Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Road Trip Through Bihar Reveals Economic Distress and Societal Shifts
A family took a car trip through Bihar after the lockdown ended.
In one town, a hotel made women sign a paper saying they wouldn't drink, and a man had to sign too, which felt unfair.
They saw many young men leaving towns to find jobs.
In another place, all the beautiful saris sold in the market were actually made far away, and the local weavers had stopped making them because people from Gujarat offered cheaper clothes.
Later, they visited a village where almost all the men were gone to work, and the women and children ran everything.
These women were strong and managed even when a fire broke out, but they missed their husbands.
The writer wonders why Bihar is not as developed as other places, despite seeing hardworking people from there before.
A family embarked on a road trip across Bihar after COVID-19 restrictions eased.
Observations included strict prohibition policies affecting hotel check-ins and widespread migration of young men seeking employment.
The decline of local textile industries was noted, with weavers migrating to other states.
A village was observed to be run entirely by women due to the absence of able-bodied men working elsewhere.
Despite economic challenges and societal shifts, the travelers did not feel unsafe during their journey.
- Who
- A family on a road trip, observing societal and economic conditions.
- What
- Documenting observations on economic distress, prohibition, gender dynamics, and the resilience of communities during a road trip through Bihar.
- When
- After the second lockdown was lifted and inter-city travel permits were removed.
- Where
- Various locations in Bihar, including Sasaram, Patna, Robertsganj, and a village near Muzaffarpur.
- Why
- To explore the country by car and observe the state of affairs in different regions.
- Travel Context
- Post-second lockdown, permits to travel between cities were lifted.
- Initial Stop
- Sasaram, on the UP-Bihar border.
- Notable Observation in Sasaram
- Hotel required guests to sign a disclaimer stating they were not carrying alcohol, with a requirement for male counter-signatures for female guests.
- Economic Activity
- Crowded railway station with young men leaving for employment; mobile phone shops and small malls in cities.
- Textile Industry
- Saris in Robertsganj market were sourced from Surat and Ahmedabad; local looms have declined, with weavers moving to Gujarat.
- Village Observation
- A village near Muzaffarpur was run by women as most able-bodied men were absent, likely for work.
- Village Resilience
- Women in the village successfully put out a fire despite the absence of men.