A far cry from Lalu and Nitish native villages, the village of Bihar’s first Dalit CM still waits for development

“This is what we have got in the name of Bhola Paswan Shastri Ji. Usually, politicians come here, make promises for the upliftment of the village and forget about it later. We are used as a political symbol,” said Chulhai Paswan, an elderly resident, as he relaxed under the fans of the hall.

In Bairgachhi village, under Krityanand Nagar block in Purnia district, the community hall is used every time there is a major event, including weddings. At other times, it is used by village residents to rest and get together. It was built in 2015 with the help of JD(U) leader Vashistha Narain Singh’s MP funds, and a push from then CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, who had visited Bairgachhi during his tenure.

Apart from the hall, Chulhai Paswan said, Bairgachhi has not seen much development. “Bairgachhi is like any other Bihar village. It was never developed like the villages of former CM Lalu Prasad and current CM Nitish Kumar,” he lamented.

Residents of the village are predominantly Paswans, a Dalit community. The village has a primary school and a concrete road that came up during CM Nitish Kumar’s first term (2005-2010).

However, the village has no primary healthcare centre and no drainage system – two of the most repeated complaints by village residents. Most residents are landless and depend on daily wage labour for survival. Around 40 per cent of the village’s youth – between 18 and 30 years of age – go outside Bihar for work.

Ajay Kumar Paswan, a member of former CM Shastri’s family, said, “There are some 25 graduates in the village, and almost every child goes to school. But the school cuts a sad sight during rains, when it gets water-logged. The school has also been waiting for years for a fence to be built around it,” he said.

Even amid complaints about lack of development, many residents praised the Centre’s free ration and health insurance schemes. They also expressed happiness for getting water under the Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal scheme, and praised CM Nitish Kumar for the almost uninterrupted power supply the village enjoys.

“We get 4 kg rice and 1 kg wheat per month. The quality of the rice is very good. Even poor Muslims in the area benefit from it and praise the NDA government,” said Putul Devi, as she rests in the community hall.

However, there is a feeling that the legacy of the village’s most famous son, Bhola Paswan Shastri, has not been carried forward.

Resident Chandan Paswan said that even fellow Paswan, former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, did not do much for the area. “Chirag Paswan had come to Bairgachhi in 2021 and spent a night. But that is mere symbolism,” Chandan said.

Bhola Paswan Shastri became Bihar CM thrice between 1968 and 1972, amid turbulent coalition politics in the state. His first stint began on March 22, 1968, and it ended on June 29 the same year. The next time, he became CM – on June 22, 1969 – his tenure lasted just 12 days.

His third tenure was his longest – running from June 20, 1971, to January 9, 1972. During this term, he set up the Mungeri Lal Commission, which in 1976 submitted its report categorising Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) for the first time.