Despite the frowns and whines, they uncomplainingly work as unskilled or semi-skilled labour, as security guards and as auto/taxi drivers; they sell vegetables, betel leaves, and tea; they run farm machinery and construction industries; they fill up professional colleges in the South and West, and call centres.
Yet, from Assam to Punjab, from Nepal to Maharashtra to Karnataka, bashing up “Biharis”, i.e. migrants from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, has become a major cottage industry. IIT Madras professor Shreesh Chaudhary, a frequent visitor to Bihar, on why Biharis have become the new pet-hate across the country:
“They are despised for the same reasons as are Indians abroad — they respect law, they give more than they get, they help their compatriots, and, thus, succeed more than a second rate immigrant group is expected to. They turn out to be serious competition for the local contenders….
“Biharis do not know what being master is like, but they make model servants. They are loyal and hardworking. No work is too mean or big for them. They stay clear of the police, prostitutes, press and politicians. Liquor and tobacco, except of the grinding kind, are still taboos to them.
“Why do Biharis then not stay home and use these attributes to change their own fortune? At home these qualities would not be enough, they would also need initiative and enterprise, and, as Jawarhalal Nehru (autobiography, p.489) said, few Biharis have these.
Read the full article here: Why Biharis are despised
churumuri 
Aren’t there many, many IAS and IPS flunkeys from Bihar serving in Karnataka?
At least the Biharis work with their hands for a living. We cannot say the same for our unfortunate sisters forced into prostitution in Mumbai and Goa. We cannot say the same thing for our brothers who line up for government bhikshe because they are old, they fought for freedom, a family member was a freedom fighter, they acted in the movies, they bravely fought Veerappan and ran away leaving our Kanmani behind, they are physically ill, they are handicapped, they are not educated, etc. If no government handouts, we are willing to starve. The janata darshans in most cases are a mirror held up to our shameless dependence on others.
I know somebody is going to pounce on me for my apparent insensitivity. But remember there is commission to be made from getting the needy an appointment with our Tughalak like governor and chief ministers.
We need to learn about the dignity of self-reliance from our brothers and sisters in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Maybe even from the purabi log bhayyas among us.
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article says: They stay clear of the police, prostitute, press and politicians.
Of all the posts and comments that I have seen here, this one takes the cake.
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IMO,the manglore,udpi/west karnataka belt tuluvas and konkani’s should stop their women from prostitution in Bombay!this sucks!everyone knows this!
labors from karnataka and andhra now fills up many parts of south india.a bit sad though! :(
biharis,bengalis,up ppl,assam etc are flooding s.india esp TN and banglore. :(
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Sumne–
If true, the Biharis know how to survive. The newspapers tell a different story, however.
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Pandithevar–
I am not sure I catch your drift.
What is “IMO?”
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IMO =In My Opinion :D dont get irritated by my comments LOL!
internet jargons dear!
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Prof. Chaudhary used to teach a course called “batter ispoken englis” at IITM. don’t know if he still teaches that.
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They also know how to make more and more children. And don’t believe in the laws of the land when they are in large groups. The most well known example being their leader Laloo Prasad Yadav.
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What nonsense? stupidest article in Churmuri so far.
“They are despised for the same reasons as are Indians abroad” heehee this is hilarious.
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This piece makes some sweeping generalizations. A number of slumlords and people who do shady businesses in Mumbai are Biharis. If your Cabbie is a Bihari he is more likely to demand excess fare and you’ll end up having a fight with him. I know a Bihari family here who have bought two flats in Bangalore and scoff at everything south Indian or Kannadiga. I think the Prof. is talking of some exceptions rather than the general crowd.
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In general,labourers from bihar are extremely hardworking and unquestioning.They are an asset to their employers in any industry-construction,restaurants,unskilled labour of any sort.Tamils are using them in areas around madras.One finds tamils employing many gurkhas as assistants.
I hope one day they will contribute to the prosperity of bihar.The caste system is an obstacle.But i have found bihari students to be among the most motivated.There is hope if they can use their energies in bihar.
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The article talks about some of the plus points of Biharis which is noteworthy. However, the issue that people from other states seem to have is about the large influx of people from that region and of the insensitivity to the local culture.
Like others point out too many generalizations are made. I think the point about being hardworking can be made for most immigrants from other states who find a market for their services or goods. Whether it is laborers from North Karnataka who worked in different states, people in the restaurant industry who worked in Mumbai or South Indian accountants and officers in New Delhi, everyone of them was respected for their work ethic. They too were uncomplaining, courted no controversies and have been victims of local attacks. So this trait is not unique to people of a particular state.
