, the state has posted an 11 per cent growth rate even though its mineral-rich south had broken away. Bihar is an example of how elections can throw up enlightened and accountable rulers who can deliver. If Bihar can do it so can we.

Read also:
"We want to see Nepal develop"
Winds of change, ANURAG ACHARYA and NAVIN JHA in BIHAR
Bihar is on the right track, but it still has a long way to go
What they don't tell you, PRAFFUL KUMAR SINGH
The Nitish Kumar government has indeed transformed Bihar in the last five years. But we have to de-construct this success story.