Life as if happiness mattered

Story of Bihar

It’s August 15, 2047. Anand Thakur, a 27-year-old teacher from a small village in Bihar, wakes to the gentle sounds of morning prayers drifting through his open window.

As the sun rises over the fields, casting a golden hue on the quiet village, Anand feels a sense of peace, a simple joy that has become the trademark of life in Bihar. He knows that today, for the first time, his story and the story of Bihar’s transformation will be broadcast to the rest of the country.

An alternative ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal’ story of Bihar in 2047

Chapter 1 – The Spark of Change

It started about twenty years ago, in 2024 to be precise, with the formation of a new political party that captured the attention of Bihar’s youth and elders alike.

Led by Shanti Prasad, a farmer’s son turned activist, the party promised something unique: they wouldn’t make Bihar like the booming tech cities of India, but rather embrace its existing strengths.

Instead of pursuing rapid industrialization, they would build Bihar as a model of peace, happiness, and family values – a place where people lived by their hearts, not by the clock.

The people of Bihar responded by making him the Chief Minister.

Tired of seeing their young leave for other states and weary of the promises of high-paying jobs that never materialized, they embraced this new vision.

Shanti Prasad became a figure of respect, but more importantly, he ignited a vision that was simple yet profound:

Bihar would define success not by economic growth but by the quality of life, by the contentment of its people.

Chapter 2 – Building a new way of life

Anand remembers growing up in Bihar on the cusp of this transformation. Schools began emphasizing subjects like ethics, life skills, local arts, and agriculture over high-stress exams.

Education became less about competing for distant jobs and more about preparing children to contribute meaningfully to their own communities.

Anand himself became a teacher under this new system, inspired by the idea that he could shape a new generation of students who valued self-sufficiency and kindness over wealth.

Many young adults returned to Bihar, rejecting the hyper-consumerist lifestyle of other states. They built businesses that didn’t cater to far-off markets but served their communities directly.

Community cooperatives formed the backbone of the economy, from agriculture to crafts, and businesses began focusing on goods and services that supported sustainable, minimalist, low-cost, contented living.

Healthcare was also restructured around this ethos. Traditional healers and local clinics became central, with a focus on preventive care and mental well-being.

Larger hospitals were reserved for serious conditions, reducing costs and removing the dependency on expensive healthcare models. These bills were picked up by the government anyway.

Bihar was not as medically advanced as Delhi or Bangalore, but people were quite healthy and, as a result, felt less pressure to spend on healthcare.

Chapter 3 – The migration and cultural shift

By 2047, Bihar has seen a wave of migration unlike any other in India. Not of job seekers, but of families and individuals disillusioned with the endless hustle of other states.

Ritu and Prakash, a couple from Mumbai, arrived in Bihar with their young children three years back. Drawn by Bihar’s reputation for simplicity and peace, they wanted to raise their children away from the pressures of city life. It was not an easy decision to make, but once it was made, they stuck by it.

They now live in a small home in a village, where Prakash runs a local carpentry shop and Ritu teaches dance to neighbourhood children.

Life is slower, and they surely miss the conveniences of city life – the malls, the instant deliveries, and the constant buzz of technology – but they have found something they never had before: time.

In Bihar, festivals are celebrated by the community rather than by consumerism.

Prakash recalls the first Chhath Puja they attended, where neighbors came together to cook and share food, decorating their surroundings with handmade lanterns and flowers.

There was no rush, no crowds, no commercial vendors. The joy was in the simplicity, the shared meals, and the songs sung under the stars.

Chapter 4 – New economies and self-sufficiency

In 2047, Bihar’s economy is humble but sustainable.

Farming has returned to natural practices, with villages collectively cultivating organic crops, fruits, and vegetables that feed the region.

Land-to-table is a way of life, and while incomes are modest, families save on food costs, health expenses, and energy bills.

Community energy initiatives harness solar and biogas, making Bihar energy-independent without depending on massive infrastructure.

Industries like IT and heavy manufacturing are rare here, with the government focusing on crafts, education, and healthcare, sectors that are woven into the local fabric.

People work fewer hours, often contributing to multiple community-based projects rather than dedicating themselves to one employer.

The traditional 9-to-5 job is virtually non-existent. Anand, for example, spends his mornings teaching, his afternoons tending to the community farm, and his evenings playing harmonium for village gatherings.

People are skilled at barter and exchange. Crafts made in Bihar, like Madhubani paintings and traditional textiles, are highly prized across the country.

Export has grown but on Bihar’s own terms. Craftsmen choose to make only as much as they need, prioritizing their well-being over sales volumes and profit.

Chapter 5 – The outside world looks in

Bihar’s transformation does not go unnoticed.

Journalists, scholars, and curious visitors arrive to study this unique model.

There’s admiration, but also skepticism from the rest of India.

Many outside Bihar see it as ‘backward‘, unable to understand why anyone would choose a simpler life when there is wealth to be made.

There are constant media debates about Bihar’s ‘under-development‘, but within Bihar, people do not feel ‘underdeveloped‘ – they feel balanced. Those who felt otherwise have left Bihar, by the way.

Anand’s cousin, Vikram, is one of those who left Bihar, pursuing a successful career in Bengaluru.

On a rare visit back, Vikram criticizes Bihar’s stagnant economic growth and lectures Anand about the benefits of ‘progress’. Anand listens politely, but when he sees Vikram’s tired eyes and weary demeanor, he knows his cousin’s wealth has come at a cost.

“Are you happy, Vikram?” Anand asks, not expecting an answer. Vikram doesn’t respond, and when he leaves, Anand feels a deep empathy for his cousin, knowing that his own life, though less luxurious, is richer in ways that money can’t buy.

Chapter 6 – The quiet pride of Bihar

As Bihar becomes known globally as a sanctuary of peace and balance, people here begin to feel a quiet pride.

They are not oblivious to the benefits of technology or the conveniences of urban life – they simply see them as unnecessary to their way of life.

Bihar’s people value resilience, relationships, and contentment, and they see themselves as stewards of a lifestyle that has become rare in the modern world.

Anand reflects on this as he sits by the river one evening, watching children play nearby, free of the fears and pressures he sees in children elsewhere.

Bihar isn’t perfect. The state still lacks high-tech hospitals, it doesn’t attract corporate investments, and it faces challenges with resources and infrastructure.

Yet, the people of Bihar live without debt, mental strain, or the isolation that pervades other places. It’s only those who seek this kind of life are now in Bihar.

There is no illusion that this life is ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than what other states have. Bihar has simply chosen a different path – a path that many people, tired of chasing wealth, are now beginning to see as valuable.

For Anand and the residents of Bihar, the true measure of success is how much peace and happiness they have cultivated.

Epilogue – A legacy for the future

In the coming years, Bihar is expected to inspire similar experiments in other rural states, regions that struggle with development pressures but see Bihar as a model for an alternative.

Bihar has become a place not of ‘less’ but of ‘enough’ – a state where the essence of life is preserved, and people live connected to their land, their families, and themselves.

As Anand closes his door that night, he feels a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing he’s part of something much larger than himself.

Bihar may be poor in the eyes of others with a low GDP, but on its own, it is truly rich.

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post Life as if happiness mattered appeared first on PGurus.