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When one seeks a livelihood outside his/her native place, you’d think such a person would make the effort to assimilate in to the mainstream society of domicile. Considering all the flak the Bihari ilk have been receiving for their brash and brazen attitude it comes as no surprise they take the top spot of the most disliked of India’s brethren. To a larger extent, the callous “I don’t need to respect the crap local culture” attitude exudes from almost all the bloody Hindi speaking populace not to mention other South Indian nincompoohs who think each ones language is better. It’s disconcerting to think how Bangalore’s “local” culture has any room to survive and thrive.
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Churumuri, please tag this under “humour” and we’ll move on.
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I do wish I could sound like K. L. Rao. But what are we to do when all those non-Kannadigas are acquiring knowledge, money, and prestige at our expense? If they do go back to their places of origin, what do we stand to gain? Let us encourage our aththithis, before they do our “thithi” to consider Kerala and TN.
My state, Kannadanaadu, ranks first in the number of suicides in the nation, sixth in alcoholism; both kinds of tragedy are tied to the economy.
Kannadigas should have a reasonable chance of leading a contented life in their own land. Anything that goes against this belief is pure anathema to me.
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KL–
My apologies for adding a surname.
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I have lived in Bangalore for 12 years – I feel this is where I belong and I am not going anywhere else in this life time.
I am originally form Bihar, I take both cultures along with me in my life.The threat of generalism is that when the kannadiga Raj Thackeray happens,will he differentiate me from they believe “do not repect local culture”.
Well no one is dislodging me from here,because to me I am more a Bangalorean – in sync with the culture and fabulous people – than most people born here – “bloody hindi speaking populace” and all.So to a local Raj hate Thackeray,count me on thr other side and how!
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Seriously gentlemen,
reading the comments , I can understand why India is still regarded as a nation in the making. However Bharat is not . It has been around for a rather long time as you can imagine, and the message of tolerance that the name Bharat enshrines will shine through once more. of course sporadic incidents seemingly centred on prejudice but frankly more a result of selfishness either collective or individual may still occur. But in the long run a new verse based on ancient sounds will be scripted once more on the subcontinent. and India that is Bharat will be a beacon of hope in a world where dwindling resources will force man to bring out the mankind within him. A co-operative game based on mutual trust is the only way forward.
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I am from MP and studied in south India along with people from many states and cant deny the fact that Biharis are the truest Indians/desis . All of India will change and start copying the west but these Biharis dont know how to change colour so poor guys will be always backward . But who knows a day may come when what we all call developed world/state may all start looking cursed and these biharis start looking good to all .
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Biharis are the only ppl who promote Corruption to the maximum extent.They dont have the culture of getting used to the place they stay in.They dont even learn the native language of that province.
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Dear all,
I do understand & respect all of your comments…but coming days are of/for BIHAR..its on a massive move, taken a “U” turn. Few facts of Bihar which you must keep in mind before making any odds
1. They are hard working people & earn with honesty.
2. Once upon a time, Bihari’s ruled over all most all the parts of Indian subcontinets..The Great ASHOKA …
3. Notable, It was a time when this state shows the path of knowledge across the globe with its world class universities named as NALANDA, VIKRAMSHILA & AVANTIKA
4. Bihar is a birth place of all the prophets belongs to a major releigion..BUDDHA, MAHAVIR, SIKH’s 10th GURU..etc.
5. Currently, Most number of IITIan’s , IAS, IPS, IFS..are from Bihar.
6. Being a poor state, they cut their all wishes & send their children out of bihar ( due to unavailability of private colleges in the state ) for higher education & that helps to grow other staes Finance & employment.
7. In coming days a great number of educated & not only literate Bihari’s are coming up to change the face of their state as well our country.. A kind of JAGARAN you can say.
8. It is true some bad goverments has ruined it but its now over a Man with sence is ruling bihar which will defenetly help to change the senario.
9. A big bunch of labours who works for all & contribute in Nation’s growth..helps others to become developed, being truth that they go to fill their hunger & poverty.
10. At the end i say, WE must come out with this parochial thoughts of biharis, tamilian , bengali, punjabi, marthi etc..& we should be first INDIAN/ Bharti. Jai hind…We are all one only.
Hope, we understand our unity & invest our knowledge & energy to develop our nation.
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Bangalore is the best city ever seen in india!!!!!!bihar is nothing as compared to it….bangalore is the it hub,the garden city,silicon valley and soo many deserving names…!!!!!wat is bihar in front of it?????
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We all are Indians and are having freedom to live in any part of this nation.and my whole nation is good,
i pray for the Democracy which is getting differentiated by states….
Lets move towards brotherhood.
